Blooming Friendships

(Takes Place within the Bloomverse AU. All characters belongs to GearsForBreakfast. Coverart is done by me.)

Wonder how two children gained access to the entire Subcon Forest? Or perhaps how a Witch met two kooky ghosts? Or maybe how lost children gained a family? Find out in this prequal of A Bloom In Time.

Chapter 1: Dadtcher

Chapter Text

(WARNING: Mention of character death and implied character death!! So there's this witch NPC in Nyakuza Metro and thought she'd be a good addition to the story. If you haven't seen my other story about who she is I highly recommend reading it to get a better grip on her person.)

The video showing the NPC
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrkQpENoDkg

Hat Kid's canon diary entries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_NiBsM7qhw&list=PL-fJ7QGZdTEHD7-QnKLCLeVgbJ1_aNm8h&index=19

The scene of the bookstore is here

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZA3HCbHkR4&list=PL-fJ7QGZdTEHD7-QnKLCLeVgbJ1_aNm8h&index=11

Subcon Forest was not a place for just anyone to enter and exit as they please. There was a reason these woods had such a feared reputation and was rumored to be haunted. Because it was. By the King Snatcher of Subcon(as he liked to refer to himself) and his ghastly assortment of minions and dwellers behind him as his undead army, anyone who went in NEVER came out which added to the entire frightfulness of it all!!...Well no one except two little giggling girls who may or may not have left a lasting impression on him. But no one would dare suspect such a thing. The dark sky and dead trees twisted with dangerous vines as the sun dared not shine here. If that won't convince you to stay away then maybe the giant chunk of the forest that always so dangerously cold will? Or perhaps the section that's always burning bright with enchanted flames? Or maybe the ghostly king who claimed trespassers' souls as his own or the rumor of a powerful witch? Either way, whatever helps to keep trespassers out he was all for it. But he had no real responsibilities today. The minions could wonder around his woods without him barking orders as long as they didn't go near the frozen half or Vanessa, or go exploring on any other part of the planet for all he cared. As long as they were all out of trouble...Well the trouble that would eventually have to involve him. He was fine with whatever they did around here. Right now he was sitting down enjoying his book of dark tales and legends as he relaxed in his home. The old book in his claws feeling as brittle as cobwebs as glowing yellow eyes scanned over the story unfolding from it's yellow pages.

Oh yes. Down in the world unknown there laid a kingdom drab and dark. Where darkness and shadows collided and lived in fear and power. One would be mad to even think about stepping in a place like this. Where the dead are gone but still there, the shadows played and roamed and full of terror. A frightful place brave hereos dare not venture unless they wish to meet a tragic fate. Yes. This one place was alone ruled by a power hungry spirit, spited by his love in life and now seeks vengeance on any mortal who dared be foolish enough to be beckoned into his awaiting claws-

THUD!!

.....Snatcher slowly looked up from his book with a small frown. The small minion who had tripped dashing into his home and landing face first in front of his chair had groaned out his greetings before getting up. With a shake of his head and a look upwards towards the sixteen foot ghost. Snatcher raising a brow at the sudden interruption of his reading time.

"Hey Boss!," the small subconite happily shouted waving his arm towards the ghost. "I brought some great news to share with you!"

His master stared down at the little ghost who landed in front of him as he rolled his yellow eyes. The book in his claws closed and placed down the book to his right as he gave the minion what she obviously wanted, his attention. "Uuuuuhhh. What is it Number Fourteen?" Having at least three hundred something minions in all corners of his forest and not all of them retaining memories of their old lives made it harder to address them all by. So a long long time ago he simply just decided to name them all by numbers. Was easier to convey to them in his eyes. His head was placed on one fist as he leaned looked over the minion boredly. "Can't you see I'm busy? I specifically told everyone not to disturb me today. And yet. Here you are." His clawed free hand gestured to the small minion under his glare as his face slowly scrunched up into one of annoyance. "Disturbing me. In the middle of my reading session. Perhaps the hood of your face is blocking out your hearing?"

The minion shook her head and excitedly extended her hand to point to the outside of his tree home towards the purple dreaded forest surrounding them. "There's a fool foolish enough to wonder around your forest! Should we chase them to one of your traps?"

Silence rang out quietly between the two of them as the minion after a moment wobbled a bit awkwardly. Usually it didn't really take this long for her boss to respond. Usually barked an immediate "YES!" or "NO!" followed by a couple questions about the intruder but lately he had been so...reluctant to do anything of the sort. Not since the Newbies saving the world from that weird girl with the mustache. And that was almost a full year ago now

Eventually the ghoul sighed closing his eyes and shaking his head. "No. Chase them outta here or do whatever it takes to make them leave. I'm not in the mood to deal with outsiders. Especially during my time off!"

During the duration of their conversation neither noticed the footsteps leading up to the sinister spook's home until the owner of those footsteps walked along the dangerously spike blackish-purple vines that grew from the gaping tree's entrance looking like a dastardly mangle of tongue from it's jack-o-lantern jaws. The Pink heeled boots tapping along the thick roots until they made the figure stop at the very entrance of the domain that the trespasser dared to cross. Driving themselves into deeper trouble with the cocky tone and playful smirk on pink lips.

"And here I thought ghosts were supposed to be scary?~"

His face snapped to the female voice with a snarl but once the sight of the woman who DARED enter his home let alone his forest entered his vision he paused for maybe two seconds before that snarl turned into a deep scowl with narrowed eyes. "What are YOU doing here? Can't you see I'm busy?"

The brown haired woman shrugged twirling the scissors in her hand. "I could ask you the same thing, Snatchy." Her brow rose once her copper eyes glanced over at the unfinished book upon his lap he was attempting to finish. "You're a slow reader now, or is this some kind of new hobby for you?"

"Neither! BEGONE YOU WITCH UNTIL I CALL UPON YOUR WOEK!" He quickly Snatched the book out of his own lap and made a show of opening it, forcing his face back into the pages and away from her view.

She faked a hurt expression and put a hand to her chest. "That hurts Snatchy. It really does. In all the five hundred years we've known each other you're still that cruel spirit you've always been." He groaned.

"And you're still that annoying witch." She finally got him to turn his face towards the smiling witch dressed in white and pink and groaned as his eyes peeked over the edge of the book. "We both know you're not here for no reason. What ARE you here for, Hazelle?"

"You got me.~" She smiled real smug like and had the audacity to walk over to his large red arm chair and plopped down in the footrest he never used since. Well. He had no feet or legs anymore. Leaning her head in one hand and crossing her legs. "Well, the usual. I wanted to stop by and grab some of these cursed vines for my supplies. Maybe grab some swamp water for my famous grab-o-war spells, comes in handy when someone doesn't want to pay their side of our bargains. And of course I was wondering why you haven't come by asking for more blue potions of the dead. You usually get a big supply every few weeks." The witch's copper eyes flickered over the cover of the book he held and blinked. A brow raising. "And the last time I was even here you managed to keep reading the same book? Either that means you like the book so much you've been reading it over and over or something's been on your mind."

After a few seconds of frowning at her, Snatcher turned back to the dress in his claws and took the scissors. Starting at one side he started cutting along the drawn line as straight as possible. "A lot of things have happened in the past year."

"Really?," she asked interested and looked around the home as he scowled and pushed his purple face back into his book. Finding nothing really different she slowly turned back to him brow raised. "Nothing really seems to be different here or in your forest other than your attitude."

"Oh yeah? And do you mind telling me what exactly is wrong with my 'attitude', Witch?"

"Well while it's fully in your nature for you to call me names like 'Witch' and 'Hag', and demand I get out of your forest unless you need more of my blue potions or spells, and take a very long time to even come to me for such things..." She explained as he stared at her scowling from behind the book clearly not in the mood but also not making any movement to stop her as she deadpanned back. "It's never been nearly a whole year without you visiting me or demanding something of mine. That is.." She leaned forward slightly raising both brows. "Unless something has been bothering you on a very personal level." He stared at her. "Well? Am I wrong?"

Snatcher went silent again. Not moving or looking away from the woman in front of him neither confirming or denying anything that was just asked. After a few tense silent moments of her staring back he began to move again but remained silent. His hands slowly closed the book he was reading with a small thump and with the ghostly magic he possessed, with a flick of his wrist the old book floated up into the air and Hazelle's head turned to watch as it floated perfectly back in place on the shelf before returning to him. Deflating like a long balloon, Snatcher let out a looooong sigh, slumping in his chair and one clawed hand reaching up to rub where the temples on someone's head would be. Not answering right away. Luckily for her, Hazelle was a patient woman and just kept silently watching him from his comfy spot. After about ten minutes of this silence, a moment later Snatcher and turned to Hazelle still staring at him patiently. But she was rather taken aback by his expression. He almost looked ....tired. Which was a weird expression to see on a ghost as they really didn't need to sleep, and the only way snatcher could've gotten tired was if the ghost used a whole lot of spiritual energy or magic draining him for a while but he always bounced back within a couple days or so. The only time she had really seen him like this was when he showed up to her humble abode some months ago looking miserable absolutely COVERED in those blue potions he liked to use so much requesting she help remove it from his ectoplasmic body. All thanks to that little alien gal and her curly haired friend. The two stared at each other for a moment longer before she spoke up.

She pointed a hand at him calmly. "Something big is going on here. I can tell by that look on your face, old friend. You can't fool me."

"Why would I tell you? Nothing's happened. 'Sides. Nothing here I can't handle!" He huffed and reached looked up from staring at his hand.

"Do you know how much you contradicted yourself in those few sentences?" She rolled her eyes and leaned over. "Come on. You KNOW I ALWAYS find out one way or another eventually whether it's by you or me prodding around a bit."

"Anyone ever tell you you're a pain!?"

"All the time, Snatchy.~ But, c'mon. You know I'm right anyways. I'll find out eventually from one of your minions anyways or by something else, so spill." She leaned back all comfy like in the seat smiling that grin. "I got all eternity now.~ Something about one of those minions saying time piece sounds interesting. What'd I miss?"

He gave a loud and hard groan turning his head up towards the ceiling. "If I tell you will you PLEASE leave me alone?"

"Absolutely. You know I would."

"Fine then.....I-...I-I don't know.''

.....Hazelle blinked. Before her face scrunched up in a 'Wait. What?' expression. "You...don't...know how you're feeling?" he nodded not looking at her and her face drew a surprised but blank slate. "Alright. This is the first time I've ever heard you say something like this before." Her hand extended half way towards him. "How long have you been feeling like this exactly?"

"I'm not entirely too sure. A couple months?...I guess."

"Oook," she said unsure. This was strange behavior even for Snatcher who once went on a literal hour long tirade about how ghosts should be given a discount on bacon for being dead. "Well when did you start actually feeling like this? Maybe it has to do with some kind of magical change in the weather or something."

"A few days after those brats came into my forests!," Snatcher spat crossing his arms and turning his head away, "Ever since they terrorized me I can't help but think about those pesky pecknecks and what they did to me! It's utterly humiliating!"

"Well maybe it had something to do with them?," she suggested, "Tell me everything that happened between you three, and don't say you won't, Snatcher. I always find out in the end."

Well....She wasn't wrong about that. It was a possibility. Could ghosts even catch an alien illness? And there was the fact that if he DIDN'T tell her, Hazelle would most definitely find out and it was ALWAYS more hard for him to deal with things when she found out things on her own, so.....He spilt the beans. All of it. From him these strange hourglasses with bright silver shiny sand in them falling from the sky, how after just a few days of them appearing two small girls showing up in his forest, how he made them do his own dirty work so he wouldn't have too, how they eventually .....beat him. He scowled when Hazel chuckled at the ridiculous contract they had tricked him into signing. How eventually the Hat Brat fought the blonde little girl who nearly destroyed the world whoever she was and now...His situation with this weird nagging feeling and not sure how exactly he ended up with them. Leaving out just a few details like his embarrassing smack with the blue potion, or the fact he was rethinking those moments over and over. He had no idea why. Maybe it was just because he found it so ...so...FRUSTRATING!! Hazelle would tease him for that for sure. By the end of his brief and blunt explanation Hazelle was giving him a surprised look.

Which soon turned into a hum as he sat there staring at her. Her hand coming up to tap her chin in thought. "Hm...Well, I can't sat what it is for certain that's bothering you, but I can for sure that I've only ever seen you do this a couple times before and it's only ever been when you were thinking about someone special from your past you happen to miss." Her brow rose. "Such as a certain used to be blonde-"

"WATCH. YOUR. MOUTH!," he growled out threateningly making a point to glare and point a sharp talon at her .

In the face of danger the witch only rolled her eyes. "Ok. Well what I'm saying is....Maybe you just might miss them?"

"WHAT?!" Any dweller or minion within range of his voice fled at the flare up of anger coming from their boss and he sure showed it when glaring at the witch but Hazelle sat there through his tantrum. Snatcher hissed leaning out of his seat to get very close to her pointing. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!!! WHAT THE ACTUAL PECK GAVE YOU THAT STUPID PECKING IDEA YOU FOOL!?"

"Well, considering that the fact is that the only time you ever described to me feeling like this is those few moments in the old days when you missed you know who and from what you've told me is telling me otherwise, Snatchy."

"DON'T CALL ME SNATCHY! YOU KNOW I HATE THAT, WITCH!!" With a hiss he snapped back to the his chair and continued on scowling off as if nothing happened scowling...But Hazelle frowned.

She sighed shaking her head. "Alright. I get the picture. But maybe you should try relaxing and doing something to help take your mind off things in the mean time." She shrugged. "Who knows? It might just help you get over your homesick feelings."

"I AM NOT HOMESICK!! AND WHAT DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN DOING ALL THIS TIME!?"

"Well clearly the books aren't working." Hazelle paused for a moment looking down before smiling again as her face lit up. "I know. Why don't you try going out of this gloomy place for a bit?"

......He blinked. "What?"

"Take a vacation! You know, step outside the gloomy woods for a bit and travel. See the beaches, watch a movie, scare a couple crowds, cause a huge ruckus being a ghost! Haunt a few places!," she suggested pointing at him, "You LOVE scaring people!"

He frowned. "A vacation? And leave my forest open for any fools who want to wonder in or let Moonboy take it over!? HA!! Nice try!"

"Oh come on. It's better than cooping yourself up here until that feeling eventually goes away. Don't you go out sometimes anyways to get new books or painting supplies? You could do that." Her face perked up upon remembering something. "OH! I know! There's this cruise that's pretty popular! You should go make it a ghost ship!"

"Not for a full pecking vacation! And a boat? What makes you think I'd do anything like that?!"

Hazelle stared at him for the longest time before sighing, shaking her head, and standing up as Snatcher continued to sulk. "Alright. I know when to stop. I'll be taking my leave now. But first a little fairwell present." Snatcher rose a brow as she reached up, took off her hat, and reached inside it rummaging in around for a moment before pulling out what looked like a pamplet and held it out to him while putting the pointy witch hat back onto her head, "Here. Take this."

Snatcher looked between her and it for a moment....before he reached one of those blackish-purple arms out to her and snatched it from her hand. Holding it up to his face beheld the perfect scene of a bright sky, the ocean, and a small boat. "....What is this?"

"A pamphlet for that cruise I told you about, Snatchy." She smiled. "In case you change your mind."

The ghost looked from the pamphlet to her before shaking his head. "You always were a stubborn old hag weren't you?"

"Hey that's not fair. I'm barely even seven hundred years old yet." She winked turning. "If we're comparing ages you'd definitely be considered my older brother.~ But anyways. Tata!~" She wagged a couple fingers stepping off and out of the home. "I'll just help myself to a few of your cursed plants and be out of your hair. Do be sure to visit sometime soon!"

"Yeah!? WELL GOOD PECKING RIDDANCE YOU OLD BAT!!," he huffed again tossing the paper thing and crossed his arms as it harmlessly fluttered all the way down to the old floor.

Stupid witch! What did she take him for!? A fool!? No, no, no. Only fools followed her advice. HIM!? Stuck on a boat out in the middle of no where leaving his forest open to attacks from Moonjumper and possible outsiders!?....Nevermind him and Moonjumper's had a semi-peace treaty thing going on between them for about seventy years now. But still it was the principle of the matter! What kingdom would be run if it's ruler sudden disappeared simply for a stupid vacation!? HA!! He wasn't dead yesterday you know! It'd take more than just a friend's-....Witch's word and some dumb paper advertisement to get him to leave his forest! And having the nerve for suggesting the oddly strange incompletely, longing, semi empty feeling was because he actually MISSED those brats! NOPE!! NUH UH!! He definitely did NOT feel like he was missing something or the like just because they might've reminded them of the once living children of the village!! .....NOT!! No matter what he was absolutely, positively, definitely NOT going to go on some dumb stupid vacation to get his mind off things! Because he didn't NEED to get his mind off things! He was perfectly fine! He was NOT going!!

....

He did end up going.

It was a week after Hazelle had suggested the dumb idea to him in the first place and he had rejected it at all costs. Trying for hours to read his book trying to not remember the oddly high pitched child like laughter that came from the memories of the two girls that once beat him with a stupid potion! It was only because he was absolutely still infuriated at them being some of the only people to beat him in literal hundreds of years!! YEAH!! That was it! He would not allow it to happen again!...So obviously because he was so frustrated with it, it was causing him to think about them more and give him that odd feeling! YEAY! That must've been it surely!! And he was totally just leaving a minion in charge and leaving the forest for a little bit only because he felt like causing mischief he hadn't been able to really to get for a while. And he certainly wasn't deciding to use this cruise thing because she suggested it. He was only deciding to do it because he hasn't had the chance to haunt a ship before so it'll be a thing to cross off his bucket list. What he did however give her credit for was making sure he would get a headache life he usually did whenever she suggested something. And it all started with seeing the prices of the tickets that were being sold for the boat. Two hundred pons per ticket!? He had to pay two hundred pons just for ONE ticket!? HA!! I think not! Of course being a ghost he didn't even had to pay if he wanted to but where was the thrill of sneaking on then? It made this all the more fun and worth while! With the docks a mess thanks to the weird seals and him being a ghost it was easy for him to sneak about the shadows and find the perfect hiding place! A crate that was to be brought aboard. He didn't even have to make any effort in doing anything himself. With a wide pumpkin grin he easily phased through the wooden outside of the crate and curled himself up all cozy inside. Other than some of his spiritual energy seeping out no one would tell he was in there even with his magic seeping out, unless you specifically know him to notice....and what luck! Because one of the persons he was totally NOT thinking about this whole time had returned and was making her way up the dock and towards the boat following that mysterious feeling of a time piece calling out towards her to come and get it. Of course he didn't notice her arrival or her ship as 1. It was in space how could he know she was here to begin with? And 2. neither brat had bothered to show back up in his forest for him to be alerted to their presence at all. In fact he still didn't know she was literally outside his crate until the little girl was passing by looking around for any signs of her missing time piece, and paused noticing the dark purple almost black aura seeping from around the crate he was in. Curiously the hatted girl bounded up to the crate examining it with her eyes as the wood seemed more...Darker almost tainted than the crates around it and the purple spilling around it's based seemed almost familiar somehow....Her blue eyes suddenly lit up with a smile at the familiar feeling. Reaching a hand up to give a hard knocks on the front he was leaning against. From the inside of the crate he blinked almost startled. Someone was...Knocking on his crate? More knocks followed making him scowl when the person failed to get another response from him. So some fool wanted to get his attention so badly huh? Well they'll be sorry once they found out who they were really dealing with!!

"*ahem*," he cleared his throat before putting on that totally sinister facade of terror that struck fear into the hearts of all mortals, "AHHHAHAHAHAHAHA!! FOoooooooo-" He paused. Mouth open in mid sentence as what he could only describe as ....as....childish girly laughter!! Came from the outside of his crate..and it wasn't just any girly laughter either. HE HEARD THIS BEFORE!! From his many memories of two small gals who lively galivanted through his forest before. "Wait a minute." The top hat wearing girl on the other side smiled both amused and very very happy to see the familiar face again. Blinking as two yellow eyes popped onto the crate's surface to stare at her...and his metaphorical stomach nearly sank. WHAT!? IT WAS THAT BRAT!! The one who plagued his life months ago! Those yellow eyes narrowed as she giggled more. "Its YOU!? AGAIN!?"

"Hey BFF," she greeted with that infamous wink with a blep face that made him groan.

"Ugh. You show up in my forest, assault me, refuse to leave, and then turn up to ruin my vacation too?" Never mind a small part of him seemed almost giddy to see her face again. ...GIDDY FOR REVENGE THAT IS!! "You really are just the worst, Kiddo."

She giggled at the ghost but shook her head. "I didn't know you were here!"

"Oh really? Then it must be a coincidence that I just happened to want to enjoy myself outside of my forest and you just happen to show up in the same place? I wasn't dead yesterday you know! What other possible reason would you be here unless it was to annoy me?...Unless you also happened to decide to take a cruise too then it just means fate deals a cruel hand."

She shook her head again tilting it to the right curiously. "I'm picking up leftover time pieces that I didn't catch onto last time I was here. But are you hiding?"

".........Yes. I'm hiding in a crate. Tickets are expensive!" So...she wasn't just here to pester him? What a relief. But now that she knew he was here she might just go ahead and bother him anyways in the middle of getting those stupid hourglasses!!...Unless....He pestered her FIRST!! A devious smile spread across his wide face as his mind went to one specific idea. Revenge! Now that the brats were back he could finally get revenge for what happened all those years ago!OH HE COULD CUT HER OFF AT THE PATH AND GET TWO STEPS AHEAD OF HER NOW!! SOMETHING THAT SHE WOULDN'T EXPECT!! ...Yellow eyes blinked at a tiny hand waving across his face. "Oh right. You're still here. Well I won't keep you from collecting whatever boring collect-a-thon trip you're planning on going on. ...In fact you should probably leave to get them right now. Wouldn't want any of those powerful artifacts getting into the wrong hands like last time."

That seemed to convince her to get a move on it and leave him but not before giving him a sappy goodbye that left a strange feeling in his guts...But nevertheless this stupid vacation can wait. Exiting the crate the shadow moved like a bullet out of a shot gun towards a specific place he knew would be the last place the kid would've expected him to be. The strange lonely empty feelings from months before exiting and his excitement for revenge against these two grew! See? He knew it was just frustration from not getting revenge all this time! Hazelle and her stupid advice! He didn't need a vacation! He needed to get even! Which is why the Kid's spaceship would be the perfect hiding place! No one would suspect it! The ship wasn't too hard to get to after all. Just a form of teleporting and not even five minutes later he was there in the ship in a wild form of purple aura magic. It was when he actually got into the ship that he had to take a pause and look around the control room of said ship. It was.....quiet. Nothing except the small beeps and boops of the control panel and the small light vacuum sounds as the small vaccum robot thing slowly passed by him on the floor. Snatcher blinked at the thing as it steamrolled by his tail. With his brow raised, he watched it go past for a moment before looking back around the strange place. Well if the kid wasn't here then he'd have the chance to snoop around a bit. After all she wasn't here to stop Snatcher and this was the first time on an alien spaceship....HA! And he'd still be haunting a ship so this totally counts to scratch off his bucket list! With a sly grin on his face he chuckled. This would be the best chance he would have at getting blackmail material! There had to be SOMETHING he could use against the brat! Easily floating through walls, he made his way around the place. Kitchen, bathroom, attic, some kind of lab, hourglass filled room......Hmm. Perhaps he could take one to lure her back into his forest?? But was it worth being hit with an umbrella again??..He made a mental note of it in case he needed to use the idea. BINGO!! Kiddo's bedroom! There HAS to be some dirt he can use against her somewhere!! Well imagine his shock and surprise when he phased right through the wall and right on the other side was the kiddo's room....With one kiddo already in it. He stopped. Bow stopped looking up from the children's book she was currently holding and staring at him wide eyed. Both stared at each other. Snatcher ....didn't expect to see her here. Uh oh. The jig might be up!

...Bow blinked. "Mr. Snatcher?"

"Uh.....WHY HELLOOO THERE!!," he greeted putting that grinning facade quickly as he was used to doing. "Fancy running into you here!" He pointed at her. "What...are you doing here?"

"Reading," she answered holding up the book to him. "What are you doing here?"

"Uh....Haunting of course!," he casually made an excuse with a shrug, "Sort of my hobby, Kid. Ever heard of a ghost ship?" She nodded. "Well this is one now! But uh..Where's the other brat?"

"You mean Hattie? She said she's not gonna be here for a few days."

"WHAT!?"

Instead of being scared of an angry fire weilding soul snatching spirit, Bow just nodded casually. " Yeah! She said something about getting more time pieces!" She turned back to her book again not giving him a second glance. "But you can wait for her too if you wanna."

He cursed 'peck' under his breath and dawned a frown. Well his plan of getting her when she came back would be ruined until the brat finally came back. He didn't have time for this!! "HA! I wait for no one! when she gets back you tell her she better not disappoint me!"

Bow looked back up to ask what he meant but was only met with a small dissapearing purple smoke.

.....

.......

.....TWO WEEKS!!

He had been waiting two pecking WEEKS for that kid to come back and she hadn't!! Sometimes he'd pop in to see if she had only to find Bow watching TV, eating, or doing something! But still no Hat Brat. WHAT THE PECK!? Surely taking those blasted time pieces couldn't have been taking THAT long!! What was taking her so pecking long!? For the probably millionth time he scowled and teleported himself back to the ship to see if the brat he had been waiting for was there. Surprise, surprise she wasn't there AGAIN!! ....But strangely enough neither was Bow. Which was odd cuz he always saw her running around at least. Sometimes she'd make him sit with her and watch mind numbing TV or read to her those lame stories. Her favorite being Starella. Or he'd listen to her ramble on about her old home somewhere called Nyakuza Metro City and all the cats. That he minded the least because he had a cat too once a long time ago. But it was strange not seeing her around here now. Eh. Oh well. Now he had no one to stop him from snooping around a little bit to pass the time. Flying back into the kiddo's bedroom he took a moment to really look around the place. There wasn't a whole lot of things that could've been useful to him in there. The quiet settled in as Snatcher silently looked around the room. The cutsie styles wallpaper coupled with the small mobile attached from the ceiling was typical for what you'd expect a kid's bedroom to look like. Like the giant bear, purple chair, and the toy box. the blueprints hanging up onto the wall wasn't very interesting to him either. There must've been SOMETHING in here! Opening the closet beheld nothing either. It was totally empty! He mumbled curses under his breath before turning curiously towards the giant pillow pile. Hmm. He wondered...Being a ghost he was easily able to phase through the mountain of pillows and it was nothing but an eye sore of rainbowfied colors until- AH HA!! His head popped out into a small space that was settled under the pillows like a secret pillow fort. BINGO!! With a smile finally spreading itself on his face Snatcher peered around the small hiding spot. Well, well, well. What did we have here? There was a small shelf with books, a couple pillows strewn about, another giant bear plush, and a desk with a few things that caught his interest. First being the feather and ink pot, with the open book next to it, and what looked like just a plain non magical hourglass. But what was really interesting was the fact that the book was wide open and it looked like it was written in not too long ago.

"Well, well. I wonder what this is?"

If this was that Hat Brat's journal then maybe he could learn a thing or two that might help him beat her in their next encounter. Plus reading books was sorta his specialty anyways. With a sinister smirking glee on his face, Snatcher did what any self respecting person would do. Do research on their arch nemisis. Picking up the thick looking book in his claws he quickly flipped it to the very first page and began to read what was written. Written on the very first page was:

"Day 1....

So....I am stranded. A big guy in a chef's apron and a suit knocked on my door, and decided to mess up everything. Apparently they're the "Mafia of Cooks". Why couldn't I have gotten stranded on a normal planet?"

And that's where it ended. Except for an ink splotch at the very bottom of the page and Snatcher frowned. She didn't even use the entire page?! If one thing frustrated and annoyed him the most it was the waste of good paper and she wasted it only to write a few sentences. But what perked his interest was that it was labeled as "Day 1", and that meant this must've been when she first came to the planet and apparently when she got stranded. So could she possibly be using this book to log her day to day life on this planet? He decided to skim through the next through pages.

"Day 2...

I'm not super sure what that was supposed to be? Some big loser stood around and threw barrels at me! Some even had spikes on! Who has spiked barrels????"

The page ended in three drawing of barrels of different danger levels and labeled LV.1 Barrel, LV.5 Explosive, and LV.35 Stabber. ....Spiked barrals?? Hmm. Maybe he should use something spikey next time?

"Day 3...

Wow. And I thought the regular Mafia were weirdos. At least he had a Time Piece I could take. How do they keep finding these things...."

On the bottom of this page was mud stains with the word Mud crossed out and replaced with Alien Slime...Whatever that was about.

"Day 4....

No wonder these guys are so dumb if that's who they put in charge! I guess nobody is the boss now though....Whoops!"

This one made himself chuckle. Why? Oh because he's seen the Mafia before along with their 'Boss-in-a-Bottle' as he liked to refer to him now. And he agrees with her that the Mafia were about as smart as a rock if a rock could walk and talk. Glad to know the little Hat Brat had a sense of humor.

"Day 5...

Ha! That'll show these dumb Mafia guys how outdated single stage powder based incendiary propulsion is. Winning fairly is overrated anyway."

"AHAHAHAHA!!" He couldn't help but cackle at what was written down on the page which also ended in more ink splotches. Oh the IRONY of it all! And honestly...unexpected from her. That'd be something he'd expect himself to say not a little girl who was more interested in playing on the bouncing mushrooms.

"Day 6...

It's....so....HOT! Something seriously wrong has happened to the island. It looks like a huge volcano went off! The Mafia guys are too big and tough to admit it, but the heat is definitely getting to them. Mafia guys get way smelly when they sweat....well, way smellier!"

He chuckled again because if he still had a nose he probably would've agreed with that statement.

"Day 7...

Y'know, I've been seeing these tickets all around Mafia Town. Blue, red, green, yellow- they're kinda pretty! I HAVE been wondering where they all go though. And I've been wondering what the Mafia could be keeping inside those things too! Well today's the day I'm gonna find out!"

This page ended in what looked like the cruise tickets he saw floating in the wind. Well nothing was really interesting in the first seven pages besides him getting a small chuckle out of her, so he kept scrolling.

"Day 8...

I just met the strangest group of birds I have ever seen. Ever. One is a big disco penguin, and the other is a...uh...bird-ish thing? Is he even a bird? I have no idea. Birds don't usually have teeth, but this guy does. It's creepy. They're 'fighting' to see who can make the best movie. That's in qoutes because no one really seems to want to fight, except the Conductor."

And the page ended with a picture of herself taped to the bottom. Disco..penguin and bird thing?? Did she mean those two characters he briefly saw during the fight between her and the Mustache Brat??

"Day 9...

Y'know there's a lot of creepy...crow...type...things getting on this train, too. Actually everyone on this train is acting real funny, even the owls. And they're harmless nerdy guys! I feel like something bad might happen since it feels so freaky, but the Conductor is definitely, um, how do I put this? "Loud"? "Pushy"? How about..."persuasive"? Anyway gotta go catch a train!"

This page also ended in a small ink splotch.

"Day 10...

Ohmygosh! That big penguin DJ said I could be a STAR!!! I wonder if he means like a popstar...Wait! Do I have to learn how to sing? Maybe an internet star...No, no. A MOVIE star! DJ Grooves says he's going to take care of all that stuff, I just have to show up on set, and I'm gonna be famous! I can't wait...I just hope I don't have to sing."

At the bottom was more pictures of her but in what looked like a city at night.

"Day 11...

Every time I'm around the Conductor I can hear him mumbling about his movie. I think he's trying to find out some big, huge, impressive, exciting, AMAZING thing to do with his train. I mean, OK, MAYBE his movie could use more action or something. Like, um...uh...I actually have no idea what he could do. Being a movie director must be hard."

The page ended in question marks drawn on it. Oh yeah? If she thought that was a tough job try being in his shoes for a day!..Er..Ectoplasm for a day.

"Day 12...

This moon set sure is getting busy! There's so many moon penguins showing up! And some are bringing balloons! And there are these floats that are SUPER BIG! Everything is looking so pretty! DJ Grooves says they're all here for me too! I can't let everybody down! I don't know what we're going to do next, but I know I have to try my best for all of my fans!"

"Day 13...

I'm so excited! There's going to be a fancy awards show and I get to go! I mean I think I'm excited! I mean...I wonder if I helped the right bird win? All the birds were really nice, and the movies were sooo cool! So...I just...wonder. ANYWAY, I'm super excited to see the award! Also, the time piece, hehe."

The page ended in a picture of herself thinking.

"Day 14...

What is it with people on this planet double crossing me? It's ruuuuude! That's the last time I get involved in show business for a long time."

This page ending in exclamation marks. ...Wait. THAT'S IT!? Who double crossed her?! And what's with the wording of this? It's in a way that makes it sound like it happened twice! Then who was the first one who double crossed her!? And how!? It might've given him more ideas! ...Hmph! Guess he'd have to continue reading to see if he could find out.

"Day 15...

Uhhhh? What is this place? There's spiders and ghosts and a big creepy creepy grinning...person? Thing? They said they were gonna kill me but then made me sign some paper instead? And I think he took my soul or something? Say whaaaaaat."

And it ended with her weird alien signiture and...his SEAL!? Wait a minute...THIS JOURNAL ENTRY WAS ABOUT HIM!! Oh FINALLY!! Something worth reading about! Let's see how the Hat Brat found his work ethics.

"Day 16...

I thought I saw some weird tower poking out from between the trees in the gross swamps, but it turns out it's a big old well. The Snatcher told me so! At first I thought he was just being nice, telling me neat stuff to look for...but then he told me I'm gonna have to go down there where it's smelly and dark! Shouldn't grown ups usually be keeping kids OUT of wells or something?"

This also ended in an ink splotch. ....A strange feeling bubbled up from before but he shook it off. Hey! She agreed to the contract and he had another person to deal with that day! Some dumb Mafia wondering in. ...Maybe he could've made the Mafia guy do those things sure and...spare her as a grown up...But to be far she agreed they were dumber than rocks.

"Day 17...

A toilet. A...toilet! A TOILET! Why is there a smelly dumb gross toilet in the forest, and why do I have to deal with something so smelly and dumb and gross!?! That Snatcher is such a jerk! Why do I have to do this? I DONT WANT TO TOUCH A TOILET!"

More exclamation marks. HEY! He wasn't being a jerk!.....That time. It was HER soul that posessed it! Therefore it was HER fault and it was only fair SHE clean up HER mess!!...Granted..maybe he should've kept a better eye on it so it couldn't escape, but it wasn't HIS idea to make it posess an outhouse!

"Day 18...

That Snatcher Guy is such a jerk! Ugh! This stinks- now I need to go STEAL something 'of his' from some old lady's attic? What's an old lady doing living in this spooky forest anyway? Wait...She's going to be creepy, isn't she? Old people already creep me out..."

"AHAHAHAHA!!!" Another ink smear. "Old Creepy Lady, huh, Kid? That's definitely something I can agree with right there." But still. He wasn't being a jerk THAT time. She wanted the shiny hourglass thing, he wanted someone to check on the state of the old mansion. It's a win win. She gets the hourglass (if she made it out alive) he got to know if Vanny was still locked away tight there without seeing her...Of course he did try to slow her down...but that was desides the point.

"Day 19...

I don't get it? He seems super creepy and menacing but he wanted me to deliver mail? I have a really bad feeling about this, but he won't give up his Time Pieces unless I do his weird contracts..."

HEY!! Cut him some slack will ya!? He saw how much she enjoyed riding around on the scooter all smiles and giggling like a maniac..He hadn't seen that kind of genuine childlike lively behavior since the children in the villiage..and they don't act like that anymore..Barely any of them remember their pasts anyways....A-AND WHAT WAS SHE COMPLAINING ABOUT!? She's lucky he didn't make her give back the badge after she beat him with that blue potion!

"Day 20...

THIS GUY!!! I do his dumb jobs and then he tries to double cross me??? I beat him up and now he just wants me to go away, but he also like can't make me, so whatever."

And it included two pictures of him...Wait a minute...WHERE THE PECK DID SHE GET THESE!? He sure as PECK didn't give them to her!! He narrowed his eyes and he gave a small growl from his throat. Oooooh hoho! She was gonna get it now for SURE!!...If she ever showed UP!! Or when he figured out how...He grumbled and just flipped to the next page.

"Day 21...

That...was a really big bird cage. And a really big bird! It looked kinda too big to fly. Or move. But it was cute!"

There was a black feather taped to the bottom of the page with the words 'these are so fluffy' next to it.

"Day 22...

So hot!!! Too sweaty to write properly. Why is there a cake made of lava????? I hope the next time piece landed somewhere cold..."

And then there was 'sweat drops' and 'more sweat drops' written on the bottom of the pages....Gross! Made him cringe. ...Wait. Why did a giant bird cage and lava cake sound familiar???

"Day 23...

I think I say some ghosts today? Goat ghosts? I don't know where that bell took me but it certainly wasn't somewhere I was supposed to be."

"......Moonjumper," he growled under his breath. A small picture of a ghost plus a goat was drawn on the bottom of this page. Of COURSE she went to Alpine Peaks! Why wouldn't she? That's where the magical bell was that could transport someone into the Horizon where a whole bunch of goat ghosts and some of his kidnapped minions lived. And Moonboy with his brat! How the peck did one of her hourglasses get THERE of all places?! Even he couldn't magically teleport there unless he used the bell. He was just surprised she was able to leave without Moonboy trying to puppet-fy her...No wait. With how she beat him it was believable. Wasn't somewhere she was supposed to be is right.

"Day 24...

I think I need to lie down. Why'd it have to land at the top of that windmill? That thing was huge! Why would you build anything that big?"

and then there was a drawing of her and a windmill to compare sizes.

"Day 25...

What the heck was that all about? Those nasty plants flowered and infected the big goats or something? All I know is they got REAL angry and things got REAL stormy and it was a bad time for everyone."

More ink splotches.

"Day 26...

That got out of hand. As if this planet didn't have enough lava on it already! I'm sick of people here sneaking onto my ship! It's rude! Time for me to go home!"

More exclamation marks....Snatcher stared at the page for a good moment.This was it. This must've been the last page she wrote after fighting that Mustache Brat...before leaving the planet entirely months ago to who knows where with Bow tagging along. ......He quickly shook off that weird feeling bubbling up from his insides as he scowled. Well...No matter. Not as if he cared if she left beyond getting revenge! And there was more to read. He forced himself to turn the next page. What greeted him was a drawing of two boats and an ocean.

"Day 27...

Wow! Look at the Size of that ship! Maybe I should have made mine bigger...Anyway, this should be fun! I deserve a holiday after all this running around. I wonder if there's more time pieces here, though."

....A ship...Wait. THAT CRUISE SHE RUINED FOR HIM!! So she ended up going after all and writing about it. But why was the page labeled 'Day 27'?? Odd. She only spent a max of twenty six days here before she left. Not '27' or more? Did that mean she had one book specifically dedicated to the number of days she was spending on this planet specifically???

"Day 28...

There's tooootally more time pieces on this boat! Nobody even wants 'em! That moody old Captain made me clean up (ugh!!!) his ship, but jokes on him! At least no one's getting murdered or blown up here."

"Heh." Oh jeez. Guess he was half responsible for her opinion on that one.

"Day 29...

Uhhhh.....Whoops! I don't think anyone saw me do that. Should I come up with an excuse just in case? It was a freak accident? Icebergs just get in the way of ships sometimes? I really wanted to do it? Maybe sinking ships isn't even illegal on this planet?"

"......PFFT!! SHE DID WHAT!?" It ended with another drawing of her thinking. Don't tell him she ACTUALLY sunk the pecking ship! What a riot! OH THAT KID WAS DESTRUCTIVE WITHOUT TRYING!! Now he definitely regrets not going on that cruise to see the inevitable chaos ensuing and watching hundreds panic at the sinking ship! It totally would've been worth being inside that cramped crate! He hated to admit this...but he was finding her more lik-...But...Less unbearable by the word. Not that she wasn't unbearable. Only now a little lesser than before because she could make him laugh.

"Day 30...

This place is busy huh? These cats traveling fromall over the place! And...the trains are pulled by cats too? Weird. There was a time piece here...but some big SCARY lady made me hand it over to her. What's her deal?? Why is she so mean??"

A few cat faces/paws were drawn on along with a word in her weird alien language. Big scary lady? She couldn't have been talking about Vanessa. She HATED cats. He should know...

"Day 31...

The 'Empress' has me running around finding time pieces but then she keeps taking them back off me! Rude! She gave me some 'cash' for it. It's green and smells of cat fur. What is it for?"

This page ended in a picture of the hat brat neck deep in green stuff and wearing cat ears. 'Empress' huh? Didn't know this planet had another monarch from him. Must've been on the other side of the globe then because Vanessa was a 'Queen' of NOTHING. Not an Empress.....And what the peck was cash??

"Day 32...

The smell of food is so distracting when I'm running around this place...I wonder if that rude lady will notice if I stop looking and go eat instead."

Another ink smear.

"Day 33...

These tunnels are kinda spooky! They're all dark then a big cat comes whooshing along it...There was a smashed up time piece here too, but I had to give it over like the rest. Grr..."

"Day 34...

Woah! That was tense. I nearly got squished! All that for more of this 'cash' stuff. I'm making lots of 'money' apparently. But I want my time pieces, not this junk!"

More exclamation mark doodles.

''Day 35...

I fell through a sewer gate and there was more Metro down here?? Whaaaat? AND there was a time piece down here! But I didn't get to keep it..."

Another ink smear.

"Day 36...

So...The Metro is underground. But there's an underground train line? And these manhole covers lead under-underground? Cats are weird!"

Chapter 2: Dadtcher P2

Chapter Text

"Nice place you got here, Kiddo."

To say that it was a surprise to the children to have found the noodly spook sitting on top of the giant pile of pillows reading a book and surrounded by lit candles with his own face on them. He however was absolutely BEAMING. Everything was ready. Everything he had learnt from those diaries of the Kiddo's and from what Bow told him during their talks about her life were now finally going to be put to the test. His contracts were ready. The small little rewards to entice them into ensuring they'd do it. And the best sure fire way to get a reaction out of them both. All he had to do was to get them to actually agree to get them to do it. Although it did take him quite a few days to complete both the contracts and rewards. Sewing wasn't really something he did a lot of since making his minions bodies and it took a lot of magic to make the 'Death Wish' concept he constructed. He's lucky they decided to stick around instead of leaving in time for him to show up. Both had different reactions to seeing his smirking jack-o-lantern face down upon him. The Hat brat perked up immediately and Bow blinked in confusion but neither seemed afraid as he approuched him.

"What's up? Still alive and well I see. What a shame," he greeted in his usual cheery but menacing tone. It was easier now that the stupid empty feeling had went away now wanting to spend time seeing them....Uh. Seeing them FAIL!!!

The Hat Brat giggled but smiled seeing him. "Where were you?" That was her first question as he smiled down at her, bounding over to him and stepping on her tiptoes and craning her neck to try and peer at what he was reading. "I thought you wanted to see me."

"That's right!," he sing songed as he closed the book for a moment. "It's been a long time since we've seen one another and I decided what we needed was some quality bonding time." His smiled stretched even wider across his face. "How would you two like to earn some really nice rewards?"

That certainly caught both of their attentions as they perked up. BINGO!! Just like he wanted. "What KIND of rewards are we talking about?" Of course she'd inquire about that.

he chuckled. "It's a little game I came up with called 'Death Wish'! Oh don't worry it's completely safer than it sounds." One dark purple hand reached up and with a snap of his talons two rolled up scrolls appeared within his claws. "I've got this little map for you. You'll notice I've only marked just one contract for now. You'll have to complete it before you unlock the rest. Each contract you'll both have to sign agreeing to complete not only the base terms but the bonuses as well! And abide by any limitations or rules I've included with each task to make it harder for you all. You can both take as long as you need with as many tries as you'd like." Both gave him a look. "Oh don't worry. There's no soul payments or danger with these ones. I've included a fail safe that'll keep the both of you alive and immune to that. Once my symbol turns gold from you completing the base task and bonuses you can move on to the next contract. For every gold stamp or candle you two complete you'll receive one reward each. Checks and balances you know. So what do you two say? Complete my new contracts and I'll reward you handsomely."

Both children looked at each other regarding one another for a moment before Bow nodded and they looked back up to him. "Yeah! Let's do it!"

"GREAT!" Taking a map in each hand he unfurled them and from each magically floated out a contract each and two quills. "Just sign across the dotted line and do as the contract instructs within the magical pocket dimension. Don't worry." He smiled much much wider. "I'll be watching from the sidelines to view your progress." He watched gleefully with a chuckle as the two without hesitation signed away on the papers feeling a laugh nearly bubbling up from himself. The contracts disappearing in a puff of purple smoke as soon as they finished signing their names on them. "AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA!! Alright! Back to work! And be careful, Kid! These aren't your average everyday contracts. These are ADVANCED contracts."

And just like that the two were whizzed off into the magical mapped world he had constructed his laughs following after them both as both maps floated up for him to observe their progress like two live tv specials. THIS WAS GONNA BE GOOD!! He found amusement in seeing how many times they failed only to dust themselves back off and try again. And he was there to taunt them while doing it. Ahh. Is this what it was like to have a favorite show? He could get used to this then. Of course they didn't appreciate his taunts and teases which only seemed to make them more determined to complete the bonuses and base mission the contract stated. By the time they finally finished and he marked the first stamp as GOLD COMPLETED they were all tired and covered head to toe in dirt, and in the hat brat's case giving him the stick eye but he just laughed at them. It wasn't until the hat brat held out her hand expectantly did he finally come down from his laughing. Oh right. Their reward. Well he supposed that they DID earn it turning the stamp to a gold one, and they wouldn't likely want to do any others if they weren't rewarded as promised. So he gave in and gave them one of the rewards. Which was really just some basic clothes he designed for them. It was the one thing he could think of that the two could use around here since their closet was just an empty tomb for now. To his credit they seemed pleased with his handy work. GOOD. As they should be! After all he WAS very talented so anything he made them should be praised. But he just didn't give these out for free. If they wanted anymore then they were going to HAVE TO EARN it!! He gets entertainment, and they get fun little trinkets he conjured up. It's a great trade deal!! With the two satisfied two more contracts appeared before the two of them detailing the next task they had to do. And again they were whisked away to the next task to complete. Maybe he didn't exactly realize what he doing at first or why but he'd soon find out. Right now he was having too much fun watching these two to care, taunting and teasing them both. One contract after another was completed. One stamp after another was turned gold. One reward after another was handed over to tired but excited faces. And slowly both maps were being filled. Of course he let the two have breaks when they got too tired. Or were hungry. And he'd leave if they fell asleep. .....NOT because he cared about them pushing themselves when he 'reluctantly plopped them both on the bed! But because he wouldn't get to watch them fail more if they exhausted themselves too much. Because of this their little 'Death Wish' adventure started to extend into a few days. Each day the same thing would happen over and over and he was content to watch them both. Ah. It was almost like a proud parent watching their child learn to strengthen their skills.....ALMOST. And by the fourth day of them doing this he noticed that they had completed a fair amount of them. Even if they had to do some multiple times in order to turn them all gold.

"Looks like you've completed quite a few of my contracts," he commented one time after they returned from completing yet more contracts. The Hat Brat was farther ahead in completing them than Bow was, but both seemed to be progressing steadily. "Regretting the whole best friends forever thing yet, Kid? I can do this a whole lot longer than you can." He smiled at both their dirt covered faces but they both seemed irritated by his teasing towards them.

"Hey! Your contracts were always easy to beat, Purple Ramen Noodle!," the hat brat insulted him pointing her umbrella towards him.

He rolled his yellow eyes. "Oh yes. Burn some paintings. Unclog a toilet. Deliver some mail. You thought my contracts were so easy back then." He listed off a few of his past contracts before smiling menacingly and reaching a long arm over to flick the kid on the nose. She shouted a 'Hey!' and scowled at him while grabbing where he flicked her. "But don't be too proud of yourself. I'm only half finished with you two."

"BRING IT ON!! GIVE ME ANOTHER STUPID CONTRACT!!," She challenged him back, "I can best it with my eyes closed!"

"That's the spirit! You'll like this next one. Just don't harm any birds while doing it."

More days passed like this. And his minions were starting to grow curious about their King's sudden good mood. He'd often return when night fell on the world and then(after gaining a quick progress report. Wouldn't want anything bad happening to his forest while he was gone.) he'd just simply read until the next morning and disappear somewhere. Before the process repeated itself. Don't get them wrong, the minions were glad he wasn't in that grouchy almost sad funk he had been for a long time now, but they were curious about what was making him so happy. But none dared ask him about it in fear of ruining that good mood he had going on. He was feeling pretty good about himself but it couldn't last forever. The Hat Brat was almost done with the entire map and Bow was gaining on her fast. Both tearing through these contracts like flimsy wet paper

"You're...really tearing through these contracts aren't you?," he commented after handed the two another little reward each. Once he did notice almost the entire map filled with gold that feeling came back. He hadn't had time to even think of anymore contract ideas or make any rewards to entice them into doing things!! It already took him a long time to even think and make everything he DID provide!! But he....He couldn't figure out why he was feeling almost..panicked? He shouldn't be feeling like this! So what if they were almost done!? It's not like they were going to...to.....To leave. The very thought made him literally drop his book. All focus off the maps. Thank goodness he was the only one around to really witness himself do that as he stared blankly at nothing in particular. They...They wouldn't actually LEAVE would they? ...Not that he cared or i-it was any of his business of course. NAH! Of course they wouldn't! They had no where else to go according to the hat brat's diaries. And when speaking to Bow it sounded like she had no other home than on the ship either. But then what's stopping them from leaving here either if they had nothing holding them back from exploring the vast reaches of space far, far away from him-...Away from the planet? He tried not to think about that and only focused back onto the progress the two made. Doesn't matter. After all it WAS none of his business and he only wanted to make them suffer after they trespassed in his forest, ruined his vacation, and beat him. ....Right? It wasn't long before the two of them came back both looking exhausted, dirted, and the Hat Brat had to pat her tophat where smoke was coming off of it. Most likely from the last contract. He pulled himself together enough to smile menacingly at them. "Hey there! You smell worse than the burning parts of my forest!"

"CHECK THE MAP!!," she demanded before tossing the hat back onto her head and pouting. Arms crossed and foot tapping. Which did make him raise a brow. Not demanded a reward this time and instead jumping right into the next contract?...Fine by him!

"You ready to die some more? Great! Now let me see here." Only when he checked both maps, he paused. Almost froze like a statue really. Because on every open stamp and candle area, was a shiny golden marker. On. BOTH. Maps. He sat there speechless. ".......WHAT!?" He screeched. A glare coming over his face before snatching both maps from the air and holding them both to his face. Carefully scanning over them and checking each corner for anything he might've missed...but both maps and all contracts were completed. Otherwise they wouldn't have turned gold. He NEVER made a mistake with his contacts. "Neither of you could take your time in enjoying what I went through to set up for you??" He looked up and over at them and noticed their confused looks. "I mean.....You're not dead!?" Making both maps disappear with a snap of his fingers he frowned and picked up his book as an excuse to not look at them. "This book was useless!! I should..SUE!!"...he sighed. Placing his head in his hands and giving them an almost pout. "Ugh. You completed all my contracts, but somehow you're still alive to pester me. Thanks. I guess. No. Really. That's just great. Congratulations!" Bow giggled at his reaction and he huffed. Kids.

"We're not done yet." He hummed and raised a brow at Bow who pointed at him. "You still need to give us that last reward for finishing your last contract!"

"...Huh? You want a reward?," he asked and both nodded yes confirming his question, "Look, Kid. We've done this before. You really need to learn to negotiate up front."

"Hey! That's not fair! You promised us!" Bow insisted pointing one finger into her hands other palm as her friend kept frowning at him. "One reward for every contract we defeated! You still need to give us one!"

"I get the feeling you're not going to leave me along unless I hand over something. It's always about you, huh?" He huffed and looked away. Truth be told he DID have one last gift for the two of them but...he was for some reason reluctant to give it. "You know you weren't even supposed to make it this far! They should be picking out flowers for you right now! So I guess we can't always get what we want- HEY!!" He very quickly had to snap his head back up to avoid his head getting swatted by a bright blue umbrella as the hat brat stood on her tip toes with a scowl waving it at him. "Now there there!" he tried holding up his arms to her. "At least you have the feeling you achieved something. You earned it."

"SNATCHER!! C'mon you Pecking pool noodle!," she said threatening with her umbrella, "Cough it up!"

he gave her a dead panned look before pushing her umbrella away from ease. "If it wasn't clear, our business is concluded. Go Bother someone else, Kiddo."

He nearly jumped when Bow placed her hand on his side and he blinked at her. "Please Mr. Snatcher?" She asked a smile on her innocent face. "We did everything you asked and you already gave us all the others."

He stared at her for a long moment before sighing. "Fine. If it'll get the both of you two off my back." Both watched in anticipation as Snatcher reached a hand up and with a snap two things happened. The book and candles he had brought with him disappeared and what looked like two slightly torn capes appeared before them. The perfect size for children their sizes. They grabbed them and he grumbled. "There the last thing I have to offer the both of you. ...When you put it on you might be in for a big surprise. You won't get any ghostly powers of course." They looked at him. "And you won't get any magic or anything and it won't stop you from dying if you do anything foolish. But it's a nice little look a like. Now if you excuse me, I have some unfinished business elsewhere to take care of." Before the two could respond they were blasted with purple smoke and a moment later Snatcher had disappeared.

Snatcher had gone back to his forest. A mixture of emotions running through his mind as he just...paced and sat around staring at nothing for the next days and now his minions were worried again. It's obvious by the large frown on Snatcher's face that something was bothering him and bothered he was. But he just. Couldn't. Understand. WHY!? Just...WHY!? He felt angry. He felt upset, worried, anxious, and panicked!! He felt..empty. Just like when they were gone again. They hadn't attempted to visit his forest either during this time, as if they were done with him- Snatcher ended up growling and minions ran for cover when he let out a raging screech claws digging into the fluff around his neck and threatening to rip out the fluffy purple hairs of his fluff. WHY COULDN'T HE FIGURE THIS OUT!? HE HATED FEELING THINGS!! WHY WERE THINGS SO COMPLICATED!? WEREN'T YOU SUPPOSED TO REST IN PEACE ONCE YOU WERE A GHOST!?

"My, my. What a tantrum." His anger form into a snarl on his face snapping like a mouse trap towards the voice and found none other than a pink wearing witch standing there. But instead of her usual cocky and infuriating smirky self she just stared at him blanking arms crossed across her chest watching him. "I could hear you all the way in the Horizon if you tried hard enough."

...He hissed again turning way from Hazelle. "If you're here to make fun of me, Witch, I suggest leaving! I DONT want to be bothered right now."

"Mmm hmm." Instead of leaving she came right on in and made herself at home, daring to sit on his chair's footrest. One leg crossed over the other as she stared at him blankly. "I'm sure you don't but I'm going to be a bother anyways and say that I think you're avoiding this whole liking kids thing for too long."

"What the peck are you spouting out, Hag!?," he demanded crossing his own arms still bristled up like a procupine. "As if I'd like ANYONE let alone two snot nosed brats who make it a point of barging into MY forest and daring to embarrass me in front of all my minions!!"

"So you say." Her brows rose and her eyes narrowed, "But yet you haven't made any point to actually harm them? Or trick them into lifelong servitude? Or giving you their souls? And you created a fail safe within those contracts so that they wouldn't die?"

He bristled more a sudden fury coming to his bright yellow eyes. "HOW THE PECK DO YOU EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT!?"

"The darlings visited Timmy yesterday. Nice get ups you made them by the way. The ones you made to make them look exactly like you when they put them on? If that doesn't scream attachment I don't know what does, Snatchy."

"YOU WOULDN'T KNOW ANYTHING!!!"

"There's no reason to yell you know."

"THEN WHY ARE YOU EVEN HERE!?"

To her credit Hazelle didn't flinch or get angry back. "Because as your friend I became concerned for you. Last time I heard you were happy and I thought you had solved your situation but clearly there's something deeper bubbling under your ectoplasm." he opened his mouth- "Snatcher. This is completely out of character, even for someone as eccentric and dead as you are."

".....What are you getting at?''

She sighed. "Snatcher, you're essentially treating them as if you care about them. Albeit to a strange extent but it's pretty obvious you're going about this in your own ghostly way." He gave her a look. "Before you say anything let me ask you a question. It's a simple yes or no. Do you care about your little helpers running around here?"

He huffed. Floating over and plopping himself down into the giant armchair across from her. Digits digging into the arms of the chair. Both exchanging a look for a silent moment. ".....They're what's left of my people."

"That's a yes then." She moved her head into one of her hands. "You went through all the trouble of making most of them bodies that you hand sewn together and made a whole bunch of them sign your little contract of work and protection. And I remember how heated up you got when Mr. Moonjumper snatched a couple of them away from you-"

He growled again. His grip on the armchair threatening to leave cuts in the chair's fabric. "That no good star gazing peckneck would benefit from not sticking his nose where it doesn't belong!! Which includes my contractors."

He blinked when she suddenly pointed a hand at him. "See! That's what I'm talking about. Right there. You usually don't care about anyone other than yourself but when you do actually care for someone you deny it of course. But then you do things like get mad if someone threatens them."

"HEY!! THEY. ARE. MINE!!" Her brow rose. "......T-To torment!! And I always need contractual workers. Moonboy can go find his own forest of the dead to take over and he has that magic brat of his own!! So those two brats are mine to take revenge on!"

"You're also very territorial and protective over them as well and get angry at anything you perceive as a threat towards said people you care about. You care about those two girls. There's no doubt about that." He jumped...and scowled opening his mouth to argue- "Argue and rant all you want. We both know I've known you long enough to know it's the truth!...But what I can't understand is why you're acting so uncharacteristic about all of this? You usually don't get so uptight and practically on a verge on a mental breakdown. You're usually like 'If I care about them, I care about them. So what? I have traps to set and contracts to make people sign.' Not 'I'm going to spend days on end hung over them and roar into the sky'. It's concerning to say the least."

Snatcher said nothing as he stared at Hazelle for a long, long moment....before he groaned and a hand reached up to rub at his face. "....It's nothing personal." She blinked as he slumped down into the chair. "But this is between whatever those brats did to me and just me. It's no concern of yours. I'd rather not have you messing about with my matters. I don't need another person to deal with so stay out of it."

Hazelle made to stare at him longer before sighing to herself, and making to stand up as he watched her from behind the hand rubbing his face. "Alright. I get when I won't be able to do anything else. But Snatcher for your sake please just...think about what I said. Ok?''

Snatcher said nothing when the witch left. And he still didn't say or do anything but stay there slumped in his chair, one hand holding his lower face as he stayed there for a long, long moment. The words Hazelle had spoken staying in his mind replaying over and over silently but instead of getting angry as was his usual reaction to something like this...he let it come together like a puzzle from the attic. All dusty and then all of a sudden brought out into the light and put together at long last, until he realized there was still some pieces needing to be placed. And so he got up from the chair to go find them. Minions and dwellers alike only watched on in confusion as a dark shadow shot out from the tree house and start snaking it's way through the trees in the woods. Faster than a bullet it shot from the hot and humid areas of the swamp to the cold and desolate area of the forbidden frozen bridge. Easily flying over the long broken bridge that separated the two areas and into the forever winter areas. The cold wind blew at his face as he made his way past houses. Some perfectly preserved frozen in ice while others were completely dismantled slowly rotting away in the winter forever. Well he went past all that, and being a ghost he easily phased through the ice barrier that was all around the manor which loomed in the distance. He slowed the closer he came to it, eventually stopping in the giant looming shadow it casted upon the snow. Snatcher's yellow eyes narrowed at it as another snarl appeared on his face. He LOATHED this place. After all it was the place he died. He hadn't been back here in a long time. In fact the last time he was even here was when he messed with the kiddo on the third floor, keeping the key away from her in a sort twisted game of tag. Since then the place had been completely empty except for ....HER of course. With the snarl still on his face, the shadow continued forward. Like with the ice barrier it was easy for him to just completely phase through the walls and right into the manor. The inside was just as dark and eerie as ever but he came here just to see one specific place in particular. It wasn't too much for him to go through the ceiling and arrive on the second floor, and it took him even less to go through one wall and arrive at the one spot that always seemed out of place among the entire manor. The child's bedroom.

"You know...out of every room in this place..I never once gave this one a second thought," he mumbled to himself in the dark.

The room itself was dark. Happy royal blue made up the carpet comically made to look like a patchwork quilt. The only company the room really had was two frozen statues of two foolish souls who dared to come in here. And of course the eerie toys. The giant teddy bear in one corner was barely still sewn together having the seams coming undone after so many years of sitting there with his only company being the just as creepy rocking horse in another corner with it's happy pink paint chipping and peeling off. Who knows. Maybe they would've lived in the fantasy scenery set up in the very middle of the nursery. But none of those were important to him. It was the crib that caught his attention as he stared at it....Snatcher neared the cradle. Settling his claws on the side, and stared down at the neatly made and undisturbed quilt blanket and pillow that was still sitting there the exact same day the bed had been first made. Still waiting for the little baby to be swaddled in it's grasp for him to look at and have to call his own. Seeing it now...staring up at him back empty made him feel...Strange. Empty almost. Snatcher was right in what he had said before. Out of every room in the manor he never once gave this room much of a second thought. Why? He wasn't too sure. He guessed it must've been because he was too caught up in the events that happened his death and anything that had happened afterwards but those two kids stirred up some old feelings of his...And he finally had gotten the answer to it. It took a while for sure not realizing what he was feeling, but Hazelle's blunt but obvious points had helped him piece it together. (Not that he'd ever admit it to her tho-) This part of him was buried deep down but it had resurfaced and he knew what it was now...Kids. A long time ago, back when he was alive, he had wanted kids. With...With Vanessa before the whole falling out thing. That made him shiver. Thank PECK they didn't actually have any children together when alive! He dared not think about even the possibility of having any ties with her than he already did! But....They were planning on having them after they were married. After all when one was the rulers of two kingdoms you'd need an heir to pass on your legacy too...Or in his case he guessed he didn't actually need them considering he didn't have to pass his legacy onto anyone being able to continue ruling after death. But thinking back on it now..Hazelle might've had a point. Ever since the Great Subcon Freeze he had taken the village's children and any adult spirits into his care so why would he have this empty feeling about children if he already took care of many that were both children and adult before they died??....Simple answer. They weren't the children he remembered. No longer running around with that happy cheerful giggling, singing songs, asking him to play whenever he had Visited Vanessa's kingdom. PECK!! Most of them couldn't even remember who they were in life and just acted like-....Like minions. Sure most had different personalities and they all acted differently, but they just-....It just wasn't there anymore. Not that it was his fault at all. After all it was Vanessa's pecking actions that did this all under a blooming misunderstanding!! ...Sigh. That didn't matter anymore anyways.

Y'know...The two of them were both very different in personality. The hat brat was adventurous, had spunk, courage, not afraid to really face danger head on, spontaneous, and a lot more crafty than given credit for. A lot like him actually. If he had a daughter he didn't have a doubt that she'd be a lot like the Hat Brat. But Bow....Heh. Bow was the complete opposite minus one or two things. She was a harder worker than her friend, often having to work harder to catch up to her progress but she had determination which he admired. From all the times he had spent with her back when he was waiting for the Hat Brat to show up, he had gotten a feel for how she really was. Bow was...sweet. Kind. Very, Very creative often telling him her many stories and adventures from her pictures. But she was also very, very smart on the ways of survival. For one she knew how to sneakily pick pocket someone and hide really well which he was surprised at, but lost the surprise when she casually explained where she had grown up. Nyakuza Metro. A place full of cat crime and in an orphans home. How or why she had grown up amongst cats neither had any idea, but he was a bit concerned. A child her age grew up among criminals in a thieving city, picked up a few bad habits, left, and then wondered around homeless without adult care until she had somehow ended up in Mafia Town and there she met the Hat Brat who invited her along and took her to live on her ship. Well...at least it explained why Bow loved cats. Both wondering about in space without anyone else except each other and a cleaning robot. Just like all the lost souls he had to take in. Just like his people it wasn't any of their fault others put them into this mess. He couldn't just leave his people alone to struggle on their own. He was their ruler. Their Prince. Their KING. With Vanessa's mother dead from her illness, his parents most likely dead from the frost, and Vanessa betraying them he was their only option. Maybe he wasn't the best but he was certainly better than the Ice Hag. And he was very guilty back then resorting himself into taking responsibility for the lost souls. If he couldn't save them in life, then he'd guide them in death. And so, after many years of harvesting souls and keeping trespassers out, the first lively children in a thousand years came trotting back into his life. Stirring up all these hidden wants and desires within him and reminding him of the has-beens and almost-hads in life. And any day now they might leave soon. Peck. They might leave today or right this second as he was blissfully staring off into the cold and barren crib.

......With a long and drawn out sigh his hands squeezed the old wood of the crib making it creak under his grip before he let go. Well. That settled it. His mind was made up. After all he had gotten everything he wanted in life in death. His own kingdom? YEP! The whole forest and frozen area. And all his loyal minions. Wanted to do what he wanted? He had all eternity and the freedom for that now!! Revenge? HA!! He had taken everything Vanessa once had and she was trapped forever inside the manor by her own curse! If he wanted he could mess with her anytime he wanted! Friends? Hm. He guessed Hazelle and his subjects counted. Not that he'd admit it. Children? Well...Again he guessed some of his subjects counted as some were young during the freeze, but again none were as..Alive as he envisioned them once as....But there was a good solution to fix that problem right up. After all. What better revenge could he have on those two kids than to make them eternally obligated to stay with him and do as he says?!

"Whooooo's theeeeeere?" With a snap of his neck towards the door he scowled. Oh great. The witch sensed a presence in her home. The cold aura of the manor intensified to great levels as the red eyed woman made her way towards the destroyed nursery by her own claws. "My Prince, is that you?" The door to the nursery was opened with a flurry of snowflakes as the shadow woman burst her way into the nursery only to find no one .

Back on the ship two small children were happily watching TV. Some kind of cartoon with a cat chasing a cartoon mouse and getting into all kinds of hijinks making the two small children giggle at what they were doing on the screen. Neither was really expecting the dark poof of purple behind them, or to be startled by the entity that showed up before them, or really expected to see SNATCHER of all people appearing in the middle of their spaceship. They had jumped spooked, but upon seeing who the specter was calmed down quite quickly.

"Snatcher?," The Hat Brat asked raising a brow.

He regarded them both for a very long moment. The silence becoming eventually so awkward that they both looked at one another before shrugging. Oh boy....here we go. They watched as he gave off a sigh. Reaching a clawed hand up to slowly drag down his face silently, eyes closed....before he opened them again and regarded the both of them for a long, long moment. Well...this was it. He came here because he wanted something. However he wasn't too sure how to approach this at all...except professionally. Not sure if that'd work on two children but it's worth a shot.

"I'm here because I want you both to sign a contract," he finally settled on saying crossing his arms over his chest. Both seemed to perk up at the idea. "It's not like those fun little 'Death Wishes' and it isn't a work contract either. Don't get that mixed up." He clarified pausing for a moment regarding them for a bit. "......I couldn't help but notice you two haven't really taken off in this fancy spaceship of yours for quite a while now. It either means you decided to stick around, at least for a while, or you don't have anywhere else to go." As expected both had reactions to what he had just said. Hat Kid flinched and Bow paused as they both stared at him wide eyed. Guess he must've caught him off guard with that. "That doesn't matter to me though." he continued before either could say anything. "I'm more interested in making your stay here actually permanent. You both could he highly useful to me and it's not everyday I stumble across someone who I actually make an investment like this in." He smiled. "So I might as well expand our business endeavors!" With a snap of his fingers a single contract and quill appeared from no where and both kids watched as it floated down to them. "Just sign on the dotted line and you won't ever have to worry about a home again!"

Both exchanged a look again, then looked at Snatcher, before taking a good at the new contract. The paper looked old and slightly torn around the edges here and there. At the very top of the paper was a fancy drawing of the creature before her with the face and his arms outstretched, beneath that was some very fancy writing that read "CONTRACT" in fancy bold capital cursive letters. The Rest was also in fancy cursive but lucking she could read it pretty well reading someone's fancy cursive order of flowers all the time. It read as followed:

CONTRACT

SERVE THE DEAD WITH WHAT THE AGREEMENT STATES

You have been chosen by the benevolent and merciful the Snatcher. The terms and services will include your life long servitude and loyalty to said ruler The Snatcher. You have been lost but you are lucky enough to have been selected as few mortals to help the eternal after life and anything the Snatcher requests within reason of the servants morals and abilities. The following territories of the forest shall be available for the signer to visit willingly as they please.

-The Subcon Forest

-The Employer's Home (with special permission)

-The Subcon Village

These parts shall NOT be available for any reason and will not be negotiated unless the employer says otherwise.

-The Haunted Manor

-The Frozen Bridge

-The Subcon Swamp

-The Subcon Well

-The Frozen Territory

-Any place my employer has said is off limits

By signing this the signer shall be paid for their service and loyalty with immortality (non ageing), protection from the Snatcher and those under him, a home, and anything the signer requests within reason. Binding by contract means your soul shall remain bound to the contract which cannot be broken by any means except by will of the employer, a.k.a the Snatcher. And in return the signer shall do ask the Snatcher asks with they're full cooperation and be given full custody of the signer. If the Snatcher at any point terminates the contract the signer's soul shall be released from his care and they shall live a normal rest of their life. By agreeing you shall also be safe from other supernatural entities and their influences whatever they may be, including influences from the employer and other minions. Also by signing this the signer agrees to willing do this and become a certified minion of The Snatcher. If you have complaints, suggestions, or other, the signer must report them to their employer immediately. As a down payment for all provided by the Snatcher, he shall be given the contract with your soul will be bound to for eternity unless decided otherwise, but the servant will be allowed free of will, full freedom, favors the employee asks of The Snatcher, with full control of their mind, body, and their soul in their body. Room and board, immortality, food, and any other living necessities shall also be provided by the Snatcher as stated.

SIGNED

And then there was two small lines for both their names.

He watched as they both stared at it. Anxious and worry feeling bubbling up beneath. What if they say no? "Are you trying to take our souls again?"

WHAT!? NO!! "Hey! You get to keep literally EVERYTHING. You're soul won't even belong to me. Only the contract it'll be connected too." So he could keep you both safe from MOONBOY!! The very thought of that puppeteering glitching rat trying to control either of them with those pecking red strings of his made his talons did into his arms in annoyance. He was lucky Moonjumper hadn't thought of that blasted idea earlier and he'd gotten to them first. Who knows what he'd do then? "UGH!! Look...this is...complicated. But there's no tricks. Not this time. I honestly wouldn't mind having you brats around to work for me."

"So...you're adopting us!?," Bow's eyes suddenly sparkled as a hopeful smile spread across her face. Hattie's eyes widening.

He paused........ Adopting? Well, he guessed in a way he was although he had a different idea about going about this. "I-....I suppose one could call it that. BUT D-DON'T YOU BOTH BE GETTING ANY IDEAS!! IT'S NOT LIKE I CARE ABOUT YOU IN THAT SENSE OR ANYTHING!! N-Now are you going to si-" he paused at the sound of scribbling pencil, and looked down. Eyes blinking wide in shock.

Bow was smiling and signing away on the small paper with the quill. It didn't take her too long to write her name down before she handed it to Hattie who smiled just as wildly and excitedly to also scribble her name down on the paper.....And Snatcher's smile widened as relief and JOY flooded his ectoplasm! Once she did sign the pen disappeared in a small puff of smoke and she jumped, her grip on the contract loosening enough for the giant ghost to snatch it from her. At the same time a giant burst of energy throbbed hard within the very core of their bodies. Temporarily knocking the wind outta them. They gasped and fell to her hands and knees at the sudden tight feeling within them. Their body emitting a small purple light in the dead center of their chest before as soon it came it left and they stayed laying down gasping and blinking at the sudden sensation that came and left. Leaving goosebumps across the their flesh and shaking like a leaf again. Coughing and eventually snapping up to him. He smiled reading over the contract before it disappeared in a puff of flames too.

"AHAHAHAHA!! That seals the deal, Kids! We're in business!"

"W-W-What the PECK was THAT?!," Bow stuttered out, sitting up and pressing a hand against her chest where the purple light had appeared. Hattie getting up beside her slightly dazed.

"Relax. You're unharmed. It was just the bond ceiling between us and the magic forming a strong protective shield around your soul so no one, not even Vanessa, can harm you. Don't worry. You're perfectly fine. Although you might feel winded for a bi- OOF!!."

In a blur of purple and yellow, he was tackled hard to the floor by the Hat Brat. Landing straight to the ground by her launching herself straight into his chest like some strong tackle hug to him. .....He groaned and soon long after Bow also threw herself onto him in a fit of giggles. His scowl was met with that smug face the kiddo did all too well.

"I'm going to call you Dad so much!"

....He sighed flopping his head back. Well...he guessed he was asking for that when he even had them sign that contract. Fulfilling one of his greatest wants and desires after nearly a thousand years of never being given the chance to have any sort of family. Perhaps this was fate dealing him a good hand finally all these years. But now he had another problem...He had to remember to get a How To Care For Kids book.

Chapter 3: The Witch And The Ghosts

Chapter Text

"Thank you so much for helping me collect all these ingredients. I swear some times they can be so hard to find. Good thing you're a plant expert huh?," the witch expressed with gratitude as copper eyes smiled over towards the woman next to her.

The red head smiled back batting her own hand. "Nah. Ah'm just glad to get out of that spaceship for a while. Those tiny hallways aren't too good on the back havin' ta crawl through them all the time."

The witch nodded. "Yes. It can be difficult if you can't go through walls or know any teleport spells." She chuckled. "I wonder how Snatchy's doing watching the children by himself for the first time in a while?~"

Poppy shrugged but chuckled too. "I'm sure they'll be fine. The purple onion's not that incompetent. 'Sides he was watchin' 'em way before I came along."

"Hmm. True, true. In all my years of knowing him he's always been the kind to bounce back no matter the situation." Hazelle smirked. "Even if he does get incredibly stubborn and selfish about things."

"That's true like a big ol baby that one."

"Yep. Been that way for the five hundred and counting years I've known him."

....Poppy rose a brow and shifted the basket of plants in her arms. "About that. You know how Phi-..I mean Snatcher met me, but I don't you've ever told me how you ended up meeting the kooky noodle."

Hazelle chuckled before raising a brow and smirk back to Poppy. "Oh? Would you like to know? It's a simple tale really." Poppy nodded. "Alright then. It all started five hundred years ago when I was just a young witchling. I heard that the Subcon Forest was cursed and haunted and all the other rumors they still spread, but the promise of all those magical properties untouched was too much of a good thing to pass up.~"

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Whelp! She was lost. Not that she was concerned mind you. She could still very well teleport her way out of here and to the safety of her own dimension or where ever she wanted to on this planet, but she wasn't giving up yet. Besides, it's been a while since she trolled around in such a delightful dark and dreary place like this. Chalk full with natural magical and spiritual energy that she felt course right through her very veins. She had seen a couple of these so called 'evil' spirits but they were nothing but small and meek. Looking like small scarecrow dolls or colorful worms attached to masks who fled when she walked past or stared. Not very threatening persey. but who was she to judge? The bag of dead plants and other things she found along the forest floor weighed down on her shoulder but she still smiled walking calmly through the fog and dead trees that slowly passed her. Yep. Completely utterly lost but she still wasn't worried yet-...Until something worrying DID happen. She was still looking around and not paying attention to where she was going so she shouldn't have been surprised when the ground suddenly swallowed her up making her fall backwards and yell out. What swallowed her up was a large flash of white and she felt herself get stuck up feet in the air. The white sheet felt like some kind of rucksack similar to the one she was using to carry her plants. But it was a dingy white from being hidden under a layer of dirt for who knows how long. Seemingly in some kind of trap. Well peck! How was she supposed to get out of this?

"Oh dear. This certainly is a pickle. Now who would do such a thing as set up a trap in the middle of a haunted forest?"

She was shut up when she felt the whole world shake. Knocking the poor trapped woman back onto her behind within the trap, what sounded like a humungous tree cracking and falling over with the shaking made her pause as the tarp swayed also caused by the shaking. The panicked cawing of crows as they flew to safety amplified whatever she was feeling, copper eyes looking around the tarp until they locked onto movement. SOMETHING. BIG. Was just outside the tarp. A shadow silently moved along side the outside of the tarp and her brow rose. Well that didn't look too promising. Now did it? SNAP!! The woman tumbled out from the bottom of the trap and her yelp was interrupted as she face planted the dirt. Dirt and small twigs sticking to her hair as she did. Purple. EVERYWHERE. Suddenly dark purple. Her head raised as reality itself disappeared and purple warped her view everywhere. The same giant shadow suddenly falling over her and the booming raspy voice behind.

"AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! FFFFFOOOOOOOLLLLL!!! YOU BLEW IT PUNY MORTAL!! NO ONE ENTERS MY DOMAIN AND WALKS OUT THE SAME!!"

She calmly got herself up and started dusting the purple soil from her pink and white outfit.

"TREMBLE IN MY WAKE AS YOU'RE COMPLETELY UTTERLY HELPLESS!!"

She reached up to straighten her hat before turning around. ...And sighing seeing half her bag was split out onto the ground. Oh dear. Now she'd had to pick that up all over again. With another sigh she leaned over, grabbed the bag, and began picking back the plants up she collected.

"NOW YOUR MORTAL SOUL IS MI-..," The weird shadow paused. Blinking his giant yellow eyes at the fact that this mortal before him...Was NOT trembling in fear. Or cowering. Or begging for her life....Or even reacting to him. Instead she ignored his entire existence as she picked up something....Making him instantly scowl. "HEY!! I'M TALKING TO YOU!!"

"I'm aware," she answered back standing back up once she had picked up all of her herbs and then turned her raised brow look to him finally. She took a moment to take in his entire long sixteen foot purple self and the scowl on his face. "...You are kinda hard to miss with how loud you are."

"Insolent little Peckneck!!," he roared leaning down to stare her face to face with a snarl. "Do you have any idea who you're speaking too! I am the all might Snatcher! You're in my forest and you WILL fear me!"

"Wow. You like to really to boast yourself up I see. Very egotistical I assume too."

"W H A T!?" Oh holy PECK. This spirit was mad now. Well...She assumed he was a spirit by how he looked and the magical aura he gave off. Pure and RAW spiritual energy. In fact...The most powerful soul she had ever come across. Fascinating..But still, who was he to boss her around like that? He hissed and held out a claw threateningly close to her face to point at her. Not that she flinched. Instead she looked almost amused really. "You have NO idea who you're dealing with! I CAN TAKE YOUR SOUL IF I WANTED TOO!!"

"I think you'd actually have to catch me first.~"

"YOU THE PECK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"

"A witch."

The ghost paused....blinking at such a blunt response from the smiling woman. It actually took him a moment to respond to her. "A....witch?"

She nodded. "Yep! Cauldron stirring, potion making, pointy hat wearing witch.~"

After a moment further his brow rose as he frowned. "Well witch or not you trespassed in MY FOREST and you're going to pay the price!"

"As much as I'd love too, I really can't stay. Shapeshifter is at home waiting for me and if I don't show he'll try to eat the bats again."

"HA! You can't escape! No mere mortal can escape my traps."

"Well it's a good thing I'm not a 'mere mortal'." With a smiled she held up her hand. "Chow.~" And snapped her fingers. Disappearing into literal thin air.

The ghost sat there stunned into silence. Stuck in his purple world with nothing but the trap for company.

"........WHAT THE P E C K!?"

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"I wished I could've seen his face." Hazelle giggled as they passed the small old building that Snatcher usually used whenever he wasn't in his own tree house home. A sign labeled "Snatcher's Shack'' right in the ground right by it as they passed. "But I couldn't leave Shapey unintended."

"Uh huh." Poppy walked along right with her still carrying her basket and giving her a raised brow before shrugging it off and looking forward again. "Well that certainly sounds like something you would do. But what 'm missin' is how you two became friends."

Hazelle waved her hand. "Well the plants here turn to out to have many magical properties. So I had to keep coming back for more. He didn't give up trying to catch me for a long time but it turns out my magical abilities allow me to slip by his and over the course of five hundred years I guess he realized that it was useless to keep trying to grab me. So we made a little deal."

"Deal?"

She smirked. "At the time he was having some very nasty rivalry with Moonjumper, or so he says. Found out about my little blue ghost repellent potions from getting too close to me sometimes. Took some interest in them. So we made a deal. He'd let me come and get as many potion ingredients as I want and in return." She held up her basket with a little shake. "All I had to do was make him a small handful of blue potions every moon or so. I kind of feel bad for causing Moony some trouble with them but it's all fine now."

".....Speaking of which. How did ya end up meetin' that other kooky ghost anyways?"

"Moonjumper? Haha! Well that certainly was a much more pleasant experience than meeting Snatcher I must say. He was much more polite too....Hmm. But if I actually think about it...I actually met him a little while after Snatchy and I made our little deal."

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It was a quiet night. Except for the chirping of crickets. A gentle breeze swept through the cool air, and stars shone. Even though it was a peaceful night, not everyone was sleeping peacefully. Two eyes were wide awake enjoying the beautiful wonders of nature and all it had to provide to the silent melody of it's mistress the night and all her dark beauty as the world slumbered in her wake. On a normal day it would look so much different. Sunny. Birds singing. The world was filled with the happy screaming of children as they played and couples walked too and from down the paths or having picnics in the sunshine......Or it would have been if this forest wasn't haunted by vengeful ghosts and cursed on top of it. Not that she minded. She loved this forest how it was. If she wasn't living in her own magical hot spot this might've been a good place to live without unwanted attention. Her footsteps only adding to the magical melody taking place from her as they walked along the trees glimmer with dew from that morning fog.. The reflections shining like the stars themselves mirroring walking in some forbidden heaven of the night for them both. The wind blown around her and she shivered rubbing her body against a tree to keep up body heat to not catch a cold. Hopefully it'll work. The light reflected off of her eyes making it seem like they shined brighter than the world around them as she walked about looking past things. The glowing mushrooms and moon above being her only source of light in the darkness as she carried about her. Over her shoulder a bag of magical things like stones, herbs, plants, and other natural magical specialties one could only find right here in this forest. Luckily for her there was plenty to go around.

But that did beg the question. Where was the exit again? There was barely anymore abandoned houses and by now she was just wondering around smiling enjoying the peaceful night. Her instincts began tugging her in a direction off the beaten path. It took those eyes a moment to realize that she were still going down a path, but it looked overgrown with dark grass and Dark trees all round them. Clearly no one had come down here in a long, long while. But that didn't seem to change the mood of the girl who never stopped tugging herself forward. Trees passed and the path was slowly starting to open up ahead of her. The trees parted ways to make a small clearing in the middle of the forest, but not too big of a clearing. It looked about the size of one of the houses she's seen. And smack dab in the middle of this random clearing was a small tree. Compared to the other trees in the surrounding forests this one was considerably smaller and had a smaller trunk than the others. This one must've been younger than the others before the Subcon Curse set in. Couldn't be older than a few years at most before then. She was easily pulled through the black as night grass and up to the small tree that stood proudly in the middle of the night grass. The air smelt heavily of grass and faint swamp gas making her head swim slightly. Her eyes memorized by the calmness of the area but blinked with curiosity back to her surroundings. Curious spot like this to be smack dab in the middle of a haunted forest, but oh well. This place looked as good as any to stop and take a brake. Her shoulder was starting to get sore from carrying the sack for so long and while he can teleport out anytime she wanted, but how else was she supposed to make a mental map of this place and the best patches for magical ingredients if she didn't walk around and look? The sack was plopped onto the dark purple ground and Hazelle soon fell after. Plopping herself onto the ground with a sigh. It would soon be daylight anyways, so she could take a break and walk around a little more in a few hours. Leaning against the tree and looking up at the stars above, she settled her tired body from her trip. She supposed she should keep going but right now it didn't seem any of that or anything else mattered. Not the moon. Not the stars. Not the past. Not even the wind that threatened to chill her to the bone. The wind blew some more rustling the dead leaves and driving the intoxicating swamp scent around her more. She was too tired and needed rest. With the moon looking down over her she laid her head down to rest and fell asleep...but not really. She wasn't really feeling sleepy-tired, more like if you ran a whole bunch and just needed a break like tired. So she crossed her legs, put her arms behind her head, and pulled her pointy hat over her eyes to block out the moonlight as she sighed. This was the life. No rules. Going at her own pace. Just relaxing whenever she wanted and doing what she loved. Just her. The wind blowing through the dead trees. And the sudden looming of a figure over her-

....Wait-

She paused. Uh OH. Here we go again. Her first instincts was to expect a giant looming shadow noodle with those grumpy yellow eyes staring at her...but that was dashed out the window when the magical aura hit her like a ton of bricks. This presence was...Powerful for sure. MUCH more powerful than the average Dweller or Subconite for sure..But not as powerful and almost intoxicating power fueled aura as Snatcher. So..There was no way it could've been him. The auras felt too different. So then that begged the question. WHO was right above her? At first Hazelle didn't move, only sat there unmoving to not alert the presence above her figuring out her next move. Not that she was nervous. Just...cautious. Never knew what spirits you would find in this forest after all. If she needed too, Hazelle could just teleport back to her home by snapping her fingers. But something did indeed catch her attention. The faint sound of...metal? Hmm. That was strange certainly. It-...It almost sounded like the sound of chains if someone moved them around. Calmly, Hazelle reached a hand up and grabbed her hat, pushing it up and out of her eyes. And what she saw right above her made her pause for sure. Because right above her floating around was a GHOST. But not one she had ever seen before. Mitch matched red eyes bore into her soul as deathly blue skin and a head of blue hair stared back at her. Whelp. She found the source of the metal noise considering that this ..thing wore chains around his wrist that dragged across the air whenever his arms moved. Strangely this spector sported some kind of orange-red suit and monocle over his right eye. His body seemed to shake and jerk around as if he was constantly being shaken. A strange sight to be sure. The two of them stared at one another for a moment. Before the she spoke.

"You know it is very rude to stare."

The thing seemed to be taken aback as he blinked before finally speaking. "O-Oh. *ahem* Y-Yes. How rude of me." Ah. So it COULD talk. Hazelle's brow rose now and a smile tugged on her lips. His (At least she assumed it was a he. It sounded like a man.) voice was different from Snatcher's. While the purple noodle's voice was raspy this ghost's voice sounded more smooth and echo-y. Almost sounded human..Almost. The thing brought his hands up fumbling for a moment as if not sure how to handle someone talking to him for a moment before clearing his throat and placed a single hand on his chest composing himself. In one fluid motion the ghost leaned down and extended his other arm in a graceful bow to her. "Greetings, Fair Maiden. Forgive me if my sudden presence startled you. But it is rare to see another person this far in the forest, especially a living one at that. Usually the ones I do see aren't so....'lively' persay or quickly fall victim to a much bigger threat amongst the trees."

"Oh. You must mean Snatcher right?"

Again the thing suddenly stared at her pausing and blinking. Before sputtering again not believing what she had just boldly stated in front of him. "I-....H-How do you-"

"You can say we have a little exchange going on." In response her hand reached over and grabbed the bag next to her. Lifting it up as he looked to it. "I make him a few knick knacks he likes and in return I can pick up a few magical goodies here and there.~"

The dapper dressed ghost continued to stare at the bag for a moment then back at her. Seeming to think something over in his head. "...I-....must admit..That was not what I was expecting to hear so ..forward of you just a few sentences into a conversation with a stranger."

She shrugged. "Well I wasn't expecting to meet another full body apparition in the middle of the woods in the middle of the night either."

.....He hummed. "Touche my dear." His face contorted to one of slight suspicion now as his brow rose. Leaning down to make eye to eye contact with the smiling witch. "But you mentioned collecting magical items." He eyed the bag again. "...Am I to take it you are some kind of wizardess or a sorceress? Perhaps a healer of sorts?"

"You were close with the first two guesses. I just so happen to be a witch."

Those red eyes popped open in surprise. "A witch?" She nodded. Hazelle could see the gears turning behind his ectoplasm turning as he continued to stare at her...before a frown appeared on his face as he hummed again. "A witch who is dealing with the Snatcher. Then, forgive my forwardness, am I being too blunt to say I assume YOU are the one supplying him those oh so lovely blue potions he took the hobby of lobbing at my head? I highly doubt he's been able to make them himself and the way they just suddenly popped into his possession is..highly suspicious."

"You are not wrong on that assumption," she said happily not even trying to hide it. Which made him blink in surprise. "But to be fair, I didn't have any idea what he was doing with them before now at least. I figured he was somehow using them against that vile ice woman who lives somewhere in the frozen territory there." She motion her hand off towards the woods and his head followed for a moment before looking back at her. "But a deal IS a deal. Any feud between you two or the ice woman has nothing to do with myself. Now does it? I only keep my word and end of the bargain and he does the same. I don't bother anyone here. That makes me a mere bystander if you will. Doesn't it?"

The ghost looked her over thoughtfully going over the words she spoke to him in his metaphorical mind. Before nodding. "Yes. An innocent bystander just doing business. I can understand that completely...But if I may give a word of advice." He pointed at her. "I would watch my back around that Snatcher character if I were you. He's the unruly type who wouldn't hesitate to sink his claws into an unsuspecting soul to backstab them."

"Oh trust me. I know that first handedly." She smiled. "But I do believe you haven't introduced yourself."

"Hm?...OH! You're absolutely right, Dear Lady. Where are my manners?" He once again placed a hand on his chest. "You may call me what everyone has called me for centuries now. I am known as The Moonjumper." She watched as he then extended his blue hand to her chains clanking. "And you are, My Dear?"

She smiled and placed her hand in his. "My name is Hazelle. Pronounced 'Hazel' but spelt with an extra L E at the end."

"Hazelle? Well then my dear. Allow me to extend my most formal greetings to you." Leaning her hand up to his face, he lightly kissed the lively fair skin with his colder lips.

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"He was always so formal and old fashioned since the day I met him." Hazelle chuckled as the two stopped in front of Snatcher's usual home at last from their trip. "But I wouldn't change him for the world."

Poppy nodded in agreement. "Can't say I'm as fond o' 'em as you are. But I suppose that it's best that he didn't change. Ah know I wouldn't wish any change on the screaming purple noodle."

Hazelle nodded back. "Ah. But look at the time. I'm afraid this is where the two of us must part until next time. I'll be taking that bag from you now. Thanks again for lending me the hand."

"No problem." Poppy happily handed over the other bag and Hazelle wobbly juggled it into the same hand as the other bag, leaving one hand open. "Are you sure ya'll be able ta make it home ok like that?"

"Of course I will. After all." She smiled. "I am a witch.~"

With that Hazelle raised her hand and with a snap she disappeared into thin air.

Chapter 4: Meeting Timmy, Moonjumper, and Hazelle

Summary:

(It's still my personal headcannon that the Twilight Bell takes you to the Horizon. The song Timmy sings is the Subcon Masked unused song describing Moonjumper.)

Chapter Text

"Alpine Alps?"

The small Hatted girl nodded as they stood inside the boiler room on the small space near the window. Behind them the room was filled with the ship's water supply and the boiler that shot out flames. The two little girls had been hunting down time pieces together ever since Hattie had helped Bow out of the sticky situation but she didn't mind! It was nice to have someone as a friend tagging along that wasn't Mustache Girl. Plus she was glad to finally have a friend.

She reached over and adjusted the telescope before looking through it and towards the next part of the world that they had to go to. "There's more time pieces there we need to go get. Before someone else gets their hands on 'em. So let's go!"

Beside her Bow nodded and held up her own traveling umbrella. So pointing their umbrellas at the telescope they focused their energy, and soon they were traveling. The endless space and stars greeted them as they plummeted towards the planet. It almost felt like forever just floating in air drifting like a peaceful kite, before suddenly she was whiplashed back and she gasped as she was suddenly suspended by nothing but her arms in the sky. Hattie's blue eyes snapped open and she suddenly blinked at the sight she was taking part in...and frankly almost lost her pecking mind. The first thing to hit them was the spine chilling limb numbing COLD!! It was like they suddenly got dumped in winter as the air blew wildly around them like a cold winter storm minus the snowflakes. The second thing she noticed was that they were IN. THE. MIDDLE. OF. THE. PECKING. SKY!!! In all directions was nothing but blue sky, greyish white clouds, and cold wind. something finally peeked through the clouds. Whatever it was, was BIG and grey but still blocked by the giant clouds surrounding them as they got closer and closer to their destination being blown by the wind. Her hair whipped around and she could barely see until they suddenly went down. Hattie gasped and a spike of fear went through her as they did thinking they would fall to their death slamming her eyelids shut, but instead of falling through air Hattie soon found herself being put down on her feet on something she could only describe as cold bricks. Confused, those blue eyes popped open and they went wide at the sight in front of her. The wind was still blowing, making her shiver and sent a shudder down her spine from the brief flashback to the old clutches of the Vanessa incident before she quickly pushed it from her mind and wished she had a coat as her arms instinctively rubbed her arms. What stood before her was something else. What stood before her looked to be a mini mountain like structure jutting out somewhere in the middle of nowhere in the cold sky, the mountains was decorated with old forgotten torn flags with strange symbols unknown to her waving in the cold wind and a few small snowflakes made themselves present drifting into small piles here and there. It also looked like oddly big shaped ledges formed into a naturally form of stairs leading somewhere but her eyes weren't focused on the path right now. She was looking at the strange egg shaped like statues with goat horns surrounding them before stopping and staring at the MASSIVE two statues of Alpine Goats on either side of the path ahead on two separate cliffs, almost like guardians from long ago. There was also some plants despite it being so cold, mostly small trees and bushes jutting out from random spots in the cliff but there was also some wild vines growing up the cliff sides here and there. A cough directed Hattie's attention to her left where Bow had landed and was looking at her also looking around. THANK PECK they didn't get blown away from them. Both looked at each other and with one hand on her hat, Hattie pointed her umbrella towards the oddly shaped looking stairs. Bow nodded and off the two went despite the wind whipping around them both. When she finally reached the top, they wer exhausted and her hands and arms were cold and sore like she had been shoveling pounds of snow with her bare hands, but she stopped when she saw what was before her. Two torches with fire (in the middle of daylight no less) stood on either side of an archway that lead the way to a boarded bridge, said archway was decorated with colorful paper and a rope of holed stone was tied across it. In front of her was some kind of wooden doors and a metal fence leading off to the left, next to the doors was a bell and as soon as the children got near it Hattie pointed her umbrella, the hook shot out and latched onto said bell and she pulled. The bell rang out a few times and the doors automatically opened and they all ran through across the bridge and to the other mountain. A spiraling stone staircase spiraled upwards up another cliff which was bigger than the one she briefly climbed and the ones the two goat statues were on. Along the way upwards she noticed there was more of those weird horned, hallowed out, egg shaped statues, a few torches, and LOTS of moss covering the old steps. She tried looking around but saw nothing but more sky and clouds, and as she got to the top she noticed there was even more giant goat statues. When she got to the very top of the stairs however was when things got stranger. At the very top there was four what looked to be graves with SKULLS on top of them, more strange stone statues, a TALL stone pillar between the four supposed graves, two GIANT stone cut structures that were purposefully carved to look like horns, and some wooden beams with red flags which waved in the wind which speaking of the wind it seemed to have picked up since they got there. How odd.

They looked kinda like graves. She didn't wanna know if those skulls were carved stone or the real thing. Hattie walked up to one of the giant pillars with the x like shape at the very top. ...Wonder what would happen if she hit it? Pulling her arm with the umbrella back, she hit it as hard as she could sending it spinning. A giant clap of thunder rung out as the ground beneath them all shook for a few seconds causing Hattie to fall to the cold stone ground as it did. The giant stone pillar in front of them sinking into the ground a little bit. Hey! They were getting somewhere! Standing back up. She did it again. And again. And again. With the same results as Bow tried to hang on to something. Hattie ran past her over to the second then third lever sticking out of the ground and with her trusty umbrella started whacking it as it spun around like a screw into the ground and another clap of thunder and another shaking of the cliff knocking her over once the last level was buried into the ground. Something slithered forth from the white clouds before them and it took Hattie a moment through her moment of shock seeing the thing to realize it was a rope decorated with more of that colorful paper!! She watched in shock as it wrapped itself TIGHTLY around the stone pillar and stayed there, leading back off to the unknown through the clouds. Was that the way they needed to go? The rope lead off into the clouds too crowded together for them to see where it lead too. With Bow joining her both girls looked at one another for a moment before Hattie looked at the hook on her umbrella. Pointing it at the rope she shot it out to hook onto it and were also shot forward. It was really similar to the sensations of when she was traveling to and from space, only this time she could see what was happening to her surroundings as she was once again pulled along like a kite in the wind. Her hair whipped in every direction and she had a queasy feeling in her stomach from all the pulling she was receiving now. Clouds. All she saw was clouds from her eyes squinting from the wind whipping her face, and the rope that never seemed to have an end as they flew. All she could hear was the whistling winds, claps of thunder from the clouds, and the distant sounds of bells-......Bells?! Wha- Another clap of thunder sounded out as they passed through the biggest cloud of all of them when FINALLY daylight broke through the other side and she could see something besides the clouds. And. Her. Jaw. DROPPED!! More cliffs. LOTS more cliffs. But all of them were MUCH MUCH more bigger than the few they had already climbed, making the ones they passed look like babies in comparison. As they zoomed by, they passed a pair of twin peaks standing side by side with more Alpine Goat Statues THAT WERE GINORMOUS!! Even bigger than the statues they had already seen! These were easily the sizes of a small castle EACH!! As they continued to zoom past those with the cold wind still seeping into her bones, There was yet ANOTHER set of twin peaks with more ginormous goat statues, and with each pair of goats statues there was a massive...rope?? And on said ropes was the BIGGEST golden bells she'd even seen. The giant things rang out from the winds pushing them and shined brightly from the sunlight. She gazed up at them all in awe as they flew past. Well, that explains the distant sound of bells she heard. She was so in awe, it was unlike anything she had ever seen before! It was in a mystical way, beautiful! They were fast approaching the end of the rope's journey and Hattie looked around admiring the views. Was....Was that cliff spewing out LAVA!? It looked more like a volcano than a cliff!! And that one had some kind of giant structure on it. She wasn't sure what it was to be honest, but it was still so massive! With a rough landing, Hattie shook her head and one hand on her hat looked around. The place looked like an old mountain trek with everything being from nature. After a moment or two Bow came shooting out behind her and landed rather roughly. Shaking her head she looked around too before at Hattie.

"Now which way do we go?"

As Hattie looked around all the peaks, one seemed to catch her interest immediately. And she pointed towards it. Bow looked over to where she was pointing, and in the distance on top of some silvery looking hills was a giant bell. "Let's go there first. It's giving me a funny feeling about it."

Bow nodded and followed after Hattie. They scrambled up fast houses and giant goats, and Nomads and other things on their way towards the bell in sight. Up, up, up until they finally stopped at this huge fancy carved house. She guessed it must've belonged to one of the goats since it looked too big to be a nomad's. Infront of the house was a giant wooden beam and from it a rope with green fancy paper decorating it lead from it towards the giant bell.

"This looks like the way to it," Bow said pointing at it.

Hattie nodded before again shooting her umbrella out and shot off down the green rope again. The bell getting closer and closer with each passing moment they took. The last trip over felt like an eternity as she just fawned and awed over the large bell structure before her as they got closer and closer. Until finally she was there landing hard on her knees but she didn't care, she was too busy looking at the INSIDE of the thing! THIS BELL WAS HUGE!! PROBABLY BIGGER THAN THE GOLDEN ONES SHE SAW WHEN THEY FIRST CAME IN!! AND THE INSIDE LOOKED LIKE AN ENTIRE GALAXY ON IT'S OWN!! Black void painted the inside of it as beautiful diamonds sparkled brightly like stars. It was absolutely breath takingly pecking beautiful!! She still couldn't take her eyes off of it as she followed the path until they were both standing under it, giving her the best view of the inside. ....But what now? She had an itching feeling there was a time piece around here but looking around she couldn't see any. Slowly Hattie looked back up to the bell...Maybe if she rang it something would happen? She aimed her hook shot up at the bells lever. It grabbed onto it with a thump and away she went swinging back and forth on it like it was a playground swing. OH PECK!! The loud booming rings it made rang out and jabbed Bow's ears and head with pain. Causing the girl to clamp her hands over her ears as Hattie continued to ring it and slam her eyes shut. Green flooded around the two, twisting the turning in every direction until they saw nothing and the surroundings COMPLETELY changed. IT WAS DARK!!....But somehow she was still able to see everything. She was surrounded by more strange statues but these instead of looking like regular statues, were a dark green-black that sparkled with some kind of otherworldly magic. Floating buildings of white marble statues with lots of pillars were EVERYWHERE she looked and someone of all things, some were leaking water. Water that went over the edge and down, down, down disappearing without a trace. There wasn't any visible source of sky, sun, moon, or stars. Just black void all around them besides the strange structures. In a strange way...it was all very beautiful and a sense of eerie calm came from it all. Hattie let go of the bell and tapped back down to the ground next to Bow. They both looked around for a moment.

"Where is this place?"

"I don't know, but I sense another time piece is close!" She pointed down a white marble path before taking off. "C'mon. It's really close! I can feel it!"

As they walked she turned and suddenly gasped and stumbled back a few steps, pointing at something a little way from them. Big. Glowing. And MOVING!! A GHOST!!...A goat?? A GOAT GHOST!! They were just walking around and there was more of Snatcher's minions floating around. How odd. The noodly mask wearing ghost peeked at them before darting away from the little girls as they walked past and looked around curiously. Neither saw the eyes watching them from above as they went along the strange place. Until they heard it. A sound that made them freeze in their tracks as a song blew through the air overhead. Softly, and eerily.

"Tale of a place!~ A deep forest dark with grace!~ There he lives blooming inside a wild field of big eyes!~ And there he lives!~ Skin so blue!~ His eyes shot red!~ The Moon!~ The Sky!~ Tell him only lies!~ He doesn't know she waits inside!~ She lost her mind!~ Many years gone by!~"

The two of the stood in shock for a moment as the echoing of the voice faded out before stopping entirely. Before startled the two swiveled their heads around and up brandishing their umbrellas in case any danger presented themselves before they stopped when noticing two figures standing on top of a floating white marble block floating past. And there the two were. One was a small boy around their age. He had dark brownish or black hair, gray cap, orange coat, jeans, red shoes, and what looked like a skeleton charm around his neck. His purple eyes stared down at them amused but what really strange was that this boy had strange glowing blue markings that shown with magic in the darkened landscape. But next to him was what really caught their attention. The sounds of chains clanking in air sounded as the creature moved. Another ghost? The specter had a crescent moon shaped head, blue skin, red eyes with matching red markings, and a monocle over his right eye. An orange jacket over his shoulders and green-blue hair that was near his shoulders. Both looked at one another before looking back as the two came from high above. The ghost floating down and the boy jumping and grabbing onto one of the ghost's floating chains to be carried down by him dangling from them like a rope. The two watched as they approached and Hattie brandished her umbrella at them. The boy let go and landed in front of them while the ghost stopped just above the two a smile.

"Hello there little girl! Come wide, come far!," he spoke to them with a strange echo-y voice making the two blink at him," I am the Moonjumper. Oh, yes. Indeed. I live and breath for this horizon, it's my home. Up here I can see everyone and everything. I am a silent.....observer. Ask me my child. What does my eye gaze upon? A girl in red? A village of the dead? A prize in a shed?" He paused seeing the looks of confusion on both of their faces and he stopped with a cough. ".......N-Nevermind. Excuse the dramatics. We just don't see very many guests coming into our home, and so young by the looks of it." His brow rose examining each of the little girls carefully. "Are you children lost perhaps?"

"...Where is this place?"

"You're in The Horizon, mate," the boy answered making them both look at him as he hummed.

"Horizon?? What's that?"

"This place! It's my home. But ya don't look like either of you girls are from 'round here now are you? How'd ya even get here?"

Without hesitation Hattie pointed behind her. "That big bell took us here when we rang it."

"Ah. So you two got here from the path of the Twilight Bell," the ghost said before humming and seeming to fix them both with a curious look. "Strange but not unheard of. But where are my manners?" With a sweeping motion and clank of his chains, the ghost bowed to the both of them. ''I don't think we've introduced ourselves. I am known as the Moonjumper. How do you do?"

"'N I'm Timmy. Who are you?"

Bow shuffled more behind Hattie. "I don't think we should tell strangers our names."

"You know that is fair enough." The specter rose a brow leaning farther down to look at them more closely making Hattie frown back. "But it is odd how you got here. I've seen people come here through magic, banishment, and even death but rarely do I ever see someone get through here through the bell. If I may ask, what are the both of you doing here?"

"We're looking for something."

That answer seemed to confuse the ghost more as he blinked and raised his brows. "Lost something? Dear child, what could you have possibly lost to think it would've ended up HERE of all places? Unless you're looking for a spirit, I'm afraid there's not much of anything here."

Hattie was about to answer but before she could she paused. That familiar feeling she got whenever she was near a time piece suddenly spiked up again. Only STRONGER and much CLOSER than before now and approaching rapidly-

"Now what might you two be getting up to this time?" All four of them turned to look behind the ghost and Timmy as the boy had called him. "Don't tell me you snatched some more poor innocent souls up here for your collection, Moony. That's not very nice."

The ghost blinked. "Ah. Hazelle. There you are." And stood straight back up. "I was expecting you but apparently you're not my only guest today."

Who was standing there was none other than a woman. She stood there smiling with long brown hair, copper colored eyes, and decked out in white and pink. She looked to the two girls in front of her with a raised brow and hands on her hips. "Hmm. It would seem so." She walked forward. "And who might these two be?"

The ghost again shrugged. "No clue really. Apparently they traveled here through the Twilight Bell."

The woman's brows rose in interest looking at him. "Really now?" He nodded and she looked back down to the children. "That's pretty interesting."

"Who are YOU??"

"The name's Hazelle, pronounced 'Hazel' but with an extra L E at the end," the woman replied reaching up to tip her hat to the two girls. "Witch Hazelle actually if we're getting formal."

"A witch?"

Hazelle nodded again. "That's right. But I don't see any pointed hats on you, so you couldn't have just teleported your way in here like I did. What are you doing here?"

"Apparently they're looking for something they've lost," Moonjumper answered her calmly, "Although I haven't the foggiest idea what they could want here."

"My time piece!," Hattie piped up making the three look at her, she motioned with her hands as she described it. "It's a magic glowing hourglass thing this big with sparkly sand inside it."

.......Moonjumper. Blinked. "A...magic sparkly..hourglass?" Hattie nodded at his confused face. "I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's absolutely nothing even remotely looking like that here, Children. You must be mistaken-"

"I'm not!," Hattie insisted frowning more, "I felt it here somewhere and I'm not going to leave without it! I need it back!"

Moonjumper frowned and looked like he was about to argue back but Hazelle beat him to the punch. "Hourglass? You mean those thing's that's supposed to count time whenever the sand pours from one side to the other?" Hattie nodded to her and it seemed to jog her memory. "Oh yeah. I've seen one of those."

"YOU HAVE!?"

The witch nodded. "Sure did. Landed right outside my house this morning. Had no idea what to do with the thing so I've been sorta stuck carrying it all day."

"Where is it!?"

In response the witch took off her pointy hat before reaching inside it with her other arm. A moment later everyone watched in awe as she pulled out a sparkling magical time piece. "I'm betting this is the thing you were looking for huh? Go on. Here you go. Take it." She gave a little toss and flung it over to Hattie who immediately grabbed it Flumbling with it but thankfully not dropping it. "If that's all you wanted then I suggest the two of you leave now." Her eyes side glanced to Moonjumper. "I wanna talk to Mr. Moon about something."

"Hm? Oh! Uh..*ahem* Yes of course. Timmy. Be a gentleman and escort this lovely ladies back towards the bell. If they took the bell to get here then they should be able to take it back again as well."

With a nod the boy started walking and gestured for the two girls to follow him as he walked past. The girls looked at each other then at the two adults before turning and following after Timmy who walked back down the path they had just came. Back down the white marble path and back up to a bell that looked similar to the one that they used to get here. Timmy stopped in front of it before pointing.

"There ya go, Mate. If it's true you both came from here then it should be the able to take you back where you came from."

"Thanks!''

Hattie wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. After all this was only one time piece she had felt around this Alpine place. There was at least three or four others. One hand on her time piece she used the other to point at the bell's lever and the shook shot out to pull her up. Like before she swung herself back and forth like a swing eventually hitting the sides to make it ring making Bow cringe at the loud sounds. With Timmy standing there watching him go, the Horizon road fell away as they both left. And melted back into the regular peaks as the bell's echoes rang throughout the Horizon.

Chapter 5: A New Friend

Chapter Text

The air was nice. Well a lot nicer now that the entire place wasn't dripping in lava replacing the water and making everything hotter than a solar blast! She scowled as she stomped along the town known as Mafia Town. Yeah. Maybe not a really creative name but what did she expect these guys that couldn't even say the word "i" around here? Not a lot that's for sure. After all it was their fault this whole mess started in the first place. Breaking into her ship and sending her time pieces cascading down onto this planet like they freaking owned the place!..Ok. Maybe they DID own Mafia Town but not her time pieces or ship! And now after that Mustache Girl stole her time pieces and set off the lava she had to fix their mess! Fighting their boss, cleaning up he lava, dealing with their bullying, fixing time rifts here, the Boss Jar somehow breaking into her ship, and NOW she had to race against one of these guys on a firework in order to get the last time piece from here. And now that she was done here, she had better leave and move on to the next place where she could sense the presence of a time piece. After all she needed to recollect all of them before anymore fell into the wrong hands-

Wait...What was that sound?

It sounded like...crying. Turning the hatted girl started down a path that she heard the faint crying come from that lead her down between two buildings and around the corner getting louder. And louder. Until she turned a second corner and saw it. Another child with dark curly hair and a bow on her head was sitting there crying and looked to have been pushed down as a giant Mafia man stood above her looming.

"All people needs to pay toll in Mafia Town. Even little girls!," he said sternly making the crying girl cry more. "Little girl won't pay toll? Then feel Mafia's wrath!" The man pulled his arm back- Only to feel a hard slam on his head. "AH!! HEY!!"

With a swift turn of his head and his hands flying to clutch his noggin, he looked down and saw the peculiar sight of another small girl right behind him. She GLARED at the taller Mafia man before lifting her umbrella again and with inhuman strength slammed it against his side with the force of three grown Mafia. The man obviously reeling back from the hit as he choked from the air being forced outta his lungs as pain now speared from his side. Clutching his side, he went down on one knee one hand on the ground holding him up as he looked now scared at the other little girl, as she delivered another Whack to his shoulder making him fully fall flat onto his face. The bow girl blinked and gazed on shocked at what was going on before her. Too shocked to even continue crying anymore as now in fear, the man got up and began running. The little girl with the hat chasing him a few yards waving the umbrella wildly at his feet before stopping and watching the man speed off, disappearing around a corner. After a moment she huffed. Served him right picking on a kid...Oh! The girl! When she turned back around the bow girl was still there staring at her. She smiled widely and bounded up to her.

"Man. That was close. Those guys are all brawn and no brains," she said stopping right in front of her with a smile, "You ok?" She held out her hand. "Here! Lemme help you up!"

The little girl stared back at her blinking. She had purple eyes and a blue bow holding back dark curls, and now that she got a good look at her. She wore black boots, blue skirt, a white shirt, and a green coat with cat pockets and buttons on it. She continued to stare at her for the longest moment, then she finally blinked down at the hand held out to her, then back to her. Then back and forth a few more times. Before slowly reaching her own hand out, and grabbing onto hers. With a smile the Hatted child pulled her back onto her own two feet and the bow girl sniffed and wiped her face.

"T-Thank you," she finally spoke between sniffing.

She smiled back. "Hey! No problem! That guy was asking for it anyways. My name's Hattie! Who're you?"

"*sniff*.....B-Bow."

"Oh! I get it! Because you're wearing a bow right?" She didn't give her a chance to answer before looking around. "Did you get lost or something? Where's your mom and dad?"

The little girl paused for a long moment ..before shaking her head and looked down. "...No. I'm not lost. I...d-don't have any parents."

In an instant Hattie whipped to Bow with wide eyes. "Wait! YOU TOO!? Hey! I don't have parents either!" ...Bow blinked at her. "But if you're not lost where do you live? Don't tell me you live in this dumpy alley way."

Again Bow shook her head. "I don't have a home either."

Again Hattie's eyes widened. "You don't!?"

"Nuh uh. I u-used to live in Nyakuza Metro but I ran away when all the crime got worse because of the Empress. I thought thing's would be different here but..."

Hattie scowled and rolled her eyes. "Yeah. Backstabbing mustache girls and big blue bullies. This town SUCKS!!" And that was the truth. But she took a moment to look back to Bow for a moment. "You...really don't have anywhere to go?" Again Bow shook her head. "Oh....Hey! I know!" Her bright smile returned as she jabbed a thumb at herself. "I don't have parents but I gotta sweet spaceship and a Rumbi! I dunno anything about any Queens-"

"Empress."

"Same difference. But if you want you can come with me!"

Bow's eyes perked up. "R-REALLY!?"

"Sure!...But first, you're not gonna backstab me or betray me right?"

"Uh....No?"

Hattie nodded before reaching over and grabbing Bow's hand, making her blink as she pulled her along. "C'mon! I can take you there no problem. You're gonna like you're new home!"

Chapter 6: The Man In The Moon

Chapter Text

"Thank you so much for helping me collect all these ingredients. I swear some times they can be so hard to find. Good thing you know you're way around here huh?," the witch expressed with gratitude as copper eyes smiled over towards the ghost next to her.

Shackles clanked as ever as the crescent headed ghost smiled and placed a hand on his chest. "But of course. I couldn't just let a young lady wonder all by her lonesome here in the dark forest. Snatcher may not see the reason but I refuse to let the one lady who actually keeps me company to be at risk of any danger!"

That earned him a stream of chuckles and a smirk from the witch as she reached out to poke his side. "Oh? What a gentleman.~ Not a lot of woman can say that a ghostly prince walked with them on a moonlit night walk to protect her. If I didn't know better I'd say this was romantic, Moony.~"

The ghost paused letting the words of hers sink in before coughing and looking the other way. "A-Absolutely not! It's o-only right a gentleman escort a lady where she n-needs to go-"

"Relax you old man. I was only teasing you. I really appreciate you helping me find all these herbs. I get lost here so many times it's not funny. Always have to teleport my way out."

"....*ahem* W-Well of course. I'm always happy to lend a helping hand where I can. It's also good to have company for once who I can speak to so easily unlike Snatcher and some other people I know who shall not be named."

She nodded as they continued to walk through the woods. Coming across a small space of abandoned buildings old, worn, and looking like they'd collapse any moment if they even to dare touch them.

"Isn't it getting near morning though? We've been at this for a long time. You might disappear on me into the atmosphere." They passed by a couple of the buildings now. Their voices echoing around the dark buildings and disturbing someone awake in one building.

"Yes. It is. But I would rather stay until I'm forced to leave. I like accompanying you around, and we're nearly to the forest's edge as it is. I'd feel better knowing I can leave you at a safe point-"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH-"

As a scream pierced the air both jumped at the sound that sliced through the night's fog like a knife. The scream echoing around, sounding young. Vulnerable. Small. And like a-....The sound still ringing loud and clear as they both stood frozen in their places as it continued. Until they eventually looked at one another as the noise continued.

"I say. D-Do you hear that?"

Hazelle nodded. "I most certainly do." With a turn of her head, she looked towards one building in particular and pointed. "It sounds like it's coming from there." And she started walking towards it.

"H-Hazelle!," Moonjumper warned holding out an arm towards her disappearing form. "Wait! It's not safe in these old ruins! That house collapse on you!"

"Then be my protector and follow me!," she called back not stopping and still walking away from him towards the crying noise. "Sounds like someone's lost. We should help them don't you think?"

Moonjumper said nothing as he watched her before sighing and floated off after her. His shackles clanking as he did. Hazelle was able to disappear from sight before him. Walking into one of the abandoned buildings through a whole in the wall's side most likely from decay from all the years it stood abandoned. And slowly he followed her into it. Inside ..had seen better days to put it lightly. The wooden floors and walls were a dark grey or black from years of decay and being exposed to Subcon's cursed magic. The whole place creaking from the wind blowing, speaking of the wind. It definitely flowed through the entire home making an eerily howling noise as it did. Old furniture broken beyond repair and also decaying by how they looked. He slowly floated out of the big room he went through which he must've guessed must've been a living room judging from the decayed shelves and crumbling fireplace. The fireplace a mere pile of crumbling stones by now. The noise that was present when Hazelle entered no longer having stopped soon when he floated in.

"Hazelle?," he called out looking around the place shackles clanking. "Where did you go, My lady?"

"In here!,'' her voiced called out a few rooms away, "You might wanna come here and see this. You're not going to believe it."

She does know she was speaking to a ghost right? He followed her voice past the room to a hallway of sorts where he passed a decaying and absolutely destroyed flight of stairs. Well she can't be up there unless she teleported her way there. Instead he moved past that towards the nearest doorway where he heard the faint sound of-...Sniffling?? Raising a brow, Moonjumper floated right over to the doorway and looked inside. Hazelle was there alright. The witch's back was to him, and the bag of plants and other things she had been carrying left on the floor. With the way her arms were positioned it looked like she might've been holding something in her arms. Hearing the sounds of clanking shackles the witch turned her head to him and smiled seeing him standing there in the doorway. Before turning around completely with that looked like a blanket bundle cradled in her arms.

"Oh there you are. ...Uh. What is that you're holding?"

"You're not going to believe this."

She beckoned him to come closer with a free hand and as he slowly came in the same sniffling sounds came from inside the blanket. And did that thing just move!? He froze as Hazelle grabbed the edge of the small blanket and pulled it back. And what was inside SHOOK the ghost. A-A-...A baby....THERE WAS A PECKING LIVING BREATHING BABY IN THAT BLANKET!! But strangely that wasn't the weirdest part. The pale skinned boy sniffled and blinked up at the both of them with big purple eyes and dark black hair. At seeing the witch and ghost looking down at him, his head tilted curiously back at them. But that wasn't what was strange. What WAS strange was the fact that his face..Was COVERED in glowing blue markings that lit up his body in the dark. There was a couple of them. Glowing blue lines. One over his nose, two lines under each of his eyes, two jutting up from his chin, and a peculiar swirl like symbol on his forehead. And all were glowing. Even now he could feel the magical aura filing out from this child in the same way Hazelle's magical essence did. Which meant that whoever this child was...He was certainly special. Moonjumper stared long and hard at the child who now seemed calm being in the arms of Hazelle. Before he pointed to him.

"What....is that?"

"A baby. What ELSE would it be?"

"Y-Yes. I know. But WHY is there a baby here?" He looked around the dark and grim looking room. "And in such a sorry state of a house of all places?''

Hazelle shrugged. "I haven't the foggiest idea. You think someone lives here?"

In response to her question Moonjumper gave a careful look around the room. There was ...well nothing here except one or two pieces of old broken furniture. "...Where did you find the baby?" She stepped aside and pointed her free hand down to the absolutely empty corner behind her. THAT empty cold corner in just a blanket? That couldn't be healthy for it. In fact..it doesn't look like anyone's been here for a long time."This house is pretty worn out. Seems like people were living here before Snatcher came in. Or maybe they were still alive when Snatcher arrived and ...you know. He's crazy like that. But no one could possibly be living here. There's no signs of food. No water. Not even a small shelter set up." He looked back down to the baby who nommed on a chubby hand. "And he certainly isn't as old as the rest of the house! Who would leave a defenseless child here!? Unless......" A look of realization struck him as he frowned. "Unless someone left him here on purpose."

....Hazelle shook her head. "I don't know. But maybe he's not abandoned." She waved a finger in front of the baby's face and he latched onto it. "Maybe whoever he belongs to just left him here to get food or something."

"Hm. Possibly. But why not just bring him with them especially in Subcon forest? In fact WHY Subcon Forest? This place is renowned far and wide as extremely dangerous. Unless whoever they were was in big trouble or extremely foolish, I doubt anyone would risk coming in here. More so with an infant!"

"....Well then guess I'll have to wait and find out." Hazelle with that carefully sat down still holding the baby in her arms and sighed leaning her back against the wall to get comfortable.

Moonjumper rose a brow. "You CAN'T be serious."

"Why not? If whoever it was comes back they might need help. Besides, I can't just leave a baby here. Would you?"

"I-...Well no! But what if whoever it is is dangerous? You could be in big trouble."

"Hey. No big deal. I've dealt with both you and Snatcher before. I can take care of myself. Besides you'll just be forced back into the Horizon any minute now. I'll give them twenty four hours. If they don't come back then, I'll ask Snatcher. Maybe he'll know something we don't."

...Moonjumper sighed. "I sure hope you know what you're doing, Hazelle."

Soon the first rays of light hurt the world and as expected Moojumper dissipated into glitchy cubs disappearing back into the green paranormal world of the Horizon. And Hazelle made herself comfortable just sitting back there leaning against the wall, legs crossed, one hand behind her head, and pushing her hat over her eyes to give them a rest from the sunlight. All the while the baby laid snug against her body. At one point she fell asleep for a few hours having been up the night before but being a light sleeper meant she would've heard someone come in and be up in an instant. ...And no one came. Not when the sun came up. Not when the sun hit noon. Not when the sun set came. And definitely not when night fell. And there Hazelle laid patiently in the same position except now that the baby was asleep in her arm safely without a care in the world. Until that is when the familiar sound of shackles came, and Hazelle pushed her hat up to meet the eyes of Moonjumper who had once again appeared before her being night again. The ghost had stood there staring at them, not really surprised to see the baby still with Hazelle. But he had hoped that whoever was responsible for the little tyke would return to claim the baby and even leave the forest. In had been on his mind all day making his metaphorical stomach sink and his worst thoughts were confirmed as soon as he appeared. His crestfallen face mirroring his thoughts.

"Anything?," he asked even though he already knew the answer.

Frowning Hazelle shook her head no. "No one. Not even a ghost. And I've been sitting here on my butt all day."

"Well judging by how he's been found here, he was probably here for longer than you were. Face it Hazelle. No one's coming back for him."

"Timmy."

Moonjumper blinked. "Pardon?"

"Timmy. His name's Timmy."

"And how do you know that?"

Hazelle answered him by pulling a corner of the blanket up for him to look at and embroidered with dark blue thread into the blanket was letters. T. I. M. M. Y. Timmy. "I found this little clue right here."

"You know that might not even be his real name."

She shrugged before carefully pushing herself off the wall and standing up. "It's the only thing we got going for us right now and it's better than calling him 'it'." Well..she had a point. She reached back over and carefully lifted her bag back up and threw it over her shoulder. "Well I gave them a whole day to show up. Now there's just one person to see if they know anything about this here."

"You don't mean-"

"Snatcher yes. You're free to wait back while I go ask him." She said before beginning to walk out of the abandoned house.

Moonjumper watched as she left just floating there before sighing and floating after her. Might as well see how this played out. Too say it was less than ideal was putting it lightly. It took them a little while to get to said purple ghost's tree house and Snatcher was...Well. Irritated and angry as usual, especially seeing Moonjumper there of all people but luckily it seemed that him being thrown off completely seeing Hazelle holding an infant was enough to spare Moonjumper from his wrath. But it was followed by Snatcher demanding what was going on, them explaining the details to him, and then when they asked-....Snatcher. Knew. Nothing. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Turns out there's no traps or minions of his in that area of the forest being so close to the edge of the forest so even if someone snuck in, Snatcher wouldn't have been alerted to any intruders. So someone could've easily slipped in and out without Snatcher noticing they were even there. He didn't even know the child was even there until he was brought to his attention. Which left them nothing, and Snatcher wasn't any help when he huffed and left them with it.

"Whatever. Just get it out of my forest!"

Tch. Typical reaction of Snatcher's, but what was he expecting from him? Which left now him and Hazelle in the presence of the child without any idea where he came from and most likely abandoned, and no idea what to do with little Timmy apparently.

"What now?," he has asked after a while. "We can't just put him back, and Snatcher's no help as usual."

Hazelle hummed letting the now awake baby nom on the edge of his blanket curiously. "I know. It'd be crueler than leaving him alone in the first place. ...*sigh* It's not uncommon for people who're afraid of magic or who just don't want to deal with it to abandon those children I'm afraid. I guess Timmy's just another one of those people with that sad fate."

Abandoned for something he didn't even know or had done. He knew that feeling all too well. This baby and him were practically parallels having been betrayed by people who were supposed to love you and protect you...Now they were all alone...Or- He looked at the small giggling child. Or WERE they? Hazelle blinked as he reached right over shackles clanking and picked up the baby from her arms and turning to cradle him in his own arms...He couldn't change his own fate, but he could certainly change Timmy.

"Well then it's decided. I shall care for him."

"What?," Hazelle asked raising a brow and placed her free hand on her hip. "You can't be serious."

"And why not? I wouldn't mind the company. And as ghosts don't need sleep I can give him around the clock care. Besides, I...I-I've always wanted a child when I was alive."

Hazelle's expression turned to one of pity before she sighed. "I get that. But DO you know how to take care of a baby? Especially one with magic obviously?"

He stammered. "I- Well...N-No. But Timmy's worth the effort and besides...Maybe you could help?"

"Moony. I didn't sign up to become a replacement mother."

"Oh come now Hazelle. I would be doing most of the work anyways. All I need is some help and someone to teach me please?" He held up the giggling baby to him more with a smile melting on his face. "Besides...This might just be what he needs. A loving home with people who know about magic and won't abandon him. Please?"

The witch stared at the ghost for a long moment as some kind of thoughts whirled about her head before sighing. "Fine! But I hope you know what you're getting into."

A bright and fanged smile speared across the old ghost's face before he looked down to the giggling baby in his arms. "Well little one." He offered a hand towards the baby who cooed and looked at it as a string appeared from his finger tip only to gently wrap itself around his small hand. "I promise as long as your under my protection nothing shall ever happen to you again." The baby giggled at the display before looking back up to the smiling ghost. "I promise."

Chapter 7: A Hero's Home

Summary:

(Hey everyone. I just wanted to thank everyone who read this far and liked my story enough to read it to it's end. I had a lot of fun writing it and it makes me happy knowing some people loved it enough to read it fully. If you liked this consider checking out my other works. Thanks to everyone for reading this, faving it, or leaving a nice comment. And thank you to GearsForBreakfast for creating such wonderful characters and giving me the opportunity to make this wonderful story. I headcannon Mustache Girl's actual name to be Muriel.))

Chapter Text

A drip. A drop. A sprinkle. The water gently pouring down from the dark sky had started a little more than an hour ago, thunder and lightning waking him up every while due to his anxiety acting up to loud booming noises reminding her of some of the cannons and explosions that these mafia guys did on a daily basis. Unfortunately she DIDN'T like the rain too much. Especially being a cat and all that. Water was just not her thing. She still forced herself to take baths and use water for lots of her recipes, and she drank it of course. Gotta keep your self hydrated and healthy after all. But it didn't mean she had to enjoy it of course. Speaking of Mafia. Mafia Town was pretty much a deserted ghost town at the moment, only a few Mafia guys working this time of day as it got dark and the storm still wore on. Her feet patting against the wet pavement while her umbrella and raincoat kept the rain off her. Note to self. Get a pair of rainboots when she finally got out of here. Which would be soon. Three days in fact. After getting fired from her job for 'conspiracy with the kid in the hat alien girl' and missing her opportunity for working on that cruise ship, a miracle happened in the form of a famous director Penguin showing up on her doorstep with the proposition of working for his studios and having her own Cooking Show!! It was a DREAM COME TRUE!! And it was all thanks to that lil alien gal who just happened to mention her to him. ...Maybe it was fate anyways. She didn't feel like a cruise ship on water would've been a good place for her considering her aversion to water, and it ended up sinking anyways. So this was a great chance! A dream she had ever since she was a kitten! She had practically all her belongings all ready to go for the moving team in two days on that weekend to take the train out of town and to Express City where the famous Dead Bird Studios were. Where many a movies and shows were filmed. Soon she'd be out of this terrible place and soon start her own life away from this awful awful town. But for now she just wanted to get back to the comfort of her still soon-not-to-be home and cook up this delicious food she bought from the Mafia Town marketplace. The plastic bag in her hand was starting to get heavy the more she carried it walking along as the sound of raindrops hitting the earth and thunder shook the sky along with the occasional lightning. ...Gosh this just made her glad she didn't have to live here or have her job here anymore further. The Mafia headquarters where she USED to work was all the way on the other side of town and it was always such a long distance away from her home which was on the edge of town and near the train station. Made things easier to do when she moved at least.

She was almost home too. Just had to cross this bridge and walk along this road towards the back of Mafia Town and her home would be the first one you'd come across. She was hungry and could already taste the mouth watering cheesy fish steaks she could whip up. However it was when she was coming to the end of the bridge did she hear something. Being a cat meant she had extraordinary hearing so being able to hear things before she saw them wasn't usually a big deal, but what WAS was the kind of noise it actually was. Sniffles. crying. Small chokes, sobs, and hiccups. And in a young girl's sounding voice too. That's what made her pause. What was...that? Standing there in the rain the cat blinked for a moment shocked at what she was hearing before turning her head about and looking around. No one was on the bridge with her, and surely a grown Mafia Man wouldn't have sounded as young or as high pitched as these sobs were. ..And this was the first time she ever heard such a thing like this when crossing this bridge multiple times. So where as it coming from?...She paused. An ear flicking towards the end of the bridge where she was heading and she slowly turned to it. The sounds were coming from there amongst the rain and thunder and lightning. She stood there silently for the longest time before she slowly started her way forward. Her feet making small PLAP sounds with each step as she approached. The noises getting louder and louder before she reached the end of the bridge and looked over. And blinked again when noticing a small orange-yellow light coming from under the bridge. Was it some kind of troll? She wouldn't doubt it since meeting an alien and a ghost a couple times on her ship. Eventually the curiosity of the sounds got the better of her and she carefully descended down the small hill to look beneath the bridge. And what she saw made her yellow eyes widen. It was a little girl! But not just any little girl. OH NO!! One she definitely recognized all too well in fact.

It was that trouble making no good Mustache Girl as she liked to call herself and sprayed graffiti everywhere. Mostly art of making fun of the Mafia which she didn't mind too much as she wasn't the fondest person either, but what she had DONE to the world in that weird pocket dimension of lava and chaos still sent shivers through her fur. In fact she shivered just from the memory of it. Having been so angry enough she actually joined the crowd in wanting her to "Get Lost!" and return to her normal life of cooking. And she thought she had. In fact...She hasn't seen hide or tail of Mustache Girl since the whole time and space incident nearly a year ago now. In fact she hadn't even given it much of a second though too focused on her own string of bad luck in losing her job, missing her opportunity of her second job, and afraid she might've had to move back to Nyakuza City and settle for just being a plain chef in one of those cheap food vending vans. At least with that plan she would've still got to cook for a living. And focusing on her good luck with the new job and stresses of moving. Her life had been so busy she barely even remembered the girl before her...Well to be far she hadn't known much of her since moving to Mafia Town either and getting a job working at Mafia Headquarters. She'd sometimes she Mustache Girl causing trouble for the Mafia or running past her escaping or sometimes overhearing the Mafia grumble and complain about her a LOT while she was working. But the time incident might've been the first time she ever spoke to her despite chanting "Get lost!" in a crowd and only two times had she really come face to face with her. Then in the crowd and no just standing one or two yards away from the girl. She was huddled knees up to her chest and arms hugging her legs as she buried her face into her legs making those crying sounds she had heard earlier, her blonde hair tied in two ponytails on each side of her head. She learnt what was making that light at least. A small pathetic fire built just a couple feet away from the girl, why you couldn't have even roasted a marshmallow on it if you tried....She blinked and shook her head. About to turn now. Didn't matter. Best not get involved with someone who nearly destroyed the whole world for some hero complex. If she wasn't careful she might've come after her next for used to work for the Mafia. ...And yet. She couldn't get herself to turn around fully. Staring at the crying girl still as she sniffled....And yet. She WAS still just a child after all. What was she doing here all by herself without anyone to look after her? Well, she guessed Mustache Girl must've felt eyes on her because after a moment the sniffling stopped. And in an instant her head was snapped up and towards the direction of the cat. Yellow eyes met other yellow eyes as the two stared at one another for a long moment. Her eyes widening seeing her face. Pink and puffy from crying so much as a few tears still fell down her face. They continued to stare at one another before with a tilt of her head she decided to speak.

"Oh, uh. Sorry if Ah disturbed you any," the cat apologized shrugging her shoulders. "I was curious 'bout the noise is all."

the girl then gained a scowl before wiping at her face. Ok. Guess she wasn't the talkative kind. "W-Who are you?"

"Mah name's Cookie! What's yours?"

"Why should I tell you that? *sniff* You could be a bad guy!"

"Hm. That's a fair enough answer."..Taking a pause Cookie rose a brow and took another look around the cold and rainy place. Under a bridge was no place for a child. "But what's a lil girl like you doing under this drafty old bridge? It's all chilly." And that was putting it lightly.

She frowned more and turned her face away. "It's n-none of YOUR business! Why don't you mind your own business?"

Both were interrupted by a growling noise. Cookie blinked at the noise of a grumbling stomach and the girl shifted embarrassed more away from her. Slowly she held out her paw towards her. "Good gracious. Was that you're stomach a grumblin' away like that? It sounds like you haven't had a good meal in a while." Looked like it too by the looks of her. Mustache Girl's attention was gained back towards Cookie when the cat held up the bag and shook it making the contents rattle inside. "Say. I've got a great idea! I was just headin' home myself and cook up a delicious meal. Why don'tcha come along and I'll make ya something great ta eat?"

The girl stared at the bag for a big smacking her lips...before frowning again and giving her a suspicious look. "Ha! I wasn't born yesterday y'know. How do I know this isn't some kind of trick? Huh? Why would I go with you?" Her stomach growling a second time answered her making Cookie chuckled a bit.

True. Maybe it was a dangerous or even stupid idea, but...She couldn't just leave a little girl like this all cold and hungry and she'd obviously been crying. And despite what had happened...Giving her a hot meal to cheer her up wouldn't hurt a bit would it? "Come on. I'll whip you up a nice hot meal and you can get out of the rain for a bit. Alright?"

She continued to stare at the cat for a long moment before sighing and standing up. "Fine. But don't try anything! I can spot a bad guy a mile away!"

For better or for worst, Cookie lead her the rest of the way back to her home. But not before making sure to safely put out that fire under the bridge and Giving the little girl her umbrella to help keep the rain off her. Sure she hated the rain hitting her raincoat, but she wasn't about to let this poor hungry girl get all soaked and wet. Well...maybe not poor as she did try to destroy the world once, but right now...Cookie had a feeling she was back to being nothing more than another little girl just as much as that little alien and her friend was. And she couldn't just let a little girl be left all by her lonesome here of all places hungry and in the rain. Mustache Girl side eyeing her suspiciously all the way but she couldn't blame her. This was a sudden choice after all. She blamed it on the motherly cat instinct in her for this 'kitten'. It wasn't long before they arrived back at her home soon to be not home and she followed Cookie inside. Blinking and looking around at all the boxes and packed up things around her.

"I do apologize for the mess," Cookie explained closing the door and going to take her raincoat off, "But Ah'm in the middle of moving you see. So things are gonna be a bit unorganized. Why don't you go sit down and warm up while I get to cooking." Cookie paused as she walked past her, and now noticed how dirty and scraped up the child was now that she had a chance to look her over. "....But first I think you'd better do what everyone does before dinner and go wash up."

"Wash up?"

"Yes. Fully. As in a bath."

"You can't tell me what to do!," she pouted crossing her arms, "And you can't make me take a bath!"

"Hmm. Maybe not but I can control whether or not I give you food if you don't."

She continued pouting for a moment before her stomach grumbled again and she groaned. "UGH! FINE!! But this better not be some trick to fool me into lowering my guard! I should warn you I'm highly strong!"

"Dear the only 'highly strong' thing about you is your oder."

"Hey!"

Not paying attention to her protest, Cookie turned around and started walking away. "Follow me. I'll show you where the bathroom is, and I think I have an outfit that'll fit ya. No way you're wearing those dirty clothes."

Cookie had showed her where the bathroom was and had gifted her an old set of pjs for her to use. They were about the same height so even if they don't fit exactly, they should work in a pinch. As the girl went to bath she went back to the kitchen and set to work. Washing her paws, descaling and deboning the fish, chopping it into pieces, throwing a pan on the stove and turning it on, and starting to throw the fish fillets onto the pan. The fish sizzling inside with the oil and spices and herbs she threw in along the way. Her hard work shown in the delicious smells wafting through the air. Having so much experience cooking meant she could do it pretty fast and get dishes done in record time. Infact during that time, Mustache Girl came walking back in hair down all wet from the bath she took following the smell of food. Cookie caught her out of the corner of her eye and smiled her way.

"Ah! You got here just in time! The fillets are almost done, so you can just sit at the table while you wait. Ok Sugah?" She did as she was told slowly walking over to the chairs and table and climbing into one as the cat continued to cook away at the stove made specifically to her hieght. Sizzling sounds coming from the pan. About twenty minutes later Cookie had put two things on plates and decorated with some veggies on the side before grabbing them and with a smile turned and walked on over to the table. "Here we go. Hope you don't mind fish." She placed the plate right in front of her and noticed the blonde mustache he had previously was gone. Must've been a fake one to make her look tougher she guessed.

She looked to it hungrily and smacked her lips seeing it but still weary. "....What is it?"

"Cheesy fish fillet and some mixed veggies. A recipe I picked up in Nyakuza. Might not be everyone's taste but it's one of my favorite dishes." She stared at it for a little while before reaching out to prod it with the fork provided for her. Before finally taking a piece of it and sticking it into her mouth.....Her golden eyes widened to the size of plates. And she greedily began to dig in. Cookie blinked for a moment watching her scarf it down like her last meal before chuckling. Guess living on the streets meant she hadn't eaten a proper meal in a while. "Guess you were hungry. Slow down. You'll choke on your food. If you're really that hungry I'll give you seconds." And she did. After finishing her own plate she offered her own to the girl who eagerly took that one as well but ate it at a slower place. "You certainly do have a healthy appetite. Your mother must have a handful feeding you."

The girl paused for a moment mid bite....before slowly lowering her fork and giving her plate a frown. ".........I don't ...have parents."

Cookie blinked. Smile completely wiped from her face as she did. No ...parents? "Ya don't have any folks?" She shook her head no again to her question. That...would explain a LOT actually. "Then where's your other family? Surely there must've been somebody."

"Yeah.....Used to be. My grandpa before the Mafia came." She glared at her plate and ended her sentence by stabbing her fork down into the fish.

"Well where is he now?" She again paused.....before shaking her head. And Cookie had a good idea of what that could mean. Before the Mafia came huh? If that's the case she must've been on her own since a very young age, and she was still pretty young. GOODNESS GRACIOUS!! How long has this been going on!? "Goodness gracious." She looked to Cookie when the older cat put a paw on her shoulder with a look of pity...And guilt from even thinking bad about her. Doesn't excuse her misdeeds, but she didn't have anyone to guide her in life so no wonder she went a bit wild. "Sugar, I'm so sorry. I had no idea."

...After a moment she frowned again. "It's fine. I'm used to it by now. I thought I could get my town back from the Mafia if I tried hard enough, but it didn't work and now everyone hates me."

"Oh sweetie that's not true. I don't hate you. You're just a little girl." She patted her head much to the girl's surprise. Maybe she DID not like her too much before. But she couldn't say that now. "People make mistakes growing up. That's how we learn."

"......Hey. Why are you being so nice to me anyways? Don't you hate me too for the whole...eh...World domination thing happening?"

Well yes maybe she was still salty about that but this was hardly the time to argue. So instead Cookie smiled. "Because you're just a little girl in a bad town. I don't expect you to be perfect, no one is. In fact this town's the reason I'm moving away."

This seemed to catch her attention as she blinked. "You can do that?"

She chuckled. "Of course. If I'm unhappy where I am I can move somewhere that makes me feel better. I did it before." She looked around at some more boxes. "In two days I'll be out of here on a train."

"Oh wow. I....Hadn't thought of that...Maybe somewhere else can use a hero too?"

She chuckled. "Maybe."......She slowly looked back to her. "Hey, Sweetie. If it's not too personal can I ask you something?" She blinked at Cookie but nodded. "Do you have anyone special here or a home?" .....She shook her head no again. "Then why stay here? You can come with me on the train."

"What?," the little girl asked wide eyed.

"Why not? I don't have anyone to ride it with, and I don't think staying here would be good for either of us. You don't have to say yes, and I'll respect you if you say no of course. Just thought I'd extend a friendly offer to a little girl who needs a hand."

They...continued to stare at one another in the silence other than the rain beating down on the roof...before eventually the girl looked down to her plate with a hum. "Eh. I'll think about it. No promises though."

Cookie chuckled before patting her head again and turning to the doorway. "Well you think about it then while I wash those old clothes of yours. You're free to spend the night on the couch, wouldn't want you caught up in the rain. I can't guarantee it's as comfy as a bed but it's probably a lot better than a rock." She stopped in the doorway all of a sudden before turning. "Oh. By the way. I don't think I caught your name. I don't really think it's 'Mustache Girl', so can you tell me what it really is?"

The girl stared at her STUNNED. As if no one had even given her the time of day to even think to ask that of her. After another silent moment she turned her face back to the food. And mumbled out one word no human could hear under her breath but thanks to her good hearing she heard her speak it. "Muriel."

...Cookie smiled. "Well, Muriel. I believe it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

********************************************

"You don't seem too happy to see me, Kiddo. What's the matter? Cat got your tongue?"

The blonde girl in front of him frowned before crossing her arms and giving the ghost a stern look from her place in front of the ghostly house as the ghost smiled down at her as if any moment he'd pull one of his pranks on her. Which to be fair he had done a few times since Mu's arrival to live with them full time-

It was a long story.

A long story that had been sprung on him by Poppy of all people! Imagine his surprise when he just randomly popped into the ship one day expecting to see his lovely rose and two pecking mischief makers, only to discover the blonde girl alongside them all making herself at home, which he didn't pay attention too at first. That cat sometimes brought along that chaos causing troublemaker to play with his own but then he came back the next week and she was still there. Again not something that he'd pay attention too. So the blonde brat was back to play again. Big deal. It's not a problem. But then something happened that DID catch his attention. He was just sitting there in his old armchair reading a book on 'One Hundred and Ten Ways to Banish Your Enemies Into The Sun' when the typical laughter of children, human children, reached his metaphorical ears. Oh boy. Those two were here to start causing trouble again weren't they? His theory was confirmed when a small subconite sized blur with brown hair ran past his spooky home in the tree.

"PFFFTTT!!"

He didn't look up from his book at the raspberry. "You're a very rude young lady. Y'know that?"

Another blur with curly hair. "Hi, Snatcher!"

He gave a small smile still reading. "Hello, Bow."

A third small blur with a male voice. "'Ello, Mr. Snatcher!"

A small sigh. Moonboy's kid. Timmy sometimes invaded his forest much to his annoyance. "Hey, Kiddo."

A..fourth small blonde blur? "Ya kooky spook!"

He made some kind of choke noise in surprise at the new voice and looked up blinking wildly. Imagine his complete surprise when he found that little blonde troublemaker laughing and playing about the mushrooms with the rest of those children and he could only stare! What- WHY WAS SHE HERE!? He hadn't ever given her permission to come into his forest! And he certainly never gave any of THEM permission to invite her inside as well! The last time she was here she insulted his forest and contractual techniques which resulted in him tossing her (literally) out of his forest. And the last time he saw her (besides the few times on the ship-) was when she nearly ended his existence (again-) along with everyone else on the planet. SHE COULD'VE ENDED THEM ALL!! And yet here she was laughing and rough housing with the other children like a normal everyday thing. WHAT THE PECK WAS GOING ON HERE!? That's the question he asked a certain red head as she walked past, garden hoe over her shoulder. Stopped by her ghastly lover suddenly popping in front of her face startling her into jumping back.

"POPPY!!"

"HOLY PECKIN' MACOB!!," Poppy yelled hand clutching at her chest at the sudden spook. "Cheese n' rice, Snatcher!" She scowled at him. "How many times do ah gotta tell ya t-''

"WHAT. IS. SHE. DOING HERE!?," he interrupted with a growl pointing a clawed hand directly towards the four children.

Poppy followed his gaze just in time to see Bow jumping from a mushroom onto Mu and making the two laughing children to the ground before just as quickly running as Mu gave chase. ..And shrugged. "Playing?," she said casually looking back to the ghost.

Purple claws raked down his face in frustration. "I can see that. I meant WHY is SHE inside MY forest!?''

A dawn of realization finally came over Poppy. "Oh. Right. I didn't tell ya yet." His claws here removed from his face as he frowned at her. Did she forget about giving him a heads up that they were bringing an extra guest? Poppy knew he hated unwanted intruders in his forest! Even if his family invited them in! She knew what that caped kid did! He told her about how she nearly wiped everyone back into dust with those dumb hourglasses!! He was expecting an apology. He was not expecting what came out of her mouth next. "I took her in. Mu's living with us now."

He stared at her blankly. "......W H A T!?"

The yell was loud enough to make the children and some minions stop and look at the two adults, but Poppy just placed her free hand on her hip used to his personality by now. "Would you keep it down? You'll wake the dead more than what ya already are!"

"That's not the point, Red!," he hissed through fangs claws balling into fists. If he was still human his face would've become red in anger. "May I ask you WHY you all of a sudden decided to become oh so generous to the one who nearly wiped me off the face of the earth!?"

Poppy's irritation also grew. "Fine. I guess you have a right to know. But if ya insist on wonderin' why, it's cuz Cookie can't look after 'er in the long run." She stated matter of factly scowling back.

"What?!,'' his angry looked turned into one of disbelief and he threw his arms out towards her. "What's wrong with the cat!?"

"If you haven't noticed Cookie's not exactly a spring chicken anymore, Snatcher," she pointed out noting the cat's older age compared to the lot of them. "An' it's somethin' she was worried about." She shrugged at the ghost's dumbstruck expression. "We jus' happened to discuss one day and one thing lead to another and well-" Her free hand motioned towards the children who had resumed playing. "Mu's staying with us now."

"...." He frowned again. "And you didn't think to tell me about this!?"

"I tried! But ya left before I could even try talking to you twice!"

"Why though!? Don't you know what she's DONE to us-"

"Because I ain't gonna abandon a little girl on the streets when she's already suffered!," Poppy practical yelled back at his face making Snatcher flinch back when a hand firmly poked him in his chest fluff. "She's just a lil girl!"

"Poppy..." He frowned. Ok. Clearly anger wasn't getting through to Poppy. Maybe a more calm approach. "A little brat who stole those time pieces and tried to destroy the entire planet. Not half. Not a quarter. The ENTIRE planet. Which included my forest. If she had succeeded in that little plan..." A small growl escaped his lips as his grip on her hand lightly tightened. "I would've never been able to bring you back since that was before we even met again. He would've destroyed you too! She's ruthless and unforgivable! WE don't need a wannabe hero!"

Poppy stared at him for a good moment before frowning again narrowing her eyes. "Are you even hearing yourself?" He blinked. "Do you know who she sounds like?"

"Who?"

"You."

"ME!?," he squawked staring at her, "How is she anything like me!? We aren't the same!?"

"Oh really? You're angry about her nearly wiping the planet into nothin'." She pulled her hand away and poked his 'nose' watching as he looked cross eyed at her hand. "May I remind you of a certain ghost who's entire job is STEALING souls!! And get this. You do it to anyone who just walks in here regardless if they do anythin' or not!" He felt a small bead of ectoplasm sweat form on his forehead when the red head hummed and tapped her chin. "How many souls did you say you collected again? A few hundred? Maybe a few thousand even? And what was it that you made Hattie do in her contracts? Climb a dangerously tall well through a cursed swamp. Sent her to check up on Vanessa, who by the way, could easily freeze her- " Her arms were thrown into the air her garden hoe dropping down with a thud. "HOW is that any different or better than almost wiping the world out once? And may I remind you that Mu almost wiped out the world, she never actually went through anything like that unlike someone who actually did!''

"S-So what if I stole a few hundred-thousand souls!?,'' he huffed but still felt the ectoplasm run down his face, "She's the one who stole the magic things responsible for giving her those powers."

"SO DID YOU! Or did you forget how I unfroze? It wasn't the microwave that heated me back up, ya purple pool noodle!"

"She stole more than me!"

"Well you both stole them for the same reason!"

"HA!!" He scowled again now looking at her with a brow. "Oh really?," he challenged crossing his arms, "I suppose she has an evil ex with ice powers too! If that's the case I gotta know how she still has her body! I'd love to have been able to keep mine!"

Poppy flinched for a moment wide eyed, before a deep scowl speared her featured. "You know sometimes you can be the biggest PECKING jerk on the entire peckin' planet! You should have some sympathy for her considerin' what she went through!!"

"That blonde caped crusader of chaos went through NOTHING even remotely close to me!! If you think-"

"SHUT UP, PHILIP!!"

Silence rang out. Silence that was followed by the Snatcher snapping his jaws shut and leaped back a few feet from the tyranitcal yell that brought forth by the angry red head. Poppy was..Poppy was heaving now. Breathing through her crunched up nose, fists balled like she wanted to hit something, and her face seething red that was enough to freeze even Vanessa if she had looked at her. Her angry burst sending crows chirping and spiders into hiding. Subconites and dwellers stopping what they were doing to stare at the two of them. She-...Po-Poppy had used his name. His DEAD name. The one she used only when she was emotional. Whether it be out of sadness, happiness,...or raw anger. Which was now. The ghost flinched hard when a hand whirled out to hit against his chest and the shove was enough to make him yelp and shoot backwards a few decent feet.

"How DARE you say that about a child!!," she raged like a bull temper flaring making him shrink back dumbstruck. If it was anyone else, they would've been added to his collection of souls now, but this was different. "You don't know her situation! Would ya'll like ta know!?" She shouted and he didn't answer. "Imagine THIS if ya will! A person just goin' 'bout their day ta day lives an' then all of a sudden someone comes along and takes EVERYTHING from ya and changes your home forever! And no matter how hard ya try there's nothin' ya can do about it cuz it's beyond your control! ARE YA TELLIN' ME YA WOULDN'T TRY TA MAKE EVERYTHIN' RIGHT IF YA HAD A CHANCE!?" She shouted at the shrinking spook, daring him, challenging him to say the opposite. "ARE YOU SAYIN' YA WOULDN'T PASS UP THE CHANCE TA USE SOMETHING TO FIX SOMETHING WRONG IN YA LIFE EVEN IF IT MEANT STEALING IF YA WAS DESPERATE ENOUGH!? OH WAIT- YA DID DIDN'T YA!?" Her hands came back to pat her body and look at herself as if making sure she was still there. "That's how I'm still here isn't it?! Or was it a magic toaster oven ya used ta wake me up, Philip!? She was stranded all alone without any family thanks to some evil person who destroyed her home! Now who does that sound like!?"

He floated there in shock, not saying anything and just staring at Poppy who panted from her earlier burst chest heaving. The both of them stared at each other for a long time before Poppy just huffed and turned her head away.

"She's....scared, Philip. And I don't blame the poor thing." She slowly turned and bent down retrieving the gardening tool from the ground and placing it back over her shoulder. "Just cuz ya don't know her that doesn't mean she hasn't been through somethin'...Maybe ya shouldn't forget that either."

And that's how she left him. Shrunk in on himself and dumbstruck for hours. He wasn't even sure how or when, but somehow he managed to get back into his armchair and slump into it staring into space and letting new thoughts rebound around his head at what Poppy said. ..Before shaking his head and facepalming himself with a tired sigh. Great. HOW did he keep getting himself into these things? He was getting too old for this- FINE! After much consideration and hard thought- And yelling in frustration and pulling at his chest fluff- He'd let Poppy take care of the child and allow her access to his forest but that doesn't mean he would like it! Or her! He was only doing this to get Poppy off his back and to appease her anger though, not because he felt sorry for the brat! It seemed to have worked for the most part, because when he showed up days later with a few packets of seeds (which he totally didn't steal-) and told her Mu could come into the forest WITH SUPERVISION, she seemed to let all the anger held for him disappear and accepted his form of apology.

"Alright. But ya gotta be nice to 'er."

He rolled his yellow eyes. "Ugh. Fine."

"And you gotta promise me you won't try to take her soul or make her do ridiculous contracts! Or try to trick her into doing something!"

"Yes, yes. No manipulations, soul stealing, or contracts. Got it."

"And you have to start talking to her more."

"WHAT!? But I already promised so much!"

"M' not saying ya got to talk to her all the time, but enough to where she'll be used ta seeing you around. You can at least do that much."

"But-...RRRR!! FINE! Whatever! I'll...talk."

"Good boy."

"*sigh* This'll be more annoying then the time I tossed her into mud.'

"....You did WHAT?!"

"....Oops."

He ...did try talking to her, after Poppy's yelling session about finding out he literally tossed her out of his forest at one time. To his surprise she wasn't scared of him. Like...at all. The blonde gal scowled at him with the same energy of Poppy's called him names like the 'Kooky spook', purple pool noodle, and the bad guy. ...Yeah, they definitely told her about him and everything else. He didn't have to ask. His questions were answered when she told him one day-

"I don't care if ya was wronged! It's still a bad guy things to do taking souls!"

Although he wasn't sure who told her. Most likely Poppy perhaps in order to hopefully get the two closer to an understanding. Ugh. Like that'd happen. He felt irritated every time she was near him with her attitude and scowls and the few arguments they had-....Why was this feeling so familiar to him? Oh well. He did get her back. He promised he wouldn't do anything to harm her, but that doesn't mean he couldn't get back at her in other ways! Hiding her cape. Keeping her things away. Moving around her things. Hiding a small beetle in her bedsheets. Oh it wasn't as satisfying as he would've liked, but seeing her get irritated and unable to do anything was good enough. Ah. It was good to be a ghost. Poppy was irritated with him as well but he could argue that he did this to the other kids too so it wasn't like she was the only one experiencing it, which he did, but his direction he had towards Mu was obvious his recent target. Although there was one thing that also irritated him. It was inevitable that Mu would eventually meet Hazelle and Moonjumper. She had already met Timmy a couple times and was fascinated by his powers, she was REALLY fascinated by Hazelle's magic when she showed off a couple of her tricks, which did irritate him. HEY!! He was cool as well! He could do plenty of things! He was a Undead King! How much more impressive could you get!? But he was REALLY on edge when Moonjumper showed up one night out of the blue. Luckily he had been there at the same time he showed up and was right there when he came to 'visit' his kids-...His contractors again! His surprise wasn't lost on Mu who stared wide eyed at this glitching, floating ghost with wide eyes. Meanwhile he was greeted with a growl and snarl by the other ghost upon letting his prescence known. He still hadn't forgotten anything this FOOL tried to pull on HIS people.

His growl made Moonjumper freeze. "What are you doing here?", Snatcher demanded.

"Calm down, Old Boy," Moonjumper waved him off with a frown, much to his other half's annoyance. "I'm simply here to visit the dear children whom I love dearly. Is that so wrong?"

"Yes. You never come here for anything simple."

"Well you would be right about that." Moonjumper's red eyes gazed past down him and at Mu who flinched wide eyed under his smile. "I heard from a little bird-" Either Hazelle or Timmy he means. "-that there was a new little one amongst the stars here." His head tilted at the small blonde gal as she stared back at him and flinched at the unnatural twitching of his next as it moved in his glitching fashion, the chains clanking with his floating a bit closer. "So...I took it upon myself if it happened to be true."

Mu flinched and on instinct dove behind the nearest person to hide away from this scary new comer, which just so happened to be the other ghost in this situation. Snatcher blinked and looked down at his tail where he found her hiding behind the dark purple ghost with a face he was all too familiar with. Fear. Her eyes wide with the gold pupils shrinking to the size of pins, her hands clinging onto his tail, half peeking out from behind him at the other ghost. That's the expression he saw time and time again from his victims and the one he wanted from her from the first times he was stuck with her, but seeing her give that expression to Moonboy while choosing to hide behind him was...different. And then he remembered a very important detail that he let fly over his head up until now. Mu didn't sign any contracts with him. Not the kind that Poppy or the other children had. The ones that prevented Moonjumper from trying to pull the same stunt he pulled on Poppy and succeeding. Which meant that if any of those red strings decided to loop themselves around the brat's body, there wouldn't be anything stopping Moonjumper from whisking her away to the Horizon. In an instant his fluff bristled and bunched up, his eyes narrowed, and an unholy growl came from the depths of his throat that made Moonjumper instantly freeze. Red eyes snapping from the child up to the other half of him as he leaned over Moonjumper and snarled.

"Get. OUT. Of. This. Ship. NOW!!" Moonjumper had froze staring up at Snatcher whether it be out of fear or defiance he didn't know or care. He felt angrier that he had to repeat himself hissing. "GET OUT!!" He bellowed voice reverberating off the walls and echoing around the room with the power of a thousand thunderstorms. It was enough to make him disappear. Vanish into thin air scattering blocks in his way. Letting silence resettle once again in the ship's face. After a tense moment Snatcher untensed, letting out a disgruntled snort at the nerve of Moonjumper coming here 'oh so innocently' like that. Like Peck he'd let that happen. After all this was HIS territory...He slowly rose a brow back down to his tail tip which was still being death gripped by the blonde tot and after a moment wriggled it a bit. "Hey. You can seriously let go now."

Instead of listening she just gripped onto him tighter pressing her forehead into his tail making him sigh and reluctantly reach a hand down to pat her head. Guess he'd humor the brat just this once. And maybe it was because of that that the two of them would slowly start talking more. A little good morning there or a question about his forest here. Ok. SO WHAT!? So what if he maybe brought extra food for her along with the others? So he didn't want her to starve. Poppy would've bothered him for it anyways. So what if he maybe sewed a few outfits together for her? It's an eyesore to see her walking around in old rags. So what if he stopped complaining as much about her in his forest along with the others and stopped playing so many pranks on her? He got bored of it anyways! And complaining strains his throat! ...Nevermind he doesn't have a throat. It's easier to live with her if he treated her like the others- NOT THAT HE LIKED HER!! And he totally did NOT cackle to high heavens when she told him about her exploits against the mafia-

A wild evil sounding cackle rang out through the forest from the Snatcher's treehouse. In front of him was a proud blonde child looking pleased with herself hands on her hips as he cackled away.

"W-Wait. Tell me the part where you put all of his smashed bits in the bottle again!," his evil smile spread across his face wider. His distaste for those men ran about as deep as hers, especially with a certain red suit wearing mafia who flirted with a certain redhead.

"Well that wasn't my plan at first really," Mu confessed rolling her wrist, "All assaults need a good plan after all! I wanted to strangle 'em at first. Watch them choke and beg for mercy!" She proclaimed holding a fist up...before rolling her eyes, and letting her shoulders drop with a shrug. "But strangling would've been too kind. So then I came up with the idea of mushing them up in a jar and giving them a taste of their own medicine!"

Poppy's face was one of slacked jawed shock at what this teeny child just said but Snatcher looked more intrigued a clawed hand coming to rub his chin with a hum of interest. "Placing your enemies somehow still conscious remains in a jar huh? That sounds....devious. But quite messy. Not sure if I would want to have all that gunk entangled on me."

Mu shrugged. "Eh. I didn't have to get my hands dirty. It was easy to do after Hattie made him explode during their big battle."

"She did what? Really? AHAHAHAHAHA!! I knew she must've had some unspoken side to her! So tell me! How did you two pull it off?! She used that umbrella's laser beam didn't she?"

"PHILIP!! Don't encourage her!"

"WWWhhhaaaaatttt? You're the one who said I should be more encouraging."

"NOT 'BOUT THAT STUFF!!"

Safe to say that the both of them got another long talking too from Poppy, but..Despite the kid becoming not (totally so-) closer to him, there was still one thought that made him uncomfortable. And that thought started with a capable M for Moonboy. Moonjumper saw her, Mu was obviously scared of him, and the trick he pulled to gain Poppy still hung fresh in his mind. The advantage of taking anyone of importance was a too sweet deal even for Moonjumper to ignore and that thought still didn't sit right with him. Always made him growl and curl his claws at the thought. There was an obvious way to keep her safe, but he was very reluctant to do it. But everyday he put it off, the more the thoughts swirled, and the more the chance of Moonjumper snatching her away from him-...THEM was present. Until the boiling point tipped and he couldn't hold it anymore, which was exactly the reason why he was here now. Staring at her, having gotten her away from the others with one of his little teleportation tricks. He smiled at her despite her frowning face and raised brow with her arms crossed.

"I was just about to win against that cheeky minion of yours!," she complained stomping her foot, "What was so important you had to pull me out of that tree?!"

"Despite the fact Poppy would've killed me for letting you climb that thing?,'' he deadpanned, "I have some important investments to take part in! I've been thinking about this for quite some time and I've decided to expand my business endeavors! And lucky you gets to be the first one to experience this once in a dead-line opportunity!"

Before Mu could ask what the peck he meant by that, his hand reached up and snapped his claws, a single contract and quill appeared from no where. She blinked watching the paper unfurl itself and the feathered quill extend itself out to her. A...contract?? Narrowing her eyes, the girl directed her golden orbs suspiciously upwards to the ghost who gave nothing but a smile.

"A contract? Really? So you're actually going through with that part? I thought you'd actually make this more stupendous."

He surprisingly didn't get angry about that part and shrugged. "I'm more interested in making your stay here actually permanent. You could be highly useful to me and it's not everyday I stumble across someone who I actually make an investment like this in. Just sign on the dotted line and you won't ever have to worry about a home again!"

She blinked again, then looked at Snatcher, before taking a good at the new contract. The paper looked old and slightly torn around the edges here and there. At the very top of the paper was a fancy drawing of the creature before her with the face and his arms outstretched, beneath that was some very fancy writing that read "CONTRACT" in fancy bold capital cursive letters. The Rest was also in fancy cursive but lucking she could read it pretty well reading. It read as followed:

CONTRACT

SERVE THE DEAD WITH WHAT THE AGREEMENT STATES

-The Subcon Forest

-The Employer's Home (with special permission)

-The Subcon Village

These parts shall NOT be available for any reason and will not be negotiated unless the employer says otherwise.

-The Hat Brat's Time Piece Vault (you know why)

-The Haunted Manor

-The Frozen Bridge

-The Subcon Swamp

-The Subcon Well

-The Frozen Territory

-Any place my employer has said is off limits

SIGNED

And then there was a small line where her name would go.

Again she looked between him and the contract before narrowing her eyes at him again. "Alright. What's the catch here?"

Ugh. Did she seriously still think he was trying to trick her? He sighed. "It's not an enslavement deal and it isn't a work contract either. Don't get that mixed up with what it actually is." He placed a hand to his chest. "I'm simply offering you a deal that greatly benefits you and keeps that Moonshined idiot from taking what I consider to be mine. You even get to keep your free soul and will! Ain't you lucky?"

She deadpanned looked at him. "....This is a lowkey adoption thing ain't it?"

The noise he made sounded like something between a deflating balloon's wheeze and turkey choking underwater. "WHAT!? N-NO!! This isn't any kind of adoption!" Her brow rose further. "I'm just offering you a job for one of the best employers in the world!" He insisted. "I'd be a pecking fool to pass up on having someone who's determined enough to almost bring the world to it's knees working for me! HA! I could use someone like that to help me take down Vanessa-"

"Ok, ok. Yeesh! I'll sign it if it gets you to shut up."

He paused for a moment blinking. "....Wait. Really? That easy huh?"

She rolled her eyes grabbing the piece of paper from the air with the pen. "Yeah. They told me you'd pull this sooner or later. Why don't you just say you want to adopt people? Makes it less complicated!"

"FOR THE LAST TIME IT'S NOT L-LIKE THAT!!"

Uh huh. Sure. She really believed him and may have found amusement in that pout- Scowl of his! Once she did sign the pen disappeared in a small puff of smoke and she jumped, her grip on the contract loosening enough for the giant ghost to snatch it from her. At the same time a giant burst of energy throbbed hard within the very core of her body. Temporarily knocking the wind outta her. She gasped and fell to her hands and knees at the sudden tight feeling within her. Her body emitting a small purple light in the dead center of her chest before as soon it came it left and Mu stayed laying down gasping and blinking at the sudden sensation that came and left. Leaving goosebumps across the her flesh and shaking like a leaf again. Coughing and eventually snapping up to him. He smiled reading over the contract before it disappeared in a puff of flames too.

"Oi! What the peck was THAT about ya kooky purple onion!?", she demanded sitting up and pointed her hand accusingly at him. Ah...Someone's picked up some nicknames from Poppy.

He waved a hand away. "Relax. You're unharmed. It was just the bond ceiling between us and the magic forming a strong protective shield around your soul so no one, not even Moonboy, can harm you. Don't worry. You're perfectly fine. Although you might feel winded for a bit."

"It would've been nice to know that beforehand!"

She huffed before standing up and dusting herself off from the black dirt. Her annoyance was worth it though, he was satisfied and relieved. Moonjumper being a threat was taken cared off and this way Poppy wouldn't have to worry about her anymore than the other two-....Yeah. He could make this work with the four of them around. Of course he'll have to make a few adjustments as soon as possible, but nothing he couldn't manage-

"So do I get to call ya the 'dead-beat' dad now?"

"Absolutely pecking NOT!"

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Kudos

CaptainCherryBlossom, Sheramine, Nicopopxd, dewampersand, Untitled_Bitch, NanixErka, ToaFromSiberia, and princessstarwatcher as well as 8 guests left kudos on this work!

Comments

ToaFromSiberia on Chapter 1 Mon 20 Dec 2021 10:16AM UTC

Can't wait for more!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 1 Mon 20 Dec 2021 02:03PM UTC
  
  Thanks
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 1 Thu 05 Jan 2023 03:25AM UTC

OMG!!!! A prequel!! This is the best thing ever!!! Thank you for the chapter!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 1 Thu 05 Jan 2023 04:38AM UTC
  
  Thank you!
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 2 Thu 05 Jan 2023 09:13AM UTC

This was so cute, thank you!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 2 Thu 05 Jan 2023 01:53PM UTC
  
  Thanks
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 3 Thu 05 Jan 2023 09:40AM UTC

Hazelle is just so badass in every interaction she is in. Thank you for the chapter!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 3 Thu 05 Jan 2023 01:52PM UTC
  
  Thanks
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 4 Fri 06 Jan 2023 03:45AM UTC

Moonjumper is now in the story!! Thanks for the chapter!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 4 Fri 06 Jan 2023 04:07AM UTC
  
  Yep!
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 5 Fri 06 Jan 2023 03:51AM UTC

Bowkid and Hattiekid best friends forever!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 5 Fri 06 Jan 2023 04:06AM UTC
  
  Of course!
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 6 Fri 06 Jan 2023 06:09AM UTC

This was so sweet it made me melt! Seeing that side from Moonjumper is so cute! Also Timmy is the best!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 6 Fri 06 Jan 2023 02:18PM UTC
  
  Thank you
  
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Sheramine on Chapter 7 Sun 08 Jan 2023 04:44AM UTC

Mu is probably one of my favourite characters, I identity with her in a lot of ways,and now seeing her getting adopted it's just beautiful, her dynamic with Snatcher was adorable, and Cooking Cat was the best, thank you for the chapter!

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1. Itshauntedtoon3 on Chapter 7 Sun 08 Jan 2023 04:47AM UTC
  
  Thanks!
  
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