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Chapter Text

El Bailidor woke up and looked at the Calendar.

... The 28th, this would mark a little over a year. since he and Decibat initially found Clover's grave.

While he isn't nearly as saddened as some of Clover's.... main companions...

Visits to the Wild East aren't the most fun, the people being... less passionate since Clover's death...

It's been getting better, but there's still an underlying sadness...

Anywho, He still had to pick up the Flowers from the Flower Girls, which shouldn't be too difficult.

After that, he'd meet up with his Compadre, Decibat, near the Steamworks Gate, and they'd take the path over the top of the Steamworks, as long as nothing distracted them.

Decibat blinked it's eyes open, today marks the 28th, so it'd be another Visit to Clover's grave.

Decibat had somewhat made up with El Bailidor after they both visited Clover's grave the first time, and while it absolutely refused to be roommates with El Bailidor again...

Memories of various songs blasting in the morning, Carmelldansen being a surprisingly common choice, still haunt its dreams to this day... Never again.

It DID say it would think about moving closer by so that way the duo could meet up and visit Clover's grave together more often.

Eventually, it did, and Decibat quite liked the quietness of the mines.

While it was Quiet, it wasn't Lonely... It ended up getting bored with nothing to do in the Dark Ruins other than stare at Corn, stare at More Corn, maybe find the occasional neat rock, and did it mention staring at Corn?

In the Mines, there were people. Most of them were also decently reserved, and most of them also respected Decibat's space.

Also, the crystals were rather pretty.

Speaking of which, it's that time of the Month. 

Decibat flies out of the cave with some crystals in it's claws.

It was the Feisty 4's designated naptime, and yet Mooch was feeling incredibly restless.

This wasn't unusual, she honestly always felt to urge to nab something from someone's pockets, but this was different.

There was something that always Irked Mooch about the big glowy door that lead to the Steamworks, though the rest of the 5 never trusted her to go near the door.

Well, screw that! She might find some neat stuff in there!

Ceroba had told stories about what happened in there, but it was usually late at night, and uh... she ended up falling asleep most of the time.

Welp, the rest of the Posse are asleep, with Starlo being at Ceroba's place for the night.

Surely same breaking-and-entering wouldn't be TOO bad...

Mooch ran up to the door, tripping on a rock in the sand.

"Oof-"

She hears someone drop down next to her.

"Ah, are you alright...?"

The person staring down at her had a yellow mask, and a red, green, and blue ca.... Wait, she knows who that is.

Mooch practically scrambled up

"PLEASE DON'T FORCE ME INTO A DANCE BATTLE-"

Before tripping again.

... The Dancer just chuckled.

"No worries, Mi amiga! Myself and Deci here are just...."

As if on cue, a small blue bat flew down as well.

"... What'ss the hholdup?"

El Bailidor motioned to Mooch.

The 'Deci' in question stared at her for a moment, Mooch staring at the VERY pretty crystals it was holding.

"If you want to come withh uss, keep yoursself quiet."

... as Decibat spoke, Mooch snatched the crystals.

"Ah, um, friend, those are.... for the Friend we are visiting..."

El Bailidor looked at Mooch rather panickedly

"Hm.... nah." Mooch looked at the two with a smug smile.

Decibat glared at Mooch.

"They're for Clover. Give thhem back, Hushh."

... Mooch flinched for a moment before shoving them back into Decibat's claws, the bat recoiling a bit at the force.

"Oh, uh... S-Sorry... You could've started with that!"

The Orange-Clad Monster sighed, "... It is fine... you are a part of North Star's Posse, yes?" El Bailidor asked, tilting his head akin to a bird.

"Uh... yeah! What about it?" Mooch questioned back.

"... We were planning to go vissit Clover'ss grave. You know Clover too, obvioussly, did you want to follow uss?"

... Mooch looked at them.

"Not really, I wanted to see what was behind this door." Mooch knocked on the Steamworks Door twice, the metal banging causing Decibat to flinch.

"CUT IT OUT, HUSHH!"

"Alright, Alright, sheesh..."

El Bailidor could've sworn he heard Mooch mutter 'killjoy' under her breath, though maybe he was just imagining.

"But yeah, neat looking door, I wanna see if there's some equally neat treasure in there!"

... El Bailidor thought to himself. He was rather interested in what was behind the door as well. The Steamworks have been mostly closed for a long time, only reactivating last year after Clover's entry, presumably.

"I actually would not mind taking the Scenic Route. Of course, my Compadre here would have to agree to it as we-"

"I thhink I hhave to, anywayss."

... El Bailidor wasn't expecting an answer so quick.

"I feel like if I don't follow, you'll bothh end up dying ssomehhow."

... Oh.

"Hey! I'm not that dumb!" Mooch yelled in defense.

"... Ssure, you aren't."

"What's that even supposed to-"

"Alright, Alright, enough you two. We need to open this door somehow. Do either of you have the Passcode?" El Bailidor looked between the two.

"Obvioussly not."

"Nope! I think I can guess it though!" Mooch practically dashed up to the Keypad, and pressed '1' 4 times.

...

The door opened.

The trio stood in silence for a bit.

"I... wasn't expecting that-"

"Hhow...?"

"Mr. Ketsukane really wasn't very creative with his passwords, was he... Dios mío..."

"Welp, that's a good thing for us! Come on!"

Mooch practically dashed into the Steamworks, El Bailidor following Close behind, and Decibat reluctantly hovering over as well.

Chapter Text

It was the end of another business day, and Mo and the Shufflers were checking the remaining stock before they headed out.

Rephil looked over at Mo, "Aye, uh, Mo, we're outta th' plants."

Then, Swig did. "Sure are, where'd ya get 'em anyways?"

Then, Toast. "Yeah, they're real weird for ya to just... have 'ere."

Mo looked over at the cups. "Steamworks. They 'ad some weird, albeit edible plants. I just thought shapin' 'em into food would be neat. They sell well, though... We should go get more."

... Rephil looked at Mo like he grew a second Tail. "Mo, I uh... hate to break it to ya, but the Steamworks' Entrances been locked since a few months after......

Mo looked back at Rephil with a glint in his eye. "Who said we were gonna take the Entrance?"

"Mo. Mo, No, we're not gonna break 'n enter into an abandoned facilit-"

They were standing on top of the Steamworks.

Or at least, where it should be, they're on a sandy cliff in the Dunes at the moment.

"... So, you're sayin' the Steamworks are... below us...? Toast looked over at Mo with suspicion.

"I entered from 'ere before. We just gotta dig." Mo brandished his claws, "So, lets get diggin!"

... The cups stared at Mo with a deadpan expression.

"We don't have arms, idiot." Swig mentioned.

...

Mo paused for a good moment.

"Eh, fine, I'll do it myself then."

Mo immediately began to claw at the sand.

It took about an hour, but eventually the sound of claws scratching Metal sounded.

"I GOT IT! COME ON DOWN YA THREE!" Mo shouted from the rather large hole he dug.

The cups extended their straws down, using them as makeshift poles.

Once they got down, they realized they were still in the hole.

"So, what's the holdup?" said Rephil, "We're goin' inside, right?"

... Mo, looked at the cups, taking off the Sunglasses.

"I uh, can't break the metal."

He flipped them back on.

... "Gimme a sec." said Toast.

He attempts to stretch his straw up.

It doesn't reach.

..........

"Well, shoot."

... "I'll just.. scratch at it til' someone notices."

Mo's idea wasn't very good, but it might work.

The Rag-Tag Dunes Trio was wandering through the Steamworks.

Decibat, being the most responsible of the Trio (though, that wasn't saying much, seeing as it was still highly impulsive), kept Mooch from making stupid decisions

"No, Mooch, you can't drink thhe hydrochhloric acid, that will kill you."

Mooch pouted and placed the beaker back on the desk, but was still staring at it until El Bailidor eventually dragged Mooch out of the room.

"While I do appreciate the Passion, maybe you could... be passionate about something else??????"

Mooch pouted again, as Decibat zoned out...

--------------------------

.... Decibat heard.... something.

That something was not a pretty sound, mind you. It sounded like nails scratching on a chalkboard.

...

"Hm, is there something on your mind, Deci?" El Bailidor looked at Decibat with some genuine worry.

"... Thhere'ss ssomeone making an awful noisse...." it responded, groaning.

"Hm, lets go see what it is! Might be treasure!"

Before either could respond, Mooch rushed in that direction.

Decibat groaned, and El Bailidor facepalmed, but both ran (Or, well, flew in Decibat's case) after Mooch.

Eventually, the three found the source of the sound.

It was coming from the roof-

... So, what does Decibat do when it's met with an ear-grating sound?

Blast it with magic.

The metal cracked until... 4 Monsters fell through.

A Raccoon, and 3 Cups.

".... Aye uh, fancy seein' ya all here...?" said one of the Cups, it having some sunglasses.

".... Wait, so you're tellin' me I didn't have t' dig through the sand?!" The Raccoon practically screamed.

Decibat knew who this was, it thinks.

Heck no.

"HUSHH OR LEAVE!" Decibat sent several soundwaves at the Raccoon Man, causing him to leave as the 3 cups just... watched.

Aaaaand, the three didn't the sound of a wheel going toward them.