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Chapter Text

It was a crisp autumn afternoon when I pulled up into the long driveway of my grandmother Katrina's house. It was just like I remembered it. Rural area, spacious fields, and a quaint cottage style home. I was glad that I chose to stay with my grandmother after I had graduated from college. I wanted to show her my new associates degree and catch up on lost time.

As I walked up the driveway with my suitcase and backpack in hand, I could already see her exit the front door and run towards me.

"Evie Beevie!" She called out to me.

"Hey, Grandma!" I waved before she caught up to me and hugged me so tightly, my breath hitched, "Ulp!....Grandma....tight!"

"Oh, pardon!" Grandma giggled, "I'm just so excited that you decided to stay with me for a little while!"

"Yea! I thought we could catch up on lost time." I explained "It's been a while since I visited last."

"Do you have the degree?"

"I do!"

"Well, then let's not waste any time! Come, come!" With those words, Grandma patted my back to guide me towards the house and led me inside.

It hasn't changed since the last time I was here. It still had the same 70s decor, mainly because Grandma once said she felt very connected to that era in her life. I didn't mind, because I knew how the feeling felt. Mainly for me it was the early 2000s.

Inside, Grandma guided me to the couch and drummed her lap, "So, come on, hon! Show me that degree!"

I smiled and pulled out the degree from my backpack to show her. Grandma's eyes widened as her smile did the same, "Graphic Design and Illustration...my granddaughter...with an associates degree in Graphic Design and Illustration! Oh, Evie, I'm SO proud of you!"

"Thanks, Grandma." I smiled, "It was...rough...the classrooms weren't the easiest to sit through. However, my professors were very nice to me, and half of my studying was done online."

Grandma nodded in understanding, "Well, I am still so proud of you for pushing through, darling, regardless of your anxiety. Your determination knows no bounds," Grandma shot me a warm smile, "So, what do you plan on doing with that nifty degree of yours?"

"Honestly, I don't know yet." I shrugged, "Maybe some illustration? Logo design? Vector design? It's all a lot to take in right now."

"Well, let's not worry about that right now," Grandma suggested, "And celebrate! How about I get us some ice cream from the freezer and put in a VHS of Welcome Home?"

Once Grandma mentioned Welcome Home, I nodded eagerly and helped get the VHS tapes as Grandma got the ice cream.

Welcome Home was my favorite TV show when I was younger and STILL is! It's been a comfort show of mine for a long time, getting me through good and bad times in my life. The show's star, Wally Darling, was my absolute favorite. He was someone I could relate to and admire. I loved him so much that Grandma got me a plush of him when I was just four years old. His plush was my comfort item, and his presence got me through the worst moment in my life....I don't want to talk about it. 

Grandma herself had a strong connection to Welcome Home herself, mainly because she used to work on the show. She worked on the animated segments of the show and would point out her work when she and I would watch the show together. Her role on the show also allowed her to get perks to the merchandise and give me some of them for past birthdays. 

Once Grandma got the ice cream and I got the VHS player going, we sat and watched an episode of Welcome Home, drinking in the nostalgia we both had, since I would come over to watch the show with her when I was a little kid. I admired the screen as the characters interacted and had fun with each other. The animated segments were my favorite parts when I was younger, and I still loved them.

"Just like old times?" Grandma looked over.

"Just like old times." I replied.

Grandma sighed, "It's a shame that people don't remember this show that much anymore. Lots of people on the show poured their heart and soul into this masterpiece, but the show seemed to be lost in time."

"Oh!" I remembered, "That reminds me! My degree wasn't the only thing I wanted to show you!"

"It wasn't?"

"Nope!" I shook my head, "I wanted to tell you! There's a website that's collecting the lost artifacts of Welcome Home! It's also been trying to contact others who have worked with or seen the show when it aired. And not only that, but they've also had a HUGE exhibition of their findings to bring light to Welcome Home! Isn't that awesome?!"

I expected Grandma to be thrilled when she heard the news, but her face was only...blank, "They're trying to retrieve Welcome Home's lost media..." Suddenly her eyebrows furrowed, "And didn't contact me?!" 

"Grandma?"

"I WORKED with the show during its airtime!" Grandma snapped, "I had a big role on the show! Playfellow KNEW it, and they didn't think to contact me!"

"Grandma, I-" I timidly tried to explain, "I'm so sorry, I...I didn't mean to make you upset!"

Grandma took a deep breath and calmed down a bit, "...It's alright, dear. It's not your fault. I've still been a bit bitter since they decided to unfairly kick me from the show....all because I wanted to create a character of my own..."

"Oh," My face softened, "Grandma, I'm so sorry that happened. That sounds awful."

"They got what they deserved when the company shut down in '74." She bluntly stated, "But poor Wally and the neighborhood...I still want to keep their memories alive at least. I know Wally seemed connected to his audience. I loved drawing him back then...." Grandma's face when from solemn to peppy again, "But enough negative memories! We can watch more of the show later. I'm going to start dinner,"

"Alright," I nodded, "Hey, is my tree house still up? Can I go see it?"

"Ah, yes the tree house!" Grandma smiled, "Go ahead, dear! It's still intact!"

"Thanks, Grandma!" After giving her a big hug, I made my way to the backyard where I marveled at my childhood tree house. Still standing after all these years!

I climbed into the tree house using the rope ladder built in. Not only was the tree house still big enough and strong enough for me to hold, but it filled me with a TON of nostalgia. I remembered everything about this cylindrical tree house: the Welcome Home posters, the toy chest, which I pretended could supply anything I needed and wanted, the desk I used to draw on, the swing chair I would take naps in, and the "It's For You" Telephone Grandma got me for my fifth birthday that I used to put in my tree house. I still remembered when Grandma hired a crew to build this for me for my seventh birthday. She wanted to make sure this was sturdy enough for me to have for years to come. And it was. It was so good to be--

Suddenly, I heard a ringing in my ears. I checked and...nope it wasn't my ears. It was like a...telephone ringing. That's when I noticed and looked over. 

It was the "It's For You" Telephone.

It NEVER rung by itself! It only rang when I pressed one of the buttons on it. Something was surely fishy.

After debating on whether I should answer the phone or not, I finally decided to pick it up, "H-Hello?"

I nearly had a heart attack when I heard a soft-spoken, monotone voice on the other line, "Hello neighbor! I was hoping you'd pick up,"

I couldn't speak. I was too stunned to speak. The voice sounded like...Wally Darling.

"Ha ha ha," He continued, "Don't worry neighbor. I know you're there. You know I'm here, too. I...can sense it...but, I can still talk to you..."

I don't remember much of the call. I was trying to process how the HECK the phone rung by itself and how the HECK Wally was talking. Was it a new feature? Some sort of thing that had automatically installed? Can 70s toys even automatically install things? Probably not.

But I did manage to catch one more thing he said "...I have to go now. I need to get ready for a special friend's visit. Remember, until you hear me again, keep your smile merry, and always know...that I love you...very much,

See you soon, neighbor,"

As soon as the call ended, WHOOSH!

The tree house started to spin abruptly, and I was on the ground, getting dizzy from the head impact, knocking myself unconscious....

----

When I woke up, I rubbed my head and groaned, "What...happened...? Maybe I should-"

As I was about to get up, I looked out the window of my tree house and noticed I wasn't in my backyard anymore. The trees were...colorful...and not just green and red. They were blue and yellow, and...purple?

And not only that, but when I noticed how much shorter I've gotten, I looked at my hands and freaked out when they looked silver colored. I looked around to find a mirror, going as far as to going into my toy chest to find one.

I was surprised when I pulled one out right away, "Oh! Wait, how did I pull out a mirror right--AHH!" I screamed and accidentally dropped the mirror back in the chest when I saw how I looked. I...was a puppet...a silver-looking animated puppet! I didn't know how this day couldn't get any strang--

"Neighbor! Oh neighbor!" I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "C'mon down from there, neighbor!"

That voice...is that...? I looked out the window and my jaw nearly dropped. 

It can't be...it couldn't be...

WALLY?!

Chapter Text

"Come on down from there, neighbor!"

I still couldn't believe my eyes. Here I was, in a whole new world, with a whole new body, and a whole new magical tree house....with Wally Darling staring up at me. I sat up in my tree house thinking this was all a dream.....but then after giving myself and unnecessarily hard pinch...it wasn't.

"Okay, Eve..." I started pacing in my tree house, "Just...stay calm...there's an explanation to this, I know it..."

"Neighbor, I know you're there." Wally called to me again, "Please come down! I won't hurt you!"

When I heard Wally's voice again, I couldn't take it much longer. I HAD to figure out if that was really him...plus it didn't look like I was going to go back to the real world right away.

So, against my better judgement, I climbed down the ladder of my tree house (which was a little difficult with my new body), and crept forward at Wally. Once Wally saw me come down, his smile widened and he walked over to me with a friendly look on his face.

"There you are!" He beamed, "Hello, Neighbor! Ha ha ha..."

"...It...it is you..."

Suddenly, my caution evolved into glee. I smiled widely and quietly squealed before I exploded into giggles and hand-flapping excitement.

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh oh my gosh!!" I exclaimed before I sped-talked, "I can't believe I'm talking to THE Wally Darling right now! Oh my gosh, this is the best day of my LIFE!!"

"Ha ha ha," Wally gave his monotone laugh again, "You seem happy, Neighbor!"

"I am! I really am!" I gleefully affirmed.

"Well then, shall I show you around?" Wally offered.

"Around where?"

Without warning, Wally grabbed my hand and led me from the tree house. His sudden motion caught me off guard and my face flushed up. Wally pushed back a curtain of leaves to reveal what he wanted to show me

"Welcome home, Neighbor!"

My eyes widened even more. I didn't just transport to somewhere different.....I was transported to the world of WELCOME HOME ITSELF!!!

"How...how is this possible?!" I wondered.

"Easy." Wally explained, "The houses were built here and the neighbors moved in,"

"No, I mean...how is it possible that I got here??"

"Oh...well--"

"Heya, little buddy!" A jovial voice interrupted us and I soon noticed a familiar blue dog walk up to Wally and I. It was Barnaby!

"Is this the special friend you talked about?" He asked.

"Yes," Wally nodded, "This is Eve."

"Nice to meet ya, kid!" Barnaby tipped his hat to me.

"You're...you're Barnaby!" I mentioned.

"The one and only! Hehehe!" Barnaby chuckled, "You sure we haven't met before? A past life perhaps?"

"Well, I--" I was about to explain, but then I decided to stop myself, because I wasn't sure if the neighborhood would understand that I watch them on VHS, "Let's just say the neighborhood is widely heard of where I'm from."

"Oh!" Barnaby acknowledged, "I see! Well, glad to see my little buddy's been treatin' you well, and if you be nice to ya good friend, Barnaby, I'll treat ya well too!"

"Barnaby's my best friend, just like you!" Wally explained, "Now, we can all be best friends."

"Say, Eve!" Barnaby mentioned, "Why don't we stop at Howdy's Bodega and celebrate your arrival by getting us some sweets, huh?"

I gasped, "Howdy's?! I've always DREAMED of trying his food! Or getting something there!"

"Well, you're in luck, kid!" Barnaby replied, "Thanks to my jokes, I could get you, Wally, and my ice cream 100% off!"

"Oh yea!" I remembered, "I heard about that! Free ice cream, here we come!"

Soon enough, I was being led my Barnaby and Wally through the neighborhood, and it looked like my tree house landed in the woods behind Julie's house. Speaking of which...

"Julie, you're game is....interesting but wouldn't you trip on the jacks?"

"That just makes the game more exciting, Frank!"

I turned around and noticed Julie and Frank. It was really them as well!

"Hi, Julie. Hi, Frank," Wally waved to them as I slinked back shyly.

"Oh, Wally! Barnaby! Hiiii!" Julie waved eagerly at him and Barnaby.

"Hello, Wally!" Frank smiled at Wally before giving Barnaby a scowl, "....Barnaby,"

"Heya, Jules!....Frank," Barnaby greeted them accordingly.

"Hey, have you met Eve?" When Wally mentioned my name I got a little shy again and fiddled with my hands.

"Ooh! A new friend?" Julie smiled widely.

"Yea, and don't worry about names!" Barnaby mentioned, "She already knows them!"

"That's....a little suspicious," Frank raised an eyebrow, "...but I suppose it's helpful when someone already knows your name. Nice to meet you, Eve,"

"Uh, yea, hi...um....I'm harmless, I promise!" I blurted nervously.

This made Julie giggle, "A harmless promise! That almost rhymed!"

"...Barely," Frank added.

"You seem fun, Eve!" Julie continued, "We should play a game together sometime!"

"Just be careful," Frank warned, "Julie tends to go overboard with her games sometimes and even adds rules mid play."

"Hmph!" Julie huffed, "I do not!" Suddenly Julie perked up, "Oh! We should introduce you to the other neighbors! But who first...?" She scanned and suddenly spotted someone that looked awfully like...

"Eddie! Oh Eddie!"

Eddie looked over and stopped in his tracks, "Ohhh no, Julie! You better not make me lift every single neighbor again!" (His southern accent was uncanny)

Julie giggled, "Not this time, Eddie!" Julie grabbed my arm and pulled anxious me towards Eddie, "I wanna introduce you to the new neighbor, Eve! She's so funny, and she already knows your name!"

"Oh! Uh, well I don't know if we were ever introduced, but that's nice!" Eddie offered a free hand to me, "Nice to meet ya, darlin'!"

"Uh...hi, Eddie!" I gingerly shook his hand.

"Shy one, huh?" Eddie continued, "No worries! I'm just your friendly local mailman already ready to deliver a package or parsal! Speaking of which...I got a couple packages here for um...Poppy, Sally, and Barnaby!"

"Is it my kazoo collection this time, mailman?" Barnaby butt in, startling Eddie and nearly letting him drop the package.

Eddie stammered before pulling together his words, "B-Barnaby! I didn't notice you there! And the other ones! Heya, Wally! Heya, Frank!"

"Mr. Dear." Frank nodded cordially and smiled.

"Hi, Eddie," Wally waved, "Say...why don't we give the other packages to Sally and Poppy? We were on our way to Howdy's, so we could deliver them for you."

"Oh! Well, that's mighty nice of ya, Wally!" Eddie smiled and gave Sally and Poppy's packages to him, "And this'll give me some time to rearrange my stamp collection...again."

"Oh, Eddie!" Julie raised a hand, "Frank and I can help! I have some SUPER CUTE stamps that I don't need and could give to you."

"And I have some butterfly stamps as well," Frank added, "This'll give me extra space in my house anyways.

"Hey, thanks, y'all!" Eddie beamed, "C'mon! Let's get those stamps! See ya Wally and Barnaby, and nice meeting ya, Eve!"

I watched as Eddie joined Julie and Frank, leaving Wally, Barnaby and I to deliver Eddie's packages. I didn't mind helping out Eddie. I know how hard he works and it's nice that he's getting the break he needs.

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After getting the packages from Eddie, the three of us made our way to the first stop: Sally's house. Barnaby didn't even get to knock on the door as Sally bust the door open, "Mailman! You got my--oh. Walliford, Barnaby. What a surprise! I didn't expect you two to deliver my prized sequined dresses!" That's when she noticed me, "Oh! And I see you had some extraordinary help!"

"Hi, Sally. This is Eve." Wally introduced me.

"Greetings and salutations, Eve!" Sally waved her hand dramatically, "You're talking to the celestial, astronomical, stupendously fantastical--"

"...Sally Starlet?" I finished for her.

Sally gasped in excitement, "So I have a fan!"

"Actually--"

"I've always wanted someone who knew my brilliance!" Sally put her arm around me, which made me pretty uncomfortable, "Tell me, Evelyn, which one of my many plays is your favorite?"

"Sally," Wally spoke up, "We'd love to chat, but we got to get this package to Poppy."

"Yea, as much as we like to see you light up," Barnaby honked an imaginary horn, "when you talk about your plays, we need to get a move on,"

"Very well, but come back VERY soon!" Sally instructed, "Especially you, Evelyn! Wouldn't want my biggest fan to miss one of my plays! Tata!"

As she closed the door, I sighed in relief and wiped the sweat off my forehead.

Barnaby looked at me in confusion "You good, kid?"

"Yes, I'm fine," I answered quickly as I race walked to Poppy's.

Once the two caught up with me, Wally knocked on Poppy's door, which must've startled her since we heard her squawking in her house, "Oh dear...j-just a minute!"

The door opened cautiously as Poppy's head popped out, "Oh! Goodness....Wally, Barnaby...I expected Eddie to deliver it but it's still lovely to see you two...oh! A-and a new friend too, I...suppose,"

"Hi, Poppy." Wally greeted, "This is Eve. She's our new neighbor,"

"Oh! Well, hello, Eve!" Poppy smiled at me. Something about her always seemed calming, "It's lovely to meet you,"

"Um....you too, Poppy." I smiled nervously.

"Oh! She knows my...my name?" Poppy asked, a bit frazzled.

"She's a real smart one, she is!" Barnaby mentioned, "But also harmless so no worries, Poppy! She's as harmless as a little pooch, much like me!"

"Oh, uh...okay..." Poppy nodded, "Thanks for the Poppyseed muffin delivery, you three. Would you like to come inside?"

"Sorry, but we got Howdy's ice cream waiting for us," Barnaby declined, "You go ahead and enjoy those muffins, Pops!"

"Well, alright. Do feel free to come by anytime, and that includes you, Eve," With a smile, Poppy closed the door, leaving us outside.

"I never realized how many neighbors there were in the neighborhood," I stated.

"Are you overwhelmed, Neighbor?" Wally asked.

"Um...a little," I answered honestly. 

"Well, no worries, kid!" Barnaby pointed in a direction, "Howdy's is just right there, and he's the last neighbor to meet! And since we delivered the last of Eddie's packages, let's go celebrate with ice cream and officially welcome you here!"

I sighed in relief as we made our way to Howdy's once more. Throughout this whole tour, the fact that I transported here begun to settle. And not only that, but this place really did feel quite homely. 

I smiled as we made it to Howdy's, and with the bell that opened with the bodega door, a cheerful voice rang out.

"Howdy do, fellas!"

Chapter Text

With a hearty greeting from Howdy, Wally, Barnaby, and I entered into Howdy's shop, where it was just like how I imagined it. Pretty much anything I thought of he had in his store, and the menu items I saw above the counter looked delicious!

"Ah, if it isn't my favorite regular and his pint-sized friend!" Howdy greeted.

"Hi, Howdy," Wally waved.

"Oh!" I noticed Howdy spotted me, "And I see ya got another pint-sized friend with ya as well!" Howdy leaned over the counter, "Whatch'er name, doll?"

"Ulp," I scrambled to find my words, "Eve...yea, I'm Eve!"

"Well, howdy-do, Eve!" Howdy smiled, "Welcome to the Howdy's Place, the home of everything you need and everything you don't! You new to the neighborhood?"

"She is," Wally explained, "And now...we want to celebrate with ice cream."

"Oh-ho-ho! Good choice, Walls!" Howdy chuckled cheerfully, "And I assume you two want the usuals Barnaby pays for with his jokes?"

"You bet, Howdy, and I gotta good one up in the ol' noggin!" Barnaby straightened up his tie and little hat before he leaned on the counter to tell his joke, 

"My ma asked me how to make an egg roll...(dramatic pause) I told her to push it! It'll roll on its own after you do!"

Howdy broke out into jovial chuckles as Howdy joined in the laughter and Wally let out his usual, monotone "Ha ha ha"s. I giggled a little bit. The joke was pretty funny. 

"Barn, you never disappoint!" Howdy wiped a tear from his eye, "I'll get your usuals like usual!" After getting Barnaby and Wally's orders, Howdy faced me. "Say, Eve, do you know how to tell a good joke?"

"Um...I try my best with whatever I remember," I recalled. 

"Well, I got Barnaby and Wally's orders," Howdy mentioned. "But I wanna hear you tell a joke in order to get your order of ice cream,"

My eyes widened, "Oh...m-me?"

"Kid, you don't have to do this," Barnaby reassured, "I'll tell another to cover for ya."

"No no I...I got one," I cleared my throat. "A guy walks into the bar. Once he does he says, "Ow! That's gotta leave a mark!"

I smiled awkwardly as I waited for a response. Soon, enough all three of them started laughing. Especially Howdy. I actually managed to get Howdy to laugh!

"Ho! Ho! ho!" Howdy pounded his fist on the table, "Evie, you have a gift! That's one of the best jokes I've heard in a while! No offense, Barn."

"None taken," Barnaby chuckled.

"That joke was the most~" Wally commented.

"Anyways, I'll get ya whatever you want!" Howdy turned back to me, "What's your favorite flavor?"

"Chocolate," I mentioned. 

Howdy winked at me before he whipped something up and gave it to me. My eyes widened at the chocolate sundae with chocolate syrup, cool whip, and rainbow sprinkles.

"One chocolate-y mountain with the creamy dreamy filling and rainbow glitter!" Howdy handed me the ice cream. 

I took a bite of the sundae and my pupils grew, "Howdy....this is the BEST thing I've EVER tasted!!"

"Anything for my new customer!" Howdy beamed.

"Speaking of new," Barnaby put a hand on my back. "Now we can officially welcome you to the neighborhood! To Eve!"

"To Eve!" Howdy and Wally (in his usual voice) toast their ice cream to me.

I shyly averted my eyes before toasting my sundae and eating up with the three of them.

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A while later, Wally led me back to my tree house, "So, Neighbor, do you like the neighborhood?"

"I do!" I exclaimed. "It's like living in my own childhood--uh....fantasy!"

"Ha ha..." Wally laughed. "Well, I think having you here has been the absolute most~. I would introduce you to Home, but I could tell you need to get to your own home."

"Wait, I can get home?" I asked.

"Yes," Wally nodded. "Just close your eyes and press my button on your phone...it should take you back to where you came from."

"Will...I be able to come back?" 

"I hope so, neighbor. That way, we can have more fun together." Just then Wally's eyes grew a little serious, even though he had a smile still. "And Eve? Don't tell the others you came from the real world...they are not ready to know yet. I do not wish to scare my friends with my awareness of...the real world...and the show about my life,"

My eyes widened. "Wait you---you KNEW about the show this whole time?!"

"Ha ha ha! Silly Silly," Wally beamed. "I did know. I've lived out what they had in mind. I knew about the day I would have with my friends. I tried to connect with my fans. But you...I found you to be the absolute most," Wally took my hands, "Because you and I connected the most. I was here during your best and your worst, neighbor. When you hugged me, I felt your tears and your laughter...I was so glad you found comfort in me,"

"You..." My eyes widened more. "You mean the plushie...you...you knew...you were there when...." My eyes watered as I suddenly hugged Wally. Wally was caught off guard I knew that...but I forgot Wally went limp when hugged, so it caught me off guard.

"My apologies, neighbor," Wally spoke. "I don't know how to hug...but I hope to soon."

"S'okay," I muttered, "It's just like hugging you back home."

I sniffled, which made Wally concerned, "Neighbor, are you crying?"

I sniffled and set Wally down straight, "S-sorry I...I'm just...*sniffs*...I-I never thought you'd...actually be able to hear me."

"But, I did," Wally smiled softly and wiped my tears away with his thumbs. "And no matter what, neighbor, you'll always be the absolute most."

I smiled shyly before I looked back up at my tree house, "Guess I better head back home, huh?"

"Yes," Wally nodded, "Someone must be calling you. You'd want to answer their call."

"Of course." I nodded and gave Wally one last hug. "See ya, Wally."

"Goodbye for now, neighbor." Wally went limp in my arms before straightening up as I let go of him, "And remember, until you hear me again, keep your smile merry," He tilts the corners of my mouth up with his fingers "and always know, that I love you...very much."

I smiled a bit bashfully as I parted ways with Wally, heading back to my tree house and climbing up to remember what he had told me.

Hmm...let's see...close my eyes....press his button on the It's For You Telephone.

Better say "There's no place like home," for good luck!

No wait...maybe "There's no place like the real world" to avoid confusion

Click

When I opened my eyes, the lighting was different...but similar. I looked outside my window and noticed that I was back in my grandmother's backyard! I got my regular body back! Everything seemed normal again! And I could hear my grandmother's voice.

"Eve! Dinnertime!" Grandma called out to me.

I climbed down the tree house to meet up with her, "Grandma! You are NOT gonna believe what happened up there! The...the tree house! It's...it's like....magic!"

Grandma chuckled, "Ah, the wonders of nostalgia will do that to you! Glad you see you had fun, just like old times!"

"Well, actually...never mind," I hesitated on telling Grandma. Was what I experienced just a dream or a figment of my imagination? Couldn't be. It all seemed so real...or was it?

And Wally...he had some knowledge about the real world...but how? And why was it my tree house that could go to the world whenever Wally called me? And why through the It's For You Telephone?

These were mysteries I was bound to solve, and I was going to make sense of it all soon.

...But maybe after dinner.

Chapter Text

That night I had to hop on Discord because I kept being pinged by my online friend group. We all are massive nerds when it comes to Welcome Home, and the group has definitely been a fan of the website. But while I was chatting, I noticed something strange.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Online: Eve, Joey, Otto, Mikey, Nya, Ruby, Penny, and Julia •

...

Joey: Has anyone seen how updated the website is?
Nya: I have!! They've got quite a lot more stuff on there!
Otto: I'm still quite amazed with how much they discovered with this show. I wonder how they manage to salvage what's left. 🤔
Penny: Yea, and the aesthetics are SOOOO CUTE! 💖Honestly jealous I didn't grow up with the show!
Ruby: Plus Wally Darling is a total Tumblr sexyman. 💞
Eve: Um...guys? Focus. Why were you tagging me. What's going on?
Mikey: Hey Eve! You're never gonna guess what we just discovered!
Eve: What is it?
Otto: Well, I was doing some browsing the website and looking around to find out what new finds they had, since Joey contacted us and let us know the website updated. But when I went to look, I found what looked like a crayon drawing...of you, Eve.
Eve: Me?!
Julia: I wanted to write something in the guestbook, but when I accidentally highlighted the whole page, I found a hidden message in one of the empty boxes...
Penny: Well don't leave her hanging, girl! Spill!
Julia: Oh! Sorry 😳. Um...it said "Hope you come back, Eve"
Otto: Y'know that reminds me...the drawing that I saw was clickable, and it lead me to another page where it was all black, except for an audio file. It sounded JUST like Wally Darling! JUST like him!
Ruby: SHUT UP REALLY!?!
Otto: Pretty much said the same thing. He was talking and hoping Eve would come back to the neighborhood.
Eve: Okay, guys, I can explain. Believe it or not, I found a way into the world of Welcome Home and met Wally himself.
Penny: OMG REALLY!?!?!
Ruby: NO WAY!! PLEASE TELL HIM NEXT TIME TO VISIT THAT WE SAID HI!!
Eve: Guys, I don't even know if I can go back. I thought it was a dream...or was it...I don't know.
Otto: If it was just a dream, Wally himself would not try to use this website to communicate with you. Someway, somehow, he's calling you, Eve. Answer the call.
Eve: ...Well, I did it before and it worked...I'll try it tomorrow. See if it works. Gonna log off now. I'll keep you updated. Peace ✌🏻

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Otto was right. If it was just a dream or a figment of my imagination, Wally wouldn't be trying to contact me. So, I decided to return to Welcome Home the next day.

I went up to the tree house mid morning and picked up the phone, waiting to hear Wally's voice. Soon enough, I did hear his voice, and I was back in the world of Welcome Home yet again. Of course, Wally welcomed me back with open arms and led me back to the neighborhood. 

"I'm sorry you didn't get to meet Home during your last visit, Neighbor," Wally stated while we walked towards his house. "But I know you had to get home to not worry anyone important to you. Luckily, you two will get introduced while we stop by to get food for the neighborhood picnic."

"Yea, I'm excited to meet it!" I beamed.

Once we reached Home, I noticed that the shutters on Home opened and showed eyes...in the windows! Even though I knew Home was alive, I was still caught off guard.

"Hello, Home," Wally waved and greeted it by placing his hand on his mouth and then waving it to Home with a "Mwah"

Wait, did Wally just blow a kiss??

Holy crap that's adorable.

I couldn't stop smiling when Wally walked over to Home and hugged the doorframe, while Home hugged him with its door. Once Wally let go, he motioned to me, "Home, this is Eve. You've seen her around the neighborhood yesterday."

"Um...hey, Home!" I gave a shy wave before Home waved its door at me. I leaned over to whisper to Wally, "...Can it understand me?"

"It can..." Wally nodded. "And I understand if you can't understand it. I will translate....it said hi too!"

Once Wally led me inside Home, my eyes looked around. The interior looked bigger than the outside of Home, but still cozy nevertheless. (Besides the faint heartbeat but I digress) Wally's chair, which was featured in several promotional material, sat in the middle of this living room, a white rug under the chair. A little kitchen sat to the left side of Home's door separated by an island, while stairs that led to Wally's bedroom appeared at the right side of Home. Past Wally's main chair was a colorful L couch which sat across from an old styled TV set, both of them cornered on the right side of Home, beside the stairs. The back left of Home was occupied by Wally's art easel and canvas, pictures hanging behind the easel on the Walls. 

"I'm going to get some snacks for the picnic," Wally informed. "Feel free to have a seat."

"Oh, you sure you don't need help?" I asked.

"I'm OK," Wally beamed. "Thank you for the offer though, Neighbor." As he headed to his kitchen to find some snacks, I took the opportunity to explore the phone that sat next to the chair. I didn't try anything drastic, just checked the phone, the receiver, the cord...something that could connect this world to my own. 

I stood up and took a look around Home, seeing if something back there could help me out. However, just as I was about to head over, I tripped on an apple-shaped rug, nearly hurting my right arm.

"Ow," I groaned. I shouldn't have tripped on it, but when I looked back, I noticed why. My foot was caught on a handle that was under the rug. A handle to what? A door? A basement door?

I heard Wally's footsteps "Neighbor, I heard you fall is everything ok-" When I saw Wally, his eyes looked shocked as his face grew black. He calmed down before he helped get my foot out and help me up. "Are you okay, Neighbor?"

"Yea, I--ow--I'm okay..." I winced as I gripped my wrist. "I-I think I just jammed my wrist."

"I'll get you some ice," Wally sat me on his chair before going back to his kitchen and getting an ice pack for my wrist, "There you go, Neighbor. I apologize that you hurt your arm."

"Hey, it's cool," I reassured him. "Um...Wally? What was that under your apple rug?"

"Nothing," Wally uncharacteristically growled in a low voice, which scared me a little bit. He took a deep breath, "Just a door to my basement. But, Neighbor...you must NEVER open it or go down there. You aren't ready for what's down there. Understand?"

"Oh, uh...of...of course...I'm sorry..." I looked down in shame as tears of embarrassment started to spring. 

Wally softened and wiped the tears from my eyes, "Oh....don't cry, Neighbor. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I'm just...looking out for you."

"Y-yea, of...of course..." I gulped. "I...guess I'm just overwhelmed..."

"Well, I got the basket and snacks all packed up" Wally held up the picnic basket. "The picnic will help you feel better. Let's go!"

After waving goodbye to Home, we headed to the lake where the rest of the neighborhood greeted us. I saw Julie, Frank, and Eddie play one of Julie's games; Sally, Howdy, and Poppy hanging out while Poppy was setting up her portion of picnic food; and Barnaby hanging out by the lake.

Wally and I sat next to Barnaby as we watched him fish, "Hey, you two! You almost missed the fun!"

"Sorry, Barnaby," I explained. "Wally and I were getting food and...well I nearly injured myself. But I'm feeling a bit better."

"Yeesh," Barnaby pulled on his necktie. "That's never fun, kid. And what did the shrimp pack, eh?"

"I brought apples," Wally showed him without hesitation.

Barnaby chuckled jovially, "Classic Wally! Hey, you could've turned it into apple pie! Poppy could've helped!"

"Apple pie is not the most," Wally stated, unamused, which made me chuckle a bit.

Time passed and the picnic was a ton of fun! It was fun connecting with the other neighbors again...although Sally trying to impress her "biggest fan" (me) was a bit discomforting. I helped to pack up as I noticed Wally staring at the lake.

"What's up, Wally?" I asked him.

"Funny story, Neighbor," he spoke without facing me, "I've always wanted to stick my head in the water and kiss the fishes. But I want to learn how to kiss properly. I know how to blow kisses, but I hope to do better."

"Oh? Uh," I averted my eyes before looking back at him, "You...want to learn how to...kiss properly? Is that what I heard?"

"Yes," Wally nodded and turned to me, "Because I want to be able to kiss your boo boos when you get them. I could've kissed your wrist better when you hurt it."

I felt my face flush up as he said that, "O-oh! Uh...I..."

"Heyo!" Barnaby waved to us. "You two coming or what? We wouldn't want the spirit from the mountain forest coming down to eat you two!"

"I-I'm sorry, the what?" I shook my head and looked at Barnaby.

"Well," Barnaby continued. "I'm not sure it'll eat ya, but waaaay up there in the forest of that mountain..." he pointed to the mountain past the lake, "There lies a strange spirit...or cloaked figure of some sort, I dunno...but we couldn't get deeper because the spirit wouldn't let us. Saying we aren't the one or something. I wouldn't recommend going up there, kid. It's pretty otherworldly, and I wouldn't want you to be in danger."

Barnaby's warning should've steered me away from the mountain forest, but it only intrigued me. Otherworldly? Could this place...or this spirit...explain what I'm doing here?

As the others walked away from the lake, I stayed by the lake and looked out to the mountain. Wally turned back to me, "Are you coming back, Neighbor?"

"Yea, uh...I'll be right there, Wally," I called to him without taking my eyes off of the mountain.

Once I knew that everyone was gone, I walked past the lake and towards the mountain forest. If that place had any indication of a real life connected, I needed to know.

I needed answers.

Chapter Text

I started my trek up that mountain to make it to the eerie mountain forest Barnaby talked about. Even though he said it was dangerous, I couldn't help but want to get a closer look.

...

But unfortunately I didn't realize how hard it was to climb a mountain...heck, I've never even climbed an actual mountain before. Now my legs AND my wrist were sore.

By the time my legs were about to give out, I reached the mountain forest, the one high above the neighborhood. I limped to a rock and sat down, catching my breath as I leaned against the tree behind the rock. I didn't think I could take another step. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. 

But soon I could see a figure in the distance, through the fog and trees. The figure was...hooded and ominous. It made me feel very unsettled and slightly panicked, especially when I couldn't walk any further at the moment. The figure just stood there until a voice echoed through the woods, "....You have come..."

"Who's there?!" I squeaked louder that I realized.

"Woah, woah, take it easy," The figure suddenly held up his hands in surrender. "No need to shout."

"Oh, sorry," I blushed in embarrassment. "It's...been a long hike. I'm tired. My wrist hurts."

"Here now," The figure stepped forward and revealed a cloaked figure, still mysterious and ominous but warm. He tucked his hand into his cloak and brought out what looked like a vitamin water, "Here...drink...get your strength back."

Confused, I took the vitamin water from him, "Wait, so you just have a bottle of vitamin water in your cloak?"

"Don't ask questions," he stated. "Just get some electrolytes."

After a second of staring at him in confusion, I shrugged and took a sip of the vitamin water offered to me. The cloaked figure sat on the ground next to me as I guzzled half of the bottle, "It's ironic."

"What is?" I asked.

"The fact that I told you not to ask questions," he answered, "Even though it's apart of my name."

"Your name?"

"Yes," he nodded. "I cannot reveal my true identity, but people call me 'The Question Answerer'."

I nearly spit out my vitamin water, "Wait...you're....you're the person that contacted the restoration team of the Welcome Home website and put together the Playfellow Exhibition!"

"That's right,"

"B-but...but how? How are you here?!"

"It's a complicated story," he explained. "But this figure is not the real me. It's a manifestation I've created to come here, in order to communicate with you. I know you are not from this world. I know you are from the real world. When I saw the drawings of you on the Welcome Home website...when I saw that Wally was communicating with you...I needed to bring this form into this world to find you. You are looking for a connection to you and this world, correct?"

"Yes, I am," I confirmed.

"Well, I can help with that," The Question Answerer got up from the ground and wiped himself off before turning to me. "There are secrets yet to be discovered, and pasts yet to be revealed. But, it has to be you to discover them. Are you prepared to travel deeper into the woods to find out?"

"B-but...why me? Why not Barnaby or...Wally?" I asked.

"You will find out in time," he offered his hand to me. "Come...if you're looking for answers, I have them."

After a bit of hesitation, I took the Question Answerer's hand and allowed him to lead me deeper into the woods. The deeper we went, the darker it got, and I didn't know why....yet.

"Yeesh," I commented. "Why did it get so dark all of the sudden? I don't see anymore trees....just a dark abyss."

"This dark abyss is a cesspool of memories that happened in the past," The Question Answerer explained. "It mainly has to do with Welcome Home and the Playfellow Workshop....and what happened to the show when it was suddenly pulled off the air."

Soon enough the abyss shifted, and a building came into view...it looked like...an office? A set? A puppet show set?

It was the Playfellow Studio.

"Come," The Question Answerer led me into the studio. I was shocked that I could practically walk through the studio itself, looking around at the people walking and talking, getting props and setting up stages for the show.

"This is what it looked like back in the late 60s," he explained more. "A thriving studio made for puppetry and animation. They aimed to make a memorable children's show, and succeeded."

As he led me more through the studio, I saw what looked like a man with unruly red hair and a matching beard asking someone for coffee, "Who's that?"

"Ronald Dorelaine," The Question Answerer introduced. "He was the creator of Welcome Home and the Playfellow Workshop. He was responsible for making the show you cherished so dear."

"So, how does-?"

"I have your coffee, Mr. Dorelaine!" I heard a young, peppy voice come from behind me with a cup of coffee. She looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on it.

"Ah, thank you Katrina," Ronald replied to the girl, which made my eyes widen in shock.

"Wait...is that....grandma???" I gasped.

"It is so," The Question Answerer nodded. "Katrina Fairfax. Heard she was a bright young lady. Very innovative...." The scene switched to just a memory of young Katrina working late at night, with several papers scattered around her desk, "Sources have told me she was a late worker and always stayed in the studio after hours...many say it was for animation stills."

I looked down at the ground of the papers. I got a glimpse of what was on them, and they didn't look like animation stills to me. They looked more like...symbols?

The Question Answerer continued, "Sad to see a hard-working woman lose her position and everyone's respect." He shifted to another memory, one outside of the studio of my grandmother leaving with her things, looking back before sighing sadly and looking bitter. My heart hurt for young Grandma.

"But that isn't fair!" I exclaimed, "She just wanted to create her own character for the show! Why would they fire her for something like that?!"

"It's a lot more complicated I'm afraid," he shifted the abyss more until it showed the set of the neighborhood, in the set of Wally's house. It looked smaller, and only consisted of his chair and his phone. Then, I saw a black figure come in and swipe the phone from its stand. When the figure was more in the light, my eyes widened in shock as I noticed....

"Finally..." Young Katrina whispered before she snuck out of Wally's house.

"Wait...." I turned to the Question Answerer. "Grandma was fired...cause of theft?!"

"This happened after she was fired," he corrected. "But this only led to the downfall and cancellation of Welcome Home."

The memory shifted again to various things. Phones ringing, unusual forth wall breaking on televisions, and writings on the wall in staff rooms. QA continued, "Once the phone was stolen, some strange things have been happening...the toy phones would ring by themselves, writings would appear on the wall in crayon and ink...and Wally Darling himself would go off-script to say the same thing spoken on the phone and the writing."

"Wha...what did he say?" I asked in curiosity.

"Return the phone, burn the notes," he stated. "They had no idea why he would keep saying it. Every episode since the phone was stolen he would say that at the end of each episode...'Return the phone, burn the notes'. And unfortunately, when word got out about the messages, the Playfellow Workshop was shut down and the show was pulled off of the air. But even now, Wally is still aware of this world...but he has directed his attention...at you..."

"Me?"

"Yes. It seems as though you have the original phone that was in that set. It wasn't just an ordinary "It's For You" telephone...since your grandma stole it, she must've given it to you to keep hidden...but at a price for Wally to remain in contact with the world."

"Do...you know if it's possible that Grandma stole the set's phone as an act of revenge?" I asked. "And what was the real reason Grandma was fired??"

"That is for you to find out in another place," he told me.

"What?" I stared at him in disbelief. "Don't tell me I have to hike further up this mountain cause I won't do it! My legs nearly gave out when I walked this far!"

"Of course not, my dear," he put a hand on my shoulder. "You'll be able to walk down and back to the neighborhood to find more answers, but in doing so...you may have to walk even further down."

"Further down? What does walking down have to do with it?"

"As above, so below," he answered cryptically.

"Huh?"

"That which is above is like to that which is below," he continued, even more cryptically, "and that which is below is like to that which is above"

"English...please? I'm tired," I answered truthfully.

"Just like up here, the truth will be found in a place so below," he answered clearly...finally. "Plus more...you'll find out more about your grandma...and possibly Wally."

"Wally?"

"Wally," he nodded. "Seek the below in a place where Wally is most connected."

And with those words, he disappeared into the abyss, and I was left standing in the forest yet again. As I made my way down the mountain, I couldn't help but think over what he had said.

"Seek the below in a place where Wally is most connected."

In a place where Wally was most connected? I couldn't think of anywhere else Wally would be connected to besides Home. 

So below...below Home?

That's when it hit me. I realized where I needed to go to find the rest of the answers...

Wally's Basement.

Chapter Text

Warning: This chapter contains mentions of unhealthy lovesick obsession. 

After I got the strength in my legs back, I headed back down the mountain where I headed back to the neighborhood. I could barely keep walking as I trudged before collapsing onto the ground in exhaustion....

...

"Eve?"

I opened my eyes and noticed I was in Wally's house on his bed. I saw Wally sitting next to me, "Ah, Neighbor. You're awake! How're you feeling?"

"A...a little better now," I mentioned. "My wrist doesn't hurt as much."

"That's good," Wally nodded. "I could tell how exhausted you were...especially since you had that long hike up that mountain."

My eyes widened in shock, "I--how---how'd you know?!"

"Silly silly," Wally put a hand on my other wrist. "I could tell that you were looking for that person. I could tell he was not from here. However, I had to listen to Barnaby to not go up there. He's my friend. But I didn't stop you, because you needed to be there. Did you find what you were looking for?"

"A...a little bit," I rubbed the back of my head. "There's...more I need to find out though..."

"Well, if you find it, let me know," Wally gave me a warm smile. "As long as it's in the....right places...to say the least..."

I knew what he meant by right places. I gulped and gave him a nervous smile, "S-sure buddy..."

I remember him telling me not to go into the basement of Home for some reason before the neighborhood picnic. He seemed to be hiding something, but that wasn't why I wanted to go down there. If I were to figure out the mystery behind my grandma and why she was fired from the Playfellow Workshop, I needed to head down to Home's basement to find out.

And soon enough, I could get that chance.

"I'm going to go get you some ice cream, neighbor," Wally insisted. "Get some rest, okay?"

After patting my shoulder, he left me in his bedroom to rest. After he left the room, I made sure that my legs worked, and they did. Once I heard the door of Home close, I snuck into the living room and carefully pulled the rug off of the doors to the basement. I could hear Home creaking at me, as if telling me to stop.

"Home, I..." I hesitated. "I'm sorry...I need to find out the truth."

Slowly and carefully, I opened the basement door, which revealed the stairs to a very...very dark place. I gulped before starting to climb down them, curious and afraid of what might be down here. The stairs seemed to go on for a bit until I noticed a faint glow coming from the bottom of these stairs.

Once I made it to the bottom, I discovered a white glowing box. What did it lead to? What was it supposed to be? When I got closer, my foot scuffled into a pile on the floor, which looked like...crayons? Why were there crayons down here?

I touched the box, which switched to a screen of something familiar...my eyes widened...this was the Welcome Home website! The one that...the restoration team was putting together! Why would Wally be hiding this? Unless...

I took one of the crayons, found a blank spot on the website, and drew a simple smiley face...RIGHT on the website. That's when I suddenly realized that this was how Wally was able to make those drawings of me. This box was how he connected to the real world...how he connected to the website. I didn't understand how this worked or why this was in his basement...until I noticed there were more stairs.

Apparently, this was only one floor of Wally's basement...

I headed deeper and deeper into the basement. The darkness was getting thicker and thicker as I climbed down until finally reaching the ground. I could barely see a thing. I felt like the air was so thick.

"I know who you are..." A distorted voice called to me.

I squeaked. The voice startled me as I turned around to see who was there.

"You seek to find the second part of your answers..." it continued to speak. "And I can tell you."

"Who...who are--ACK!" I jolted back as I saw a window outlined in what looked like crayon. It looked like the window of Home. "Home?!"

"I am not Home," the voice corrected. "This is only a figment of Home I used. This is the part of the window I control, but I'll get to that part later. You wish to know more, right?"

"Yea," I answered.

"Where you were was called 'As Above'," the voice continued, "It holds the past of Welcome Home. Down here, we call it 'So Below'. This place also holds the past, but a darker part of the past...the part that's hidden, but true."

"Hidden? What's hidden?" I asked.

"Let me take you back once again..." The voice whistled before I felt wind picking up. I felt things swirl around and around until I could tell the lighting and the scenery was changing. Soon enough, I was in the Playfellow Workshop again...I was in young Grandma Katrina's office again. However it seemed...different. Dozens and dozens of drawings were on her wall...and they all were drawings of...Wally.

I heard some heavy breathing accompanied with some giggles and frantic pencil scribbling. I looked over at young Katrina, who was around my age at the time. She was hunched over, looking focused and obsessed.

"...Finally..." She held up her drawing, which I caught a glimpse of. It was her own character, a puppet figure, pink skin with a beehive-esque hairstyle. She had the same hair color as my grandma. "Trina Terrific...you're going to be the best Welcome Home character to exist..."

"I don't get it..." I whispered.

"Keep watching..." the voice commanded.

I watched as she hugged the character to her chest, "I'll finally get the chance to share you..." I watched as she looked over at the Wally Darling poster on her wall and walked over to it...looking quite...strange...like she was...obsessive and lovesick.

"Wally...oh, my love...my darling..." I noticed young Katrina placing her body against the poster, kissing Wally's face and practically...

Oh...oh no....oh that's GROSS!

"Why are you looking away?" the voice spoke. "You can't look away from the truth, y'know?"

"It's...*gag*...it's disgusting," I answered, nearly feeling nauseated from what I just witnessed.

I will not disclose. 

Katrina finished what she was doing and sighed, "...Soon I'll be with you...and NO ONE can have you. This persona is perfect to put into the show..."

I watched more as she pulled out more drawings which looked like the symbols I saw in the flashback in As Above, her voice still obsessive and lovesick, "And I'll make sure of it. With these glyphs I designed, I can practically put myself into this character and keep you alllll to myself..." She heavily breathed again as she chuckled, "I'm nearly finished designing them all...and soon...you will be mine, Wally Darling....you will be mine."

I got more and more sick as I watched young grandma obsess over Wally in...unhealthy ways. All the sweating and huffing and gasping over Wally made me wanna throw up, "Please, get me outta here! I don't want to see anymore".

Once we were back in the black abyss of So Below, the voice spoke out again, "Understand why she was fired now? Katrina had such the obsession with Wally, and I don't blame her. He's a hunk. But eventually the team found out about her unhealthy obsession...and the glyphs...and fired her before any damage is done. Apparently, Katrina had knowledge that those glyphs could manifest herself into the character desired...I guess you could call this my origin story.."

"Wait...your origin story?"

The winds of So Below turned my head to a body being held by what looked like....black vines. It looked just like the character my grandmother designed! But with soulless eyes..

Trina.

"This is who I was supposed to be," The voice turned dark. "But because of that STUPID WORKSHOP, I never got to take control...and now I lie here, in this place which I call So Below...but now you are here...and you can help.

You see...your grandma is still trying to get me to come alive. She's been trying to recreate the glyphs for years JUST to bring me back"

My eyes widened, "W-what?!"

"Yes..." Trina continued, "Sad to hear about your grandma? Shame...she still is OBSESSED with Wally...and so am I...and since she has a granddaughter now, she indeed can help,"

You have the power to return to the real world with your tree house...help bring me back so that I may keep Wally...F̶̢̧̗̘̃̿͆̄͆̚O̶̘͕̜̥̓R̷̩͔̠̩͙̓̓̒E̵͇̟̹͓̭͜͝V̴̛̥̤̹̯̤͗̈́̍́͝E̴̻͛̾͝Ŕ̴̛̳̘͒́̏."

I widened my eyes, "Wh-what's going to happen to him??"

"That's none of your concern anymore" she continued, "Wally will be wrapped around my finger whether he wants to or not..and the rest of the neighbors? Forget them. I was going to allow them to be a side show...but they're such a nuisance. The Playfellow Workshop will pay for what they did to me...now...

Do we have a deal?"

I knew my answer, but I was still in shock of what I heard. But I knew what needed to be done, so I gave my answer, "...No. I don't believe you! Grandma has changed, and I'm going to prove it!"

Soon enough, I dashed out of here as fast as I could. I could feel the So Below pulling at my legs as I climbed up the stairs 

"NO....NO....D̵͍͗O̴͈̊N̶̼̄'̶̢̂T̵͈̋ Y̶̳͝O̷͍̓U̴ D̴̨̂A̵͚͊R̵̝͘E̴̺̍ SEV̷̻̒Ẽ̵R̶E Ţ̸͗H̴͙͝E̴̜̔ TIE!!" I heard Trina call out as I escaped So Below and headed up the stairs back up to the living room of Home and closed the basement door.

Safe and sound....until I saw Wally's face...staring...distressed...even with a smile and...pretty scary eye contact.

I gasped and stood up to face him, "W-Wally, I...I can explain!"

"Neighbor," Wally sternly addressed, "You....DISOBEYED ME. I told you not to go down there. But you did anyway."

"Wally, I...I'm sorry but...I HAD to," I explained. "You and the neighborhood are in danger! I...I need to go and fix things so...so everything can be--"

"I told you you weren't ready," Wally interrupted me. "Why can't things just be right, neighbor? Why did you have to betray me? I thought you were my friend...but maybe you aren't...maybe you never were."

His words punched me in the gut. Tears formed my eyes when I looked at him. Wally looked back at me and suddenly widened his eyes, "...Oh...oh, neighbor I...I didn't mean..."

"No...you're right..." I sniffed. "Things would be better if I never came to the neighborhood...I don't belong here anyway."

With those words, I dashed off, hearing a faint call of my name from Wally. But I didn't stop. I ran as fast as I could to the tree house, not stopping by to say goodbye to any of the other neighbors. I was leaving for good. For the neighborhood's protection.

I climbed up my tree house and frantically pressed the button to take me back to the real world. Once I arrived back home, I knew what I had to do.

Cut down my tree house. Severe the Tie.

I got an axe from the garage and headed back, holding up to get ready to cut down the tree house. However, I hesitated, because tears were stinging my eyes as memories flooded through my head. Even though it needed to be done, it hurt...it hurt so bad...

But just as I was about to make the first swing, I heard a voice call out softly, "NEIGHBOR WAIT!"

I knew that voice too well...but...but I was in the real world! How could...?! I looked around to see where he was but he was nowhere in sight...unless...

I looked down and suddenly...I saw him...

Wally was in the real world!

Chapter Text

Here I was....standing in shock as I looked down at Wally below me. He was HERE. In the REAL WORLD.

"Neighbor, don't cut down your tree house!" Wally pleaded. "It means so much to you!"

"W-wally how--how're you here?!" I asked.

"I followed you, Eve," he explained. "When you ran back to your tree house, crying, I went to check on you and apologize for snapping at you. That's when I realized that you were going back...and I had to follow you. I managed to climb into the tree house unnoticed and traveled back with you.

But that's not what matters. What matters is I don't want you to cut down your tree house. It has a lot of sentimental value...I can tell..."

"I..." I hesitated. "I don't want to either...but it's the only way to protect you and the neighborhood from the So Below. I need to severe the tie so I can't let Trina possess you."

"It's not the tree house, Eve," Wally corrected. "...It's the Phone."

"The phone?" I repeated.

"The phone is what made me aware of the real world and connect with you," Wally explained, "When Katrina stole the phone from the set of Welcome Home, it made me truly self aware of the real world....and scared of what lies below...I wanted someone...someone...to get my messages...hoping someone would be able to prevent Trina and the So Below from possessing the neighborhood but no one listened to me...so I gave up.

I pretended that the phone was normal when Katrina stole it so that she would think it was like a normal phone....until you came around...then I was able to communicate with you. "

Wally sighed before continuing, "But, neighbor...I didn't want you to find out the truth...as long as I kept Trina and the So Below below Home and secured...as long as I kept Katrina from finding out that the phone was abnormal...everything was perfect...I could hang out with you forevermore without you going down to the So Below and getting hurt...plus I...didn't want you to think less of me...since I could interact with that website made about me...I just wanted things to be like the way they were..."

My face softened as he explained. So that's why he didn't want be going down there. "I-I'm sorry Wally...I was just curious about how I got here...plus I wasn't sure why it had to be me."

"There, there, neighbor..." Wally patted my arm. "It's alright. It's you because YOU are a relative of Katrina and YOU have a beautiful soul passionate for Welcome Home. *Sigh* But I suppose I can't keep the truth from you forever. Katrina will eventually find out the phone is still magical. You need to get it away from her."

"But- "

"Eeeeve! Dinner time!" I heard a familiar voice, and even though I didn't want to think Grandma was still the same, I needed to hide Wally.

"Coming, Grandma! Just a sec!" I called to her before turning to Wally. "Wally, you need to hide. C'mon. Let's grab the phone and take you to my room."

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I hid Wally in my room, keeping the phone with him for now as I ate dinner with my grandma. It was oddly quiet...since I now knew what her past was and why she was kicked out. 

"You've hardly touched your dinner, dear," Grandma stated. "Are you okay? I do know you've been spending a lot of time in that tree house of yours."

I took a deep breath, "Grandma...can I...ask you a question?"

"Of course! What is it?" Grandma wondered. 

"I....are you sure you got fired because you just wanted to make your own character?" I asked. "Maybe there was a...certain reason you did...?"

I saw Grandma's face fall a bit, "Why do you want to know?"

"Oh...uh...no reason..." I lied. "It's just...um...curious?"

"Eve...what are you not telling me? Tell me the truth."

I sighed, "Grandma...I know why you were fired...the real reason. The Playfellow Workshop didn't fire you because you created your own character. They fired you for having a self-insert because of your obsession with Wally. I know now! But...I also know you probably have changed since then. It's okay. Your past doesn't define you." I put a hand on hers and gave her a smile to smooth things over.

However, Grandma's face got darker, "You weren't supposed to know all this. In fact I was never going to tell you, and there was NO WAY you'd find out unless..." she trailed off when a look of shock came on her face, "...You found out from somewhere else." She got up from the table to tower over me, "You know something, Eve...what do you know?? Tell me"

"G-grandma-"

"You know about the phone, do you?!" She continued. "It's still magic, isn't it?! I could actually finish my plan all along! And you didn't TELL ME?!" She softened up a bit when she noticed how scared I was, "Oh, there there, honey...it's okay...all you have to do is bring the phone to me, dearie, and I can fulfill my dream once again and see that..." she licked her lips, "...hunk of a puppet...bring the phone from your tree house...for grandma?"

I was still in shock...she never changed...I didn't know what to do, "I-I....sure, Grandma...just...a second..."

I rushed out of the dining room and towards my room where I locked the door and pulled out a suitcase. Wally was unaware of what's going on, "Neighbor? Did dinner go well?"

"No," I answered as I packed up my belongings, "dinner did not go well. We need to get out. We need to get out of here with that phone. Wally, she's onto me!"

My adrenaline spiked when I heard a knock at the door. It was Grandma! "Eve, what are you doing in there? Just go get the phone, dearie!"

I tried to answer her, but all that came out was stuttering.

"Evelyn Fairfax, you BETTER not be hiding the phone from me!" Grandma shouted before reverting to a calmer voice, "It would be impolite to hide things from Grandma."

Before I could make a sound, I heard a sneeze coming from Wally. "Excuse me," The puppet spoke before realizing he spoke and covered his mouth "...Oops"

Ugh dang it, Wally!

I heard a gasp come from the other side of my door, "Wait...is that...WALLY DARLING?! EVE, LET ME IN! LET ME IN!!" The knocking on my door soon turned into banging, which made me yelp in fear. Her obsessive nature never changed either, "WALLY...MY LOVE...MY DARLING...MY SENPAI....YOU'RE FINALLY MINE!"

I looked around frantically to find somewhere to escape. Finally, I found my window, which was big enough to jump out, "Hold onto my suitcase, Wally!"

Once Wally held onto my suitcase, I tossed it and Wally out the window before I grabbed my backpack and the phone and climbed out the window. Once, I escaped I grabbed my suitcase and threw Wally over my shoulder like a sack of potatoes and ran towards my car. I threw my belongings into the trunk, put Wally in the front seat and climbed in. However, when I tried to start my car, it didn't start automatically, and I was in a panicked frenzy trying to get my car to start up before Grandma realizes I escaped. Finally my car started and I got the heck out of there. I drove away from the house as fast as I could and got away.

Wally and I were now on the run, but I felt myself finding it harder and harder to drive because my vision started tunneling. Luckily, an exit came around and I was able to park in the lot of a nature reserve. No one was around. I was out of sight.

"Neighbor? Are ᵧₒᵤ ₒₖₐᵧ?"

I could barely hear Wally. All I could hear was my pounding heart in my ears. I couldn't believe what I had witnessed. It repeated over and over in my head as my breathing got heavier and my limbs got shakier and shakier. What had happened in the past couple of hours shook me to the core.

I got out of my car because I was feeling claustrophobic, but once I got out I slid to the ground and sat against my car, clutching my heart as I trembled terribly. I couldn't breathe... I couldn't think....I could barely keep myself together.

...and then a soft hand cupped my cheek.

"Neighbor..." I heard Wally's soft voice speak to me.

I managed to open my tear-filled eyes to meet his eyes, "W-Wally...I-I can't...I can't-"

"Shush..." Wally rubbed his thumb on my cheek to soothe me, "No stress, Neighbor...just take deep breaths..."

I felt my breathing get slower as he stroked my cheek more. However, I still found it hard to calm down.

"Now that you can breathe, let's get grounded," Wally continued. "What are five things you can see?"

I looked around as I tried to remain calm, "Th-the trees....the asphalt...m-my car....my hands....you..."

"Now, what are four things you can touch?"

I felt around me to see what I can touch, "The ground...my sweatshirt...your hands...um..." I brought a hand up to my head, "...my hair..."

"Okay...now three things you can hear.."

"The birds....wind....your voice..."

"Two things you can smell?"

I took a deep breath, "The forest air...leaves?"

"And lastly...one thing you can taste?"

"Um...well, I can't really...taste anything but...I could go for a snack...maybe I should-"

"No, Neighbor, you're still grounding," Wally stopped me from getting up, "I'll get it."

Wally climbed back into the car where he looked for a snack for me. Luckily, he found my backpack, where I stashed a few peanut butter granola bars for fuel. He grabbed one of them and climbed back out to give me one, "Here...you can taste granola now."

"Heh...thanks..." I smiled and took a bite. Boy, I really needed that.

"Do you feel better, Eve?" Wally asked.

I took a deep breath before answering, "Yes...I feel better...how'd you know how to do that?"

"I learned with Barnaby when Poppy was having a panic attack," he explained. "It was helpful, because now it taught me to help you when you are having a panic attack."

I gave a weak smile before the tears came again. Wally knelt across from me and held my face in his hands, "Oh, Neighbor, don't cry...don't cry it's okay...it's okay...oh...um..."

Suddenly, I felt little arms around my neck. My eyes widened when I realized-

"Wally....you're....you're hugging me..."

"I may not be doing it correctly," he stated, "but you needed it so...I hope it's okay."

"Oh, Wally," I pulled him closer to me with my own hug, "it's the best. Thank you."

"Ha ha ha," Wally chuckled before he pulled back, "I'm glad." He cupped my face again, but then leaned forward and put his mouth on my forehead before going "Mwah".

"Wh-what was that?" I asked curiously.

"That was a kiss, Neighbor," he explained, which made my face turn pink. "I'm...still practicing that but...that was to say that I love you, Neighbor. I'm sorry that I said you weren't my best friend before...you are, and you'll always be my best friend. And no matter what neighbor, you'll always be the absolute most."

After I stuttered for a moment, I found my voice as I smiled genuinely at Wally, "...Thank you, Wally..." I looked around, still on the ground, "So...what now? We got the phone away from Grandma...I...don't know what else to do."

"Well..." Wally replied, "when the phone was stolen, I kept trying to tell people and get someone to do what I wanted them to do. I repeated a phrase on the walls and in the show. Do you know what it was? You found out in As Above,"

I thought hard to think of what the phrase was, then it clicked, "'Return the phone, burn the notes.' That's what you said, right?"

"That's right," he nodded. "So, we should return the phone to its rightful place."

"Return the phone..." I kept thinking of where the phone would be. Then I remembered, "I know where we need to go. Back in the car! We got a long way ahead of us."

Once I got Wally into the car, I brushed myself off before climbing in and starting the car again. I set my phone on the stand where I spoke to it, "Siri, give me directions to the Playfellow Workshop Studio"

"Okay, getting directions to the Playfellow Workshop," Siri repeated back to me.

Once I got the directions, I started driving that way.

It was time to return the phone to its rightful place.

Chapter Text

I had a whole journey ahead of me as Wally and I made our way towards the Playfellow Workshop. Even though the studio was in the same state as my home, it was still a while away and we did have to stop at a motel for the night.

As I got my bed made across from Wally's bed, I couldn't shake the fact that all of this still didn't make sense...

"Something on your mind, Neighbor?" Wally asked.

"Yea," I answered. "I just...I don't understand how...my grandma's theft...caused all of this." I sat down on the side of my bed. "It all just seems so unreal."

"Is it?" Wally asked.

"Uh...YEA," I answered in a matter-of-factually way. "How can a theft of a phone from an entertainment studio cause me to transport to your world?! How is it possible that the theft caused the So Below?!? How?!" I sighed, "I-I'm sorry...I guess I'm still shaken up..."

"That's okay," Wally nodded in understanding. "Personally, I'm figuring this out as well...one moment, it's normal in the neighborhood...the next...I felt...different...aware...connected...but at the price...the So Below with Trina scares me...Home is not the same as before...usually when I feel unsure of something, Barnaby helps me...but I don't think he can help with this..."

Even with a smile, I could tell Wally was as tense as I was. I walked over to sit next to him on his bed before putting my arm around him to comfort him, "Guess we're both figuring this out...I-I'm sorry Wally...I...I don't mean to expect you to have all the answers...h-honest..."

"I know, Eve," Wally fiddled with the string on my hoodie, "but it's okay. No worries. How about we get some sleep and finish this tomorrow?"

I smiled at Wally before giving him a squeeze and heading to my bed on the other side, "Goodnight, Wally."

"Goodnight, Neighbor," Wally waved over to me. "Get good rest, and remember, that I love you very much."

With his affirmation, I smiled to myself and turned out the light.

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

The next morning, I fluttered my eyes open to see Wally's face in front of mine, "Good morning, Neighbor!"

"Gah!" I flinched before groaning, "...Wally...dude..."

"Oh! Pardon my awakening," Wally pulled back a bit, "but I couldn't resist. You're so cute when you're asleep, Neighbor. Ha...ha...ha...!"

"Heh..." I gave a little smile before groaning as I sit up all groggily, "Ugh..."

"How come you're still tired, Neighbor?" Wally asked. "Usually, people are all rested in the morning..."

"I'm not a morning person," I explained before I yawned. "Sometimes, for people, it takes them a while to actually wake up."

"Ha, ha...that's silly," Wally laughed.

"C'mon," I stretched before getting out of bed, "let's get ready to head out."

After the morning routine, we got breakfast in the car before heading out on the road yet again. While on the road, I saw that someone was trying to call me.

"Neighbor, I think your grandma is trying to call you," Wally noted. "Should I answ-"

"NO! No don't answer!" I felt my heart rate escalate at the mention. I had Wally hang up immediately, "We CANNOT let her know where we are. W-we can't...no way..."

"Neighbor," Wally spoke calmly, "just keep driving. No need to be anxious, dear."

"Y-yes of...of course," After taking a deep breath, I calmed myself and kept on driving. No matter how many times Grandma tried to call, I had Wally hang up immediately.

Eventually, we reached the Playfellow Workshop. My eyes marveled as I looked upon the studio that made my childhood show come to life. The excitement took my mind off of the anxiety.

"I-I can't believe it...I can't believe I'm standing in front of the studio itself!" I giggled in excitement as I flapped my hands around, "Sure it's closed but still! I'm honestly shocked it hasn't been taken by vegetation yet...must be because they clean it for studio tours or maybe because it's-"

"Neighbor?" Wally snapped me back into reality during my rambling.

"O-oh! My bad," I sheepishly rubbed the back of my head before heading towards the door, "...Dang...locked..."

"I can help," I watched as Wally stuffed his hand in his hair and pulled out what looked like a bobby pin. I was a little surprised as to why he did, but I didn't question it and unlocked the door with the pin.

Entering the building, I marveled at the sight of the dimly lit lobby of the Playfellow Workshop. It was so SO cool! The posters, the colorful decor, the-

1. Eve, stay focused. You need to find out where the phone goes!

Then I remembered...a set of sorts...the Welcome Home set! That's where they'd use the puppets!

I looked over at the signs and followed them to the set with Wally following behind. It took all my willpower to not check out the animation department of the workshop, however. Another day.

Eventually, I finally made it to the set. Opening the door, I turned on the light and discovered a whole other duplicate of the neighborhood....the official set of Welcome Home, right in front of my eyes.

I would be lying if I didn't say I went into fangirl mode and dashed towards the set, marveling and admiring how intricate and detailed it was. My hyper self was looking through the windows of all the windows of the houses. They all looked hollow. I headed back to Wally, "Hey, Wally! Did you notice that all the houses except yours are-"

However, my smile faded when I noticed Wally looked down. He was staring at the prop of Home, and I swear I could see a tear in his eye. 

"Wally...a-are you okay?" I approached him gently.

"Neighbor...why do I feel sad?" he asked me.

"Uh...I-I don't know," I rubbed the back of my head. "Why don't you tell me?"

"I...I miss Home..." he answered. "I miss my friends...the neighborhood...it's like I'm here...but I'm not...I wish things can be happy again."

"They will," I knelt down to him to reassure him. "Once I put this phone back, everything will go back to normal."

"Then go ahead inside, Eve," Wally motioned to inside of Home. "Let's fix this."

With a reassuring smile, Wally patted my cheek before I stood up. I opened the door to prop Home and entered inside, Wally close behind.

There it was...the stand were this phone used to be. I remember seeing this in As Above, and now it's here right in front of me. Visions of young Katrina stealing this phone flashed in my mind. I shook my head to focus. I got out the phone and lowered it towards the stand until finally...

It was resting right where it needed to be.

An unexplainable gust of wind blew through. I thought it was the air conditioning honestly, but based on the two days I've had, It was probably magic.

"I...I did it!" I beamed. "Wally, I did it! Everything's--"

I turned around to face Wally, but when I realized he was lying on the ground, concern grew, "H-hey, Wally? You takin' a nap?" I chuckled nervously as I knelt down to check on him, but when I turned him around my eyes widened in shock.

...he was lifeless...

"W-Wally...?" I held him in my arms and shook him a bit, "Th-this isn't funny! C'mon, Wally, wake up! Wally!" But no dice...unresponsive.

When I noticed that he wasn't responding, heavy tears began to fall as I held Wally in my arms and cried. I had a feeling that returning the phone had something to do with it. I've severed the tie between the real world and the human world, but at the price for Wally's life.

Suddenly, the phone rang again. Impossible!...unless...?

I sat on Wally's fake chair and answered the phone, "Hello? Wally?"

"It is not Wally," Another voice rang through. But it wasn't the Question Answerer or Trina..."But I came to reassure you that he is okay."

"He is?!?" My eyes widened. "How?! Who are you?!"

"We've met before," it answered. "Wally is my friend. He lives within me. I even warned you not to go down to my basement...you didn't listen..."

My eyes widened more, "...Home...? But I thought you only made onomatopoeias when talking."

"That's only in the show," Home explained. "I have a chance to communicate using this phone, but not for very long. Eve, I know this is difficult to understand but...this set is more supernatural than you think.

This set is like...a mirror to the Welcome Home world. While you can't see or hear Wally, he can see and hear you."

"Wha...how...I...?" I was a bit too shocked to answer.

"When the set was built, the neighborhood here was born," Home explained. "Simple as that. Other than Wally having otherworldly knowledge, everything in the neighborhood was as it should be... until that thief...that erotomaniac...disturbed the balance with her spiral glyphs and theft. Listen to me, Eve. Just returning the phone won't fix everything. The tie between the worlds may have been removed, but So Below is growing stronger if the second part of your plan isn't executed."

Second part? But what could?

Then I remembered. Wally's message had two parts to it. The first part was to return the phone...the second part is what I still had to do.

Return the Phone...

Burn the Notes .

Chapter Text

~Flashback~

Wally had noticed that Home was not acting like its usual, chipper self. In the daytime he acted normal, but at night, Home would let out a groaning creak in its frame, and a breathy wind breathed through the vents. Wally had trouble repeating his usual "I'm sleeping" phrase, especially with Home making a lot of noise.

"Home, you've been making weird noises lately," Wally stated. "Are you feeling alright?"

The creaking soon ceased...until Wally noticed a black trail of...something leading out the doorway of his room, "Oh, dear."

Curious about the trail, Wally got up from his bed, put on his bedtime robe, and followed the trail outside of his room until he found that it led to the basement door. Wally opened the door and climbed downstairs, making it to the first floor of the basement before climbing down to the second floor, where it was nothing but darkness...Wally had never seen something like this.

"Home?" He called out into the abyss, but the only thing he heard was his own echo....until something called back.

"M̶ ̩̗̎y ̷͌ ̄ ̗͌, ̵ ̘͔̫͝ ̵̛ ͉͙d ̶́ ͔a ̸̺̈́r ̵̈ ̠̈́̈́l ̷͈̼̤͝i ̷̡̙͊n ̴͔̜͂͊̔g ̸̐̚̕ ̦ ̞͓. ̵ ̏ ̨ ͍.. ̸͂.y ̴ ̊ ͈̓ ̦o ̵ ̯̎u ̴̐͗ ̧ ̡' ̴͗ ̂ ͇̲͌r ̶ ̜͊e ̸̃ ̻͑͐ f ̷ ̋ ̓in ̸ ̣̋̋a ̶ ̬͍͗͠l ̶ ̍͛ ̋ ̳̲͙l ̸̗͈̱̍y ̸͇̝̭̐ M ̸ ̂̄ ̻͈̈́I ̶ ̝͂͗N ̷̓ ̛ ̠̳̩̈́E ̴̓̓ ̛ ͕͙͕ "

A singular "A" escaped Wally when black, gooey vines started grabbing him and dragging him down below. However, before Wally could be engulfed, something would reach up to grab him and pull him out. It looked like a dark red vine, pulling Wally from the abyss to the first floor of the basement. Wally, on the ground, panted, even though he didn't understand the fear inside of him.

"It cannot hurt you up here, Wally" another voice echoed.

"H-Home?" Wally stuttered, "A-am I...dreaming?"

"No, Wally," Home answered. "You are not dreaming. This is in fact real. I...I can sense more awareness in the real world...a human is trying to manifest herself into home...but her disastrous actions grew a darkness down below me...this world is in danger, and I cannot keep the darkness inside of me at bay for long."

"What should I do?" Wally asked.

"Wally, since you are the only one with a connection to the viewers, you must give them instructions.

'Return the phone, burn the notes'

Don't ask why. Just keep saying those words after every episode. Write it if you have to. The crayons at your feet...you can try and communicate to the real world in writing. Do what needs to be done, Wally. You're this world's only hope now."

Wally was unsure of what happened that made him so aware of the real world...or those letting him know of his adventures he was going to have that day. All he knew was that he had to get this message out, one way or another.

Since that day, he's been trying to communicate to anyone who would listen, but no matter how much he tried, the darkness in the basement did not go away. His neighbors were unaware of Wally's intentions and what he tried to do. 

After several failed attempts, Wally couldn't hear the voices anymore. There were no voices telling him what kind of adventures he was going to have with his friends. There was just...silence...

Wally knew that he was on his own with his adventures now. He gave up on trying to communicate with the real world. All he could do now was hide the basement doors behind his apple rug and pretend that what he saw never happened.

Many years would pass, but Wally would become happier. The neighborhood was perfect now that he didn't have to deal with the So Below or the voices. Without the voices, he could know about surprises and unexpected fun.

And soon enough, he could be excited to hear a voice again through the phone of a little Welcome Home fan...one that he had a special feeling about...

Little Evelyn Fairfax.

~End of Flashback~

Eve's P.O.V.

"Return the phone, burn the notes" I repeated back to Home on the phone.

"This is what I told Wally to repeat when I felt weakened," Home replied. "No one answered his call, but now that you've come, you have the chance to make things right. Katrina's glyph's? They're still here. They never got the chance to confiscate the glyphs since Katrina hid them, but they should still be in her office. Look in her office, then burn them so that they're gone for good. This should get rid of the So Below and everything in the neighborhood should go back to normal."

"No problem..." I nodded before my smile faded. "But...does that mean I won't get to see Wally again?"

"That I do not know," Home answered. "Just get to work destroying those notes."

After understanding the assignment, I hung up on the phone, but not before going over to lifeless Wally.

"Um...Wally...I don't know if you can hear me but," I took a deep breath. "No matter what happens, I want you to know that...I...I love you...I always have...and I'll fix this, I promise."

Afterwards, I carried his body to the chair and gave his head a little kiss, "Bye, Wally."

Wiping my tears, I made my way out of the Welcome Home set and traveled throughout the studio to find the hallway of personal offices. When I reached that hallway, I looked around at the doors with different names on them, hoping to find my grandmother's.

Finally, I reached the door that said "Katrina Fairfax". A part of me was scared of opening the door, but I did anyways....and of course my face was met with thick cloud of dust.

Cough! Cough! Ugh...gosh...

After the cloud of dust passed, I looked into the office of my grandmother. It looked...abandoned...and faded. I was almost sad to see it in this shape...

I looked around the office and found a drawer with her old drawings in it: 

Lots of Wally drawings....still adorable even with her creepy intentions.

And of course some promotional material she drew with Wally and Trina...ugh.

Finally I came across a folder that caught my interest, and surely enough, they were the glyphs I saw in the memory shown in So Below. When I got a closer look, I could tell there were a lot of spirals...lots...one of them even had Wally's eyes. When I traced over it with my fingers, a vision flashed in front of my eyes...and I could see myself in the abyss of So Below...and Wally struggling to get out. It frightened me.

I needed to destroy these.

I didn't spy any matches in her office, but a quick internet search later, I found out that this building has a furnace in the basement of the building...a coincidence but one that helped me out.

I crept out of my grandma's office and looked around before exiting. I thought I was safe....until...

"Evie Beevie!" A familiar voice called out to me.

"G-g-grandma?!?" I froze in shock as I hid the folder behind my back.

"Oh, how could I have been so foolish?" She stepped a bit closer to me. "It was so obvious as to why you escaped! You were coming here to retrieve my glyphs for me! Don't act like I don't know you're hiding them. I know you are."

"No, Grandma. I...I'm destroying them," I explained even as she looked at me in shock. "They're dangerous! Wally's neighborhood could be in danger because of these and I'm going to destroy them!"

"Not my glyphs you aren't!" Grandma seethed through her teeth before taking a deep breath. "Come now, dear...all of this can be as it should be...give me the glyphs, and our relationship can be back to the way it was! Don't you miss the visits where we'd eat ice cream and watch Welcome Home together? The days where you'd play in that tree house? Don't you want all that?"

I thought about it for a moment. I did miss those days, and for a second I really wished I didn't pry into all of this...but...

"Grandma...I do miss those days," I stated, "..I...I'll give you the glyphs..."

"Thank you, dearie!" Grandma beamed as she held out her hands. "I knew you'd-"

"If you can pull them out of my cold, dead hands!"

That's when I ran like the wind.

"OOOH YOU BRAT!!" I heard my grandmother say as I heard her footsteps behind me. I ran as fast as I can as I followed the directions towards the studio's furnace. The stairs were my advantage, because I learned how to slide down them when I was younger. I was lucky the wood on the banisters was smooth enough to slide down, even if I did have to stop every flight. Once I reached the door to the furnace room, I locked the door.

While I heard grandma banging from the other side, I observed the room, where a huge furnace was burning down below me. A metal walkway led across it, and I was able to carefully walk across. But just as I was about to throw the folder down below, I heard a BANG! I flew my head around to see that Grandma had broken down the door with an axe. I saw her panting and smiling like she was insane.

"He....heheh....I was lucky the studio had that fire ax," she threw the ax to the side and ran to me to attempt to swipe away the glyphs, "Now, give the folder to me!"

After a couple attempts at dodging Grandma's hands, she managed to grab one end of the folder....but I wasn't about to let them go easily. We struggled on the walkway for a while, and I was terrified about the furnace burning below us. Grandma's struggling was leading her to the edge, and I grew worried for her, "G-grandma you're getting too close to the edge!"

However, in my moment of weakness, she swiped the folder from my hands, "Aha!...Oh..."

The force in which she whisked the folder away made her lose her balance and start to fall of the edge. Luckily, I was there to grab her hand before she fell in. However, she still kept the folder within her grasp.

"Grandma! I can't hold on!" I grunted as I attempted to pull her up. "You need to let go of the glyphs!"

"I can't!" She exclaimed. "I've worked too hard to give up on going to Welcome Home! Wally is within  my grasp!"

"Wally is not a THING, Grandma!" I corrected. "He's a person! Er, Puppet with feelings! True, he may be very charming and...cute....but you can't control him or keep him for yourself! He's meant to spread his charm with everyone! He's meant to spread happiness with his neighbors! Please...let go of the glyphs! You don't have to be this person anymore! We can watch Welcome Home and eat ice cream just like the old days! And we can both enjoy Wally Darling together! You just have to let go! Let them go, Grandma...let Wally go."

For a moment, I thought I sensed some vulnerability in my grandma's eyes, as if she was contemplating my offer. I started to smile, as if I thought Grandma was going to come back to me and we could go back to the way things were!

But I was wrong.

"NEVER." My grandma's face hardened as she yanked her hand away to open the folder, but what she only did was let go of my hand.

In my shock, I struggled to keep her from falling in, but my hands couldn't hold her for much longer.

It all happened so fast, yet so slow. She slipped through my grip, and in her fall she realized she was falling. I cried out to her as I watched her fall into the furnace, ending her life. The flames arose and grazed my right hand, giving me a first degree burn. I pulled back from the edge, my face frozen in shock.

"No....NOOOOOO!" I screeched in agony as I sobbed on the edge of the furnace.

I never expected that the sacrifice of my grandma's life would be what it takes for those glyphs to be destroyed. I never EVER wanted Grandma to get hurt, let alone DIE!

At least, Wally and the neighborhood was safe...but Wally probably doesn't even remember me anymore.

Everything I once held dear to me was now...

Gone.

Chapter Text

I trudged to the lobby of the Playfellow Workshop, my legs barely having any strength left to keep walking. They eventually gave out and I was left sitting on my knees, holding my right hand as I looked at the burn the flames had caused.

Heavy tears were rolling down my cheeks as my cries echoed throughout the empty lobby of the studio.

The events I had witnessed were...scarring...to say the least...I could barely think. All I could do in the quiet was grieve.

An hour later, I hear the door open and in comes two security guards with flashlights. They must've gotten a signal that someone broke in here.

"Who's there?" The male guard called.

"There! I see someone!" The female guard pointed at me, which made my heart rate go up. "This must be the person that broke in here."

"N-no wait! Please, I-I...I..." I tried to explain but I was so overwhelmed by the traumatic experiences I've had that I threw myself into an anxiety attack.

"Woah woah woah, miss...calm down," Male security guard knelt beside me. "We're not going to hurt you."

"Calm down, sweetheart," I heard the gentleness of the female guard's voice. "Take deep breaths..."

As I tried to calm down, I thought back to when Wally was trying to calm me down through grounding techniques. I held on to that memory strong as I focused on my breathing, while feeling the floor below me, hearing the guards voices, and smelling the remnants of smoke on my clothing.

"You seem calmed down, ma'am," the female guard mentioned. "Good. We have someone we want you to talk to, if you are the person that broke into the studio."

"I...I am..." I nodded as I spoke quietly.

"Good to know," I heard a different voice state. I look up and see a familiar face, with grey-red hair and a matching beard.

"Yes, this is she, Mr. Dorelaine," The female guard nodded.

My eyes widened. Wait...THE RONALD DORELAINE?!?!

"And by the looks..." The male guard sniffed the air around me, which weirded me out, "and smells of it..she must've come from the studio's furnace."

Dorelaine's eyes widened, "I'm surprised that furnace still works after all these years."

Just the mention of the furnace brought me to tears again. The three of them softened as Dorelaine knelt down to me to try and get my attention. As he did, he commanded the two guards to do a perimeter search to see if anyone else besides me was here. After they left, he spoke to me again, "My dear...you look like you've been through a lot coming here...can you tell me what happened?"

Through my tears, I did my best to explain, "I...I wanted to re-return something that...that was stolen years ago...and...and I needed to destroy something that..that was dangerous....the-they were these...glyphs..."

Dorelaine's head rose in surprise, "You...you mean Katrina Fairfax's glyphs? But no one would know about that unless--"

"Sir!" The female guard returned, "I was checking the Welcome Home set, and the phone has been returned!"

Dorelaine's eyes widened again before he looked back to me, "Were...were you the one who returned the phone?"

I nodded, "...Yes...I-I'm sorry it's...it's just I needed to help a friend...th-the phone was given to me a while ago...I didn't realize it was company property until my grandmother gave it to me."

"Grandmother...but that..." Dorelaine suddenly had an epiphany, "...Evelyn?"

"How...how'd you know my name?!" I answered.

"I knew Katrina had a family...her daughter, Reina, and you," Dorelaine continued before he chuckled, "And I remember getting one of your fan letters when you were a child. You really made my day when I felt like I couldn't make anymore episodes of Welcome Home. And look at you. You seem to have turned out to be a lovely young women, despite Katrina's past. 

Where is Katrina anyway?"

My face fell, "She...she's dead...she chased me down to stop me from destroying the glyphs but...it...it cost her her life..."

"...I see..." Dorelaine's face grew saddened. "I'm so so sorry, Evelyn...but there is something you must know..."

I sniffed, "What?"

"Eve," he begun to explain, "when we heard about someone breaking into the Playfellow Workshop tonight, we expected Katrina was back, so we went to investigate her house to see if she had stolen anything else. But what we didn't expect was for her to write down a will."

He held up the piece of paper in his pant pocket before reading it to me, "I, Katrina Fairfax, hereby relinquish all of my personal belongings, money, and household, where I keep my precious Welcome Home memorabilia, to my granddaughter, Evelyn Fairfax, who has shown such a passion for what I worked towards, and who will show much more in the future.

Evelyn Fairfax, you now own your grandmother's estate and finances. And not only have you reversed the damages done by your grandmother, you have gone above and beyond to protect Welcome Home's legacy as a whole. Thank you."

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

A Week Later

This week felt like a blur. We had my grandma's funeral and burial, even though she couldn't be there. Despite the fact that she was lying to me for years, I still missed her. Not to mention I was carrying a GIANT weight of guilt the whole time, even though her death was out of my control.

And even though my mom and my online friends were comforting me, I was still so utterly depressed and in a pretty bad funk.

Since Grandma's funeral, I was basically isolating myself in my new house, barely going outside...and heck I didn't even want to go into my tree house. Plus, watching Welcome Home would make me feel so...homesick. Wally was also who I missed terribly.

Just then, the doorbell rang. It must've been my mom coming to visit me again, but when I opened the door, there was no one there except a package.

Strange. I didn't order anything.

I brought the package inside and begun to open it...and my eyes widened at the sight. It was an "It's For You" telephone, and not just any telephone.

The same one I got for my birthday!!

A note was attached to the phone.

"Eve,

I would like to thank you again for helping to restore Welcome Home's legacy. You've done the right thing returning the phone. However, it seems as though something was still off.

When I visited the studio the day after we found you, I noticed that the phone itself was still ringing. When I picked it up, Wally himself was talking to me! I could hardly believe that my own creation could communicate with me, but he kept on saying your name.

You two must've been very close, and I suspected that he might've helped you in the reverse heist.

Still, I have decided to remove the phone from the house again, but instead, give it to you for safekeeping.

It's not stealing if the creator himself is giving it to someone special as a gift :)

I hope you'll make good use of it. Let me know if you hear that puppet's voice again.

With best regards,

Ronald Dorelaine"

I looked at the letter in shock. Even after all this time, Wally could still REMEMBER me?!

That's when I remembered what Home had said. The set was a mirror of the actual Welcome Home world. Perhaps Wally can only communicate with humans on the set if the phone was there?

Eh, enough theories. It was time for the real test.

I took the phone back out to my tree house and set it to where it belonged before. My fingers carefully pressed the button of Wally's number and I awaited with baited breath.

Please work please work please work.

As I shut my eyes, I felt the wind swirling around me. And when I opened my eyes...

I....

I'm back...

I'M BACK!!!

I was back in the Welcome Home universe once again, puppet form and all! I gave my form a giant hug before I scrambled down my tree house and looked all over. 

"Wally?" I called out.

...

"Neighbor!" I heard his sweet voice as I saw him run towards me and tackle me into a hug. Good thing he was light so I didn't fall over easily. "Oh, Neighbor! You're back!"

"W-wally!" I chuckled and hugged him back. "You're hugging me!"

"I am?"

"You are,"

"I am!" I heard Wally's "ha ha ha"s as he snuggled against me.

"Wally, I never thought I'd see you again!" I commented with tears in my eyes, "I...I thought you...I..."

"Shush," Wally put a finger to my lips before wiping away my tears, "no worries, Neighbor. I was also anxious that I'd never see you again...but I can't forget someone like you," I then noticed his cheeks got a little pink, "especially when your kiss was very nice."

"Wait, what ki-" That's when I realized that I kissed him on the forehead at the studio...but I didn't realize he would FEEL it! I blushed furiously and stuttered incoherently, my attempted ranting interrupted when Wally took my face and leaned in, stunning me even more when he actually pressed his lips against my cheek, though still saying "Mwuah!" as he kissed me.

How'd he learn how to do that?!?!

"Ha ha ha!" Wally laughed. "Neighbor, you look like an apple! An adorable apple~" He chuckled a bit more before taking my hand, "I love you, Neighbor."

I snapped out of my stunned, blushy trance to look at him bashfully, "Y-yea I...m-me too...me too, Wally,"

Wally smiled at me warmly before leading me back to the neighborhood, "C'mon. Let me introduce you to the others."

"Wait...the others don't remember me?" I asked.

"No," Wally shook his head sadly. "When the So Below was destroyed, any memory of you here was wiped from everyone's memory except mine. However, now you get the chance to befriend them again!"

"Heh! Well, at least I can try my introduction with Howdy again," I said in a lighthearted manner. "Last time I tried to, I was intimidated by his height."

"Ha ha ha!" Wally laughed, "Silly, silly...that's the most."

Hand in hand, Wally and I walked away from the tree house and through the bushes, until we reached the hilltop where I spotted a familiar sight.

I was in Welcome Home once again, smiling at Wally as he waved his hand towards the neighborhood.

"Welcome back home, neighbor."

THE END