Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

CHAPTER 1: MAKING ORANGE OASIS

A baby boy with raven hair sits in his mother's basket at the supermarket. He sees something.

WHAT IS IT HONEY

His hand outstretches, wordlessly asking for something.

SORRY DEAR, I CAN'T
GET YOU THAT ONE

Next to the candy and magazines of the checkout line is a children's book.
It’s blue and has a happy whale sticking out his tongue on the cover.

YOU'RE TOO LITTLE
TO READ THAT BOOK

A little girl pulls at her mother's blouse.

OH ALRIGHT
Without a second thought, the book is scanned and bagged.

BUT YOU’RE GOING TO
HAVE TO READ IT TO HIM

The little girl glided down the wooden steps with a finesse she had learned by doing it so many times before, while her three-year-old brother hobbled down the steps behind her, his short legs struggling to make each landing. Mari then skipped down a cracked walkway down to the curb, Sunny not far behind. Once there, she opened one of the four mailboxes sitting on the pole and peeked inside.

Mari gave out a sigh.

“Looks like Mommy has no mail today,” she said to her brother giving a big slump, the two waddled their way back to her apartment, she stopped to look up at the orange evening sky, stark against the faded white paint of the aging townhouse. Before she could scale the steps, two little boys ran past them, almost making her fall into the dead grass beneath her. One of the boys jumped onto the flat tire sitting near the entrance. Mari shook it off and pushed ahead, catching the door and slipping in behind them before it could lock once more. Thankfully it spared them, the hassle of getting back inside.

Mari made her way down the thin hallway to the stairwell. Her family lived with three relatives on the second floor, all from her father's side of the family. As she walked, she saw the two boys from before run into their apartment. A woman emerged from her flat from where Mari was standing and started yelling at them in another language she didn't understand. As she passed their door, she caught a glimpse of the inside where she saw at least another four kids in there, packed into the tiny flat. She shrugged it off and moved towards the stairwell, but before she could someone called her.

“Mari! My precious Mari!”

It was Ms. Paulina. She put her broom against the wall and was now calling the girl from her doorway holding a brown paper bag, clearly trying to give her something. Ms. Paulina was an older, very large lady who would take in children with nowhere else to go. She was a delight to be around and always gave Mari and Sunny the best goodies. The woman spotted Sunny and pulled him into a hug too.”

“I have some leftover fruit! You must take some. Here.” She dropped the big bag into Mari's tiny hands. “I also put in some little konfety. I know the little bratishka has a sweet tooth.”

“Oh thank you! So much, you really don't have to, Ms Paulina,” the girl beamed.

“Nonsense. Little girl and boy needs lots of food to grow up big and healthy. Needs lots of fresh fruit!”

“Thank you very much, ma'am. I'll keep that in mind.”

At that moment, the other door behind them flew open, as the little boys from earlier ran out “Candy! We want candy too!” they yelled. One by one, other little kids came running out, surrounding the big woman, they were all jumping up and down around her.

“Agh! Wait! You kids must wait, I go back inside to get more!” Ms. Paulina turned to Mari and Sunny and gave a wave, “Be good girl!” And with that, the older woman closed her apartment door, leaving Mari to navigate up the stairs, now with the large bag in tow.

The townhouse was divided into four apartments. Ms. Paulina was the landlady she ran a foster home and split the first floor with the large Mireles family. Sunny’s family lived in a two-bedroom flat upstairs, right next door to three of her old grannies sharing their golden years together. They were very mean to her dad, but very nice to her. One of them, the oldest one who didn't speak Mari's language and could hardly move, gave Mari a lovely Sweetheart doll. Something she very much treasured.

“Sorry Mom, there’s no mail today, but I got some stuff from Ms. Paulina!”

“Oh that's great honey, put it on the counter!” the mother called back.

Mari did just that and headed back to her and Sunny's shared room which was about the size of a large closet but more than enough space for two toddlers. Sunny waddled off to the TV and plopped down right in front of it, ready to watch his afternoon shows. His mom glanced back at the brown bag but was too distracted by her husband and the dishes to give it a good look.

“I think it’s time for us to make a move,” their father says to his wife as she washes a small pile of dishes; a few plates scattered here and there. She takes a moment to survey the wall outside the kitchenette window, then gives a sigh of exasperation. “Honey, we've been over this.”

“This box is just a place to survive, not to live, we can't raise a family here.”

“I know.”

“I've had a good year! When are we going to move up?” the man whines.

“What about that nice car of yours? Is that not moving up?” she bit back.

“Look, I told you already. That was an investment. I can't drive to work in a beater if I want to be seen as management materiel,” the man crossed his arms. “it's time for us to leave.”

“We are. Just not right now,” she has always been the more frugal one. Their family was living in a rent-controlled apartment and was one paycheck away from food stamps. They really didn’t have enough to be buying a house right now. But she also knew how important it was to own a home, and she was afraid her husband might have a point...

“You said that some years ago when Sunny was still inside you. Now he's running around.”

Sunny was sitting in front of the TV, ignoring the conversation his parents were having about him and their home. Just watching his shows. The cowboy one he really likes. The TV sang:

“Mr. Outback,
Thursday, that's the date.
Mr. Outback,
Count on him to be your mate!”

He likes this one but has been eagerly awaiting the upcoming new cat show that'll be debuting soon.

His father continues, “I mean if we plan to move, we have to do it now. Sunny's going to be starting elementary soon, and Mari is still young. We have to make our move now before they get too comfortable. How else is Sunny going to have time to make friends? Remember his birthday party last year? That disaster. Well, his fourth is coming up.”

“That's true. He was a bit upset when no one came,” the woman groaned.

“Hurt? Sunny was devastated. Not even one kid from school came to his party.”

“Calm down. He was not devastated. He was having fun with his cousins.” She was barely correct. A few of their relatives came over to celebrate Sunny's third birthday. They had to pack themselves into a corner dinner table, but they were more than enough to keep him entertained. It's true that when he realized no one from school was going to come, he did start crying. But then Mari hugged him for a few minutes and managed to make it all better. After the episode ended, the little boy was back to running around like his crying fit had never even happened.

That was about a year ago. The boy seemed content enough. He was playing with his stuffed plushies in front of the television. The mother looked over at him thinking of what sort of future was in store for her little boy. Or at least that's what her son was doing a few seconds ago. When his mother looked over, she stiffened when she noticed his plushies abandoned. Her son had disappeared.

“Sunny?” she asked with a good look, surveying the whole flat.

“Mommy.”

He materialized right next to her with a puppy dog look on his face. His hands went behind his back, and he was looking away. His mother got the intuition that he was about to make a request.

“Mom, can I have some candy,” the boy pointed to the candy jar placed atop their fridge.

“No Sunny. You had enough sugar already and now it’s about your bedtime.”

“But I want another. I'm still hungry.”

“No, you’re not, you just have an appetite. You want it, but you don't need it. And your father-” she takes her wet glove and pokes it into the man’s stomach,” could stand to learn a similar lesson.”

“Well, I still think we need a new house,” his father says firmly.

“A house? I want to see the new house.” Sunny's eyebrows perked up, “I want to see it!” In excitement, the boy runs the 12-foot distance to the front door then back to the sink.

“Oh, my lord. There is no new house. Look what you did now!” she gave a push to her husband then turned to yell, “Mari!”

It only took a brief second for the little girl to throw herself out from the hallway archway.

“Yes, Mommy?”

“Mari, can you please put Sunny to bed!”

Sunny stops abruptly. “But I'm not tired. And I'm still hungry. I don't wanna go to bed.”

“Sunny you are throwing an absolute fit! You need to behave young man! Now go to bed!”

“Can't I stay up later?”

“Come on Sunny we have to go to bed now! It's my bedtime too,” Mari tugs at his arm.

“But I'm still hungry…” he sulks then breaks into a sob. Mari pulls him by the hand back to their room.

Sunny was sitting upright in his bed. Arms crossed.

“Mari I don't want to go to bed. Can't we stay up just a bit longer?”

“Sunny, you did everything you could do today. How do you possibly have the energy to do more?”

Mari was busy dressing down into her pajamas throwing her clothes over the edge of the laundry bin.

“Just a little bit longer,” Sunny gave a pout and a puppy dog face.

“No Sunny. We have school tomorrow, and you need to go to bed.”

“But I want to do more…”

Sunny then threw himself down into his bed, pulling his blanket over his curled form. Mari then tucked herself into bed then switched off the bedside light. This was followed by a brief bout of silence. And then came the waterworks. Sunny's cry sounded like a firetruck reeving its siren.

“Oh my goodness Sunny just go to sleep!”

The boy let out a shrill whine, “I just wanna play with my new toys and you won’t let me!” This was followed by choked sobs.

Mari looked up at the ceiling. She took a moment to take inventory of her options. She then sat up on her bed. “Alright. Here's what we can do...”

Sunny sat up very quickly then paused to see what she would say.

“How about I read you one of your new books you got from the book fair today?” Mari walked over to the plastic table where some of his toys had been placed. Their school library had an event where Sunny bought all sorts of new books “Which one do you want to read?” she asked. Sunny walked over to where Mari was to sort through his books. There were four to choose from, and the boy took a nice long look at the Dino Pyramid book. Dinosaurs were pretty cool.

But then one caught his eye that he barely recognized but couldn’t remember. The oldest book. The classic. One he got when he was just a baby. Back then, Sunny would ritualistically ask his Mom to buy it while at the checkout of the grocery store, even when she kept saying no. It had a big happy whale on the cover. “'Hungry Humphrey'. We haven't read this one in years, come on Sunny.” She patted her bedside, for him to take his place next to her.

As the book opened, the illustrations centered on the titular whale sleeping in a cave.

“In the shallows of the early morning water, when the Moon's reflection still glistens,” Mari said,
“There's a little cave where a gentle snore can be heard by anyone who listens.
It is here in his cozy home you will find Humphrey the whale.
And if you visit, you can ask him why he once tried to eat his own tail.

He would whalecome guests, with whom he would chat and chuckle.
And his company would eat so much that they'd have to loosen their buckle.
Humphrey loved to stay inside, having a whale of a time in mirth and play,
but in a twist of fate, the big blue lug would be forced to leave his home that day.”

“Why did he bite his own tail? Why would anyone want to eat themselves?” Sunny remarked. Humphrey seemed like a nice enough whale...

“I don't know. We'll just have to keep reading to find out!” Mari said.

And on that note, she then turned the page and kept reading.

“That morning, Humphrey found no food in his fridge, or even his pantry door!
And couldn't find any snacks under his bed, between the couch cushions, or even under the floor.
The only thing he could find, at the very back of his grill...
...was a single, shriveled-up crusty piece of day-old fried krill.

It seems like Humphrey had found himself in a bit of a pickle.
He would have to go outside and find something to give his appetite a tickle.
Humphrey was hungry, his empty belly rumbled with a great roar!
So hungry Humphrey set off down the Underwater Highway to find more...”

“Where is Humphrey going to go?” Sunny asked, “he's at the bottom of the ocean?”

Mari turned the page, it flipped to a big picture of Humphrey eating a massive steak in a cafe.

“He's eating steak. Is it his favorite too?” Sunny at looked Mari. She smiled and read on,

“After a short swim, Humphrey found a yellow submarine diner with neon lights that looked neat.
He was happy to find the establishment served burgers with fries and plenty of meat!”
“'Nyak! Nyak! Nyak! Cooking meat is very fun!
Should it be rare, medium-rare, medium, or well done!'”

“Well done. He should eat it well done.” Sunny interjects as if the question needs to be answered.

“At the first stop, Humphrey ate one hundred platters of porterhouse steak.
They were so huge that it was a miracle his belly didn't ache.
But Humphrey was still hungry, his belly rumbled with great rigor.
Hungry Humphrey's appetite was getting bigger.”

“He's going to eat more? How much can a whale eat?” Sunny balked.

Mari turned the page, unveiling what looked like the inside of a pastry shop with a dazzling assortment of colorful pastries. Humphrey's face pressed up against the display window with a funny face.

This got a laugh out of Sunny.

“Humphrey continued on to find a bakery, with tasty treats in the window display.
He wanted to eat them right then and there but managed to keep himself at bay.
”Whale hello there Mrs. Baker, you wouldn't happen to have some cake?
I would like all the pastries on your shelves and whatever else you can bake!”

At the second stop, Humphrey ate two hundred large cakes, some as big as an ox.
An amount so large that they had to be wrapped in a shipping container-sized box.
But Humphrey was still hungry, his belly rumbled with great rigor.
Hungry Humphrey's appetite was getting much... bigger.”

Mari turned the page.

“Look it's Gino's!” Sunny referenced the pizza chain, pointing at the pizza parlor shown. It was packed. Humphrey was trying to peek his head above the crowd to get a good look at the menu.

“Next Humphrey spotted a bustling pizzeria but could smell it first.
A place so packed it looked like it was about to burst.
'Yoohoo~ Mr. Pizza Guy, I'm sorry if you're already busy!
Nyak! Nyak! But this next order is going to leave you in a tizzy!'”

At the third stop, Humphrey ate three hundred pizzas, each adorned with every topping.
Yet the whale made quick work of them, once his teeth started chopping.
But Humphrey was still hungry, his belly rumbled with great rigor.
Hungry Humphrey's appetite was getting much... much... bigger!”

Mari made a special effort to emphasize the second “much” in a psaltery tone. She then turned the page then widened her eyes when she saw a large field and a truck selling watermelon.

“Oh well look at this...” Mari stated flatly, slightly surprised.

“Watermelon. Isn't that your favorite?”

“Yes, it is! I'm glad you remembered Sunny,” she kept reading.

“Afterwards, Humphrey swam to a nearby ranch, and hit a stroke of luck!
He found a farmer on the roadside selling fresh watermelons from the back of his truck.
“OOOOoo~ Watermelon! I didn't know they were in season!
I guess I could have a few. Nyak! Nyak! So long as it's in reason...”

The picture showed Humphrey sucking up all the watermelons like a vacuum.

At the fourth stop, Humphrey ate four hundred watermelons, clearing out the farmer's field.
And even managed to gobble a hidden one, a wicker picnic basket had concealed.
But Humphrey was still hungry, his belly rumbled with great rigor.
Hungry Humphrey's appetite was getting much... much... MUCH BIGGER!”

“Hmm.” Mari eyed the picnic basket.

“Hey Sunny...” Mari caught the little boy’s attention, “I was thinking... what would you think if we went on a picnic?”

Sunny looked on blankly. “But where would we have it? Dad says we can't even visit the park without him. He says it’s not safe.”

“Hmm, I guess that's right. The big city really isn't the ideal place for a picnic,” Mari noted with a measure of disappointment in her voice, “it’s just something to keep in mind ...”

Getting herself back on task, she then turned back to the book.

Next, the whale stumbled onto a hot dog eating contest.
They were nice enough to let him join with little protest.

An image shows Humphrey wearing a bib onstage with the other contestants, ready to eat.

“'The fight for the final cup has just begun!
The announcer barked, “Will this whale be able to get number one?!'

At the fifth stop, Humphrey ate five hundred hot dogs; every weeny placed before his eyes.
Then as a dessert, he even ate the trophy he received for first prize.
But Humphrey was still hungry, his belly rumbled with great rigor.
Hungry Humphrey's appetite was getting much... much... MUCH... MUCH BIGGER!”

“Humphrey is eating so much. I wish I could eat that much,” Sunny chimed in. Mari gave a sigh and flipped the page. What Sunny saw on the next page gave him a fright. Although the segment started innocently enough.

“At the sixth stop, Humphrey ate six hundred six-foot long subway sandwiches.
At the seventh, he ate seven hundred gallons of ice cream with pie, root beer and more!
At the eighth, he ate eight hundred pounds of octopus and calamari.
But somehow, someway, Humphrey was still just as hungry as before!”

A series of three images covered the left-hand page depicting Humphrey devouring his meals at each stop. But what really got to Sunny was on the right.

“It was at this seafood market, Humphrey spotted a massive fishtail he managed to miss.
Peeking out from around the corner, it was somehow spared of his gullet's abyss.
Without thinking twice, the beast opened his two huge jaws, mouthwatering incessantly and vicious.
The whale then chopped his teeth down after exclaiming, 'Mmmm. Seafood. Delicious!'”

Something about this creepy image didn't sit right with Sunny. Humphrey was facing forward with a leering grin. It was unsettling, and Sunny pulled his blanket up to his mouth. He made no mention of this to Mari. He didn't want to get her worried, or worse, stop reading to him. So, he just stayed quiet.

“Ouch! Bleeeeeh!” Humphrey gave out a shout.
Humphrey realized he had bitten his own tail, and promptly spit it out!
But as his tail came out, it hit the 'danglely thing' at the back of his throat's knoll.
Thus with a gag and a “Blurf!,” he'd began to shoot bile out his blowhole.

Poor Humphrey had to swim all the way home with a tail throbbing in pain.
And unfortunately, once he returned, his bout of nausea hadn't seemed to wane.
'Well that didn't go down smoothly at all!' The whale yelped with his yap.
'Suddenly, I feel so sleepy... I think... I'll take a short nap.'”

Mari read on.

“So the whale shut himself into his home, then curled into a comfortable spot.
And by the next morning, he had been through the worst of his stomach knot.
“Ahh... That was such a good nap. My tummy ache is all gone... but my tail is still so sore.”
He frowned. Suddenly, Humphrey wasn't feeling that hungry anymore.

When dinner came, Humphrey could only eat a mouthful of krill from a labored short swim.
And for dessert, he could only spend the day sucking his fin.
So let it be a lesson, for those who love to feed.
You should always be careful not to eat more than you need.

The End”

“So Sunny what did you think?”

“I liked it.” Sunny came out with a peep.

“Really, are you sure? You got a little quiet near the end,” Mari pressed.

“The end was a bit creepy. But I liked most of it!”

“We can't read it anymore if it gives you nightmares.”

“But I like it. I just don't know how to handle scary things. Even things that aren't scary.”

“Oh Sunny,” Mari shook her head, “you know, I used to be really afraid too. Mostly of the dark. It was really bad, sometimes I couldn't walk around the house at night on my own.”

“Why aren't you scared anymore? What did you do when you got scared?” Sunny asked quietly.

“Well for one, I would hug Sweetheart.” Mari pulled out her Sweetheart doll. It was her oldest toy, and the joy of her life before Sunny was brought home. “But besides that, well, sometimes you kind of have to..” Mari said unsure. “A lot of the things we find scary, become not so scary once you face them. Like certain fears that feel really big will just push over the moment you face them head-on. So if I know you... you'll get over them.”

“So we can still read 'Hungry Humphrey' then? It’s not even that scary.”

“Wow, you must really like this book,” Mari joked.

“It was nice. I like Humphrey. I wish I had a friend like Humphrey,” or any friend, the boy thought.

“Oh? Whatever do you mean? I mean you have me right?”

“Yeah. But like...”

Sunny looks down.

“I want a friend that does fun things I like to do, like get dirty and drink soda and eat candy.”

Mari rubbed Sunny shoulder. “It's okay Sunny I get it. I'm your sister. It's not the same.”

“Is it true that we're going to move?”

“We can only hope. I hope wherever we go, you can find friends there Sunny.”

She gives her little brother a hug, “But for now it's time for you to go to sleep.”

And with that, Sunny curled into Mari, the two cuddled as the little boy went to bed, dreaming of the big happy whale and its adventure.

THREE YEARS OLD, SUNNY DRIFTS INTO A DREAM

Chapter Text

Absolute darkness.

The little boy was alone.

He could hear the loud scary noises. It sounded like he was at the bottom of the ocean.

He heard dark creatures scurrying around him.

He crouched down, pressing his hands against his ears.

He wanted it to stop but...

He felt like this moment in darkness was going to last forever.

He then saw something moving towards him.

Whatever it was, it got closer. All the boy could do was look down and try not to make eye contact as he was too scared to run away or fight. The boy was helpless.

That's when it spoke. “Whale look what we have here!”

The boy tensed.

“Do not be afraid,” says a warm boisterous voice, “I'm a friend! I'm Hungry Humphrey! Remember?!”

The boy looked up. Yes. It really was the whale from his storybook. The whale gave a thinking look, then put his tongue between his lips and gave a raspberry.

This made the boy smile.

“Hmm, that used to make you laugh when you were smaller. Hmm... Humphrey gave a look around the dark cave, “I don't know about you, but this is no place for a little boy.” Humphrey looked around at the darkness of the abyss. “What do you say we go get some grub!”

The boy took a moment to get situated on the back of his new friend Humphrey.

Then they began swimming up.

Up and out, delivering the boy from the darkness of the abyss and into the light.

After a short swim, Humphrey surfaced from the Abyss and was back in the cavern he had taken up as a home for the past few years he'd been here. It had blue cliffs falling off into the black below and it had colorful corals scattered around speaking gibberish.

Getting around here wasn't too hard, but traversal could be a complicated affair for the whale. When underwater, Humphrey could “fly” around with a bit of effort, but he would prefer to settle down in hard water, that is, water underwater, which functioned like a mattress for him. Still, he could park himself on any surface underwater, even if it was not as comfortable. The real difficulty however was getting around on land for obvious reasons. In these situations, he would beach himself on land and push himself around with his fins and tail. It wasn't ideal, but it got him around.

Humphrey settled down on one of the cliffs.

“This looks like our stop little guy!”

Humphrey bent his tail for the boy to use as a step ladder. The nervous boy climbed down from the whale's back and onto his tail, then made a tepid jump off onto solid ground.

“Am I- Am I underwater, I'm scared of water.”

“You have no reason to be scared. Not while I'm here!”

The boy's head spun around taking a moment to soak in his surroundings.

The whale continued.

“You can stay here for now, as I do love visitors. What's your name, little friend?”

“Sunny.”

“Ah! What an irony that you should find yourself in such a dark place.”

“I don't know how I got there. I was just suddenly...”

“I see. I know exactly what you mean, Sunny! I feel like I have been around here for a while, but my memories seem to be very fuzzy. Very strange. So very strange.”

The boy was now sitting on the floor, just barely getting comfortable, “did it get lonely?”

“Hmm.” Humphrey looks up in thought, “It does.”

The boy was listening intently to the whale as he spoke.

“It’s not that I need friends. I have no problem getting by on my own, but I do like having company. Part of me wishes I had a real home. Some place I could have guests and... yummy dinner parties. Although, if I had to eat everything myself that wouldn't bother me either!”

This had struck a nerve in the three-year-old, who was now very sullen.

“I wish I had a home... and friends.” He said miserably, head slinking down. Bangs cover his face.

At this, the whale was taken aback and gave a look of confusion to the boy, “whale what do you mean? You are a Dreamer. Just make something up!”

The boy tried to hide his befuddlement. Clearly unsure what the whale was talking about. Humphrey bristled his tail; then swam a quick circle around the boy, taking him by surprise.

“Alright, alright! Looks like your pal Humphrey is going to have to show you the ropes.”

The boy picked himself up, “what do you mean? What are you going-”

“Hush. Little one. Now listen closely,” the whale paused at the boy’s side, placing his tiny fin onto the boy's shoulder. “First things first, before I teach you anything I want you to know this...”

The whale swims back to its original spot in front of the little boy.

“You already have a friend. I am. From now on, Humphrey will always be by your side!”

“But I've never had a friend before.”

“Whale there's a first time for everything. Now let's get started,” Humphrey almost sings. Humphrey started to swim slowly along the cliffside and waved his tail for Sunny to follow. The boy does a skip then breaks into a tiny jog to keep up with the enormous mammal.

“I will tell you the secret. A secret that opens up all the possibilities to you.”

The boy struggles to keep up. “Yes? What-”

“Doors.”

“Doors?” the boy gawks.

“Doors,” the whale nods his head like a wise sensei, “it's time to make doors.”

The boy stops his jog. “What do you mean?” He says completely lost.

Humphrey spins around, “the doors are the key. And sometimes the keys become doors. But more on that later... My point is that if you want to get around, you need to make doors.”

Sunny still looked as lost as ever. Seeing this, Humphrey's speech takes a more careful tone, “Okay. So. I want you to close your eyes.”

“Okay.” the boy closes his eyes very hard.

“Great... Now I want you to use your imagination. Imagine you are standing in front of a door.”

“What is it a door to?”

“Nothing. It's just standing on its own. Are you imagining it?”

“Okay. I can see it.”

Meanwhile, besides Humphrey, a door manifests from nowhere. Humphrey nods in approval, “good, good. Let's keep this up. Okay, so where do you want it to go?”

“But if it’s just standing on its own, it’s not going to go anywhere.”

“It doesn't have to make logical sense. Let's say you open it up. Where does it go to?”

“It can go anywhere?”

“Anywhere. And you can create places that may or may not already exist.”

“Alright... I did it,” Sunny opens his eyes and finally notices the free-standing doorway. “Wow!” The boy runs up to the door and swings it open. He walks in.

The whale swims up behind him to get a peek inside. “What did you-”

“Shhhh! You're going to wake up my sister,” the boy was standing in his real-world room, or a dream-world version of it. He had connected the portal to his closet. The boy then whispers, “I'm not supposed to be up! So let’s not wake Mari.”

“'Mari, you say...” It was good to know the boy wasn't completely on his own before this. His sister was fast asleep in her purple pajama gown. The boy was kneeling next to her looking for something.

“And she doesn't let you stay up late?”

“No. Mari never does anything fun,” he whispers back, “or let me eat cookies after bedtime."

The whale eyes the girl from a distance, “Whale that's just too bad... because you and I are about to have a whale of a time... but I got to say, she does make good cookies!” Humphrey says munching away on cookies he somehow obtained.

“Those are my cookies.” Sunny whispers, “Mari made those just for me. They're my favorite.”

“Hmm,” Humphrey judges the cookie, visibly weighing it on his tongue, “I think I know why...”

“Why?” Sunny asks looking over at the whale from across the bed.

“I taste love... I can tell she mixes her cookies with love, and love makes everything taste good!”

“Oh, that makes sense,” Sunny whispers going back to looking for something on the floor.

Then the boy bounces up again holding a book in the air. “Look, Humphrey! Look! It's you!” He shout-whispers, holding up the 'Hungry Humphrey' book he had just read before.

The boy kept smiling and showing it, waiting for this to get a reaction out of Humphrey.

“I can see that!” The cover had a picture of him with his mouth wide open, tongue splayed out like a drawbridge. It was not the most flattering photo of him ever taken, but he could see it getting the attention of a baby in the supermarket.

“It's my favorite book now.”

“Aw~ You're making me blush!”

Mari shifts in her bed.

This gives Sunny a jolt. After a moment frozen, he turns back to the whale, “Let's go!” The whale nods in agreement. He puts down the book then tiptoes back to his closet door and shuts it gently behind him. The preschooler looks at Humphrey with excitement clear on his face.

“So where to next?”

The boy and whale then set out on an adventure through a series of interesting small rooms.

The first room was the inside of a red barn filled with farm animals. It was filthy, but the boy was too busy chasing around the pigs and chickens to really notice.

“Hey Sunny. Can we go somewhere nicer? Somewhere a little less stuffy,” a cow sat in the pen next to Humphrey then gave a loud “Moo!” right next to his face. The boy broke into laughter, falling over next to a pig, and getting some mud on his blue sweater.

“That's so rude!” Humphrey chides the heifer, “Besides, I'm a whale and you madam look half my size. So, what does that say about you?”

“Moo!” the cow persists.

“That's enough. I did not come here to be insulted. Come on Sunny, let's get out of here...”

“Aw, do we have to go?”

“While I can handle a little dirt and do things others would consider gross, I won't tolerate rudeness.”

The next location was the tower of a medieval castle. The type of tower a princess would be trapped in. It was decked out with marble floors and exquisite design.

“Ah ha! Now this is a place fit for a king!” Humphrey exclaims.

The Dreamer runs up to the window to get a look at the view. He feels a nice breeze, but it’s just an empty purple space outside. The boy looks disappointed, “where is everything?”

“All in good time my lord! Soon we will build a whole realm for you, my liege.”

“But I'm not a king.”

“You are here! You are the king of this world! You can do whatever you want here!”

“Whatever I want?”

“Whale of course! And I'll be here to help make it happen! Your wish is my command! Now come on, I imagine you have a three-mile list of all the things you've always wanted to do.”

They continued on.

They went to a classroom. Then an Olympic swimming pool. Then a dinosaur museum. And so on.

Eventually, they ended up inside a play area of a fast-food restaurant. Humphrey was chowing down on left-over burgers while Sunny crawled through the tunnels of the play gym.

“Humphrey look!” The boy was at the top of the tube slide. Waving through a window.

He then slid down and into a ball pit at the bottom. Sunny popped up from the pit and started throwing its colorful foam balls at Humphrey. The whale gave a smirk.

“Make room! I'm coming in!”

The boy looked terrified. “Humphrey no!”

The whale lunged into the ball pit. With a great smash, the “splash” sent the balls in every direction. The boy sat in a now empty ball pit next to Humphrey.

“Say, Sunny, you getting hungry? All that play must have worked up an appetite.”

“Yeah.” Sunny agreed, “Are there any burgers left?”

“No... I'm afraid I ate all of the ones here. So... what’s your favorite food?” the whale asked.

“I like steak with ketchup.” the boy says throwing a ball in the air and then catching it as it fell.

“Ooo~ an aristocrat. In that case, I know just the place!”

“It should be just up ahead!”

He was strolling down the Underwater Highway, as Humphrey was swimming just ahead of him. After they started to walk, it began to drizzle. He didn't really understand how that worked, how it could somehow rain when they were already underwater, but he just went along with it.

The boy was really growing fond of Humphrey. The whale was a source of great fun and infinite jest. He was a little sad that Humphrey couldn't follow him into the real world. That thought added a melancholy tint to how the boy was feeling. That all of this would have to come to an end.

“We're here! I can see it just ahead,” it was a yellow submarine diner, just like the one in his book.

As the whale entered the front door, he noticed the owner approach. “My god, Humphrey. I'm surprised you are already back! I'm afraid we haven't really restocked since your last visit...”

“That's okay Sadie. I'm mostly just here to treat a friend,” he says to the mermaid waitress. The owner looks down at Sunny who looks away nervously.

“He can be a bit shy...” Humphrey says.

In a few moments, they were being seated. “We'll be taking a booth. I don't think we want a repeat of what happened last time...” the whale eyes one of the small table chairs.

“Of course not...” the waitress laughs nervously, “right this way!”

They get a window-side booth. The rain picks up a bit outside making wet streams on the window. And their food manages to come out in a very timely manner. Almost unbelievably so. Both Sunny and the whale both marvel as the waitress drops the steaks on their plate. The whale shouts, “Let's dig in!”

“But how do I eat it?”

“Use your knife and fork.”

“But my mom never lets me use the knife. She always cuts it for me...”

“Whale whale whale... What if I said, your mom isn't here, and you can use the knife here!”

“Really?!” the little boy looks flabbergasted.

“Sure, you're almost four years old. You're practically a college student,” the whale uses his tongue to wrap around the knife, “here, let me show you how to use it!” Humphrey quickly shows his new friend how to cut a steak, then they begin their feast. After stuffing their faces with copious amounts of meat, they finish the first course.

“So.. What do you think?”

“This place seems nice...” the boy surveys his surroundings, hands on his lap.

“No, silly. I mean what do you think of Headspace, your kingdom?”

“I like it. It's really cool.”

“And~”

“I don't know. I feel like it's still missing something.”

“Hmm. I see,” the whale pondered, “is there anything else bothering you?”

“It's just... None of it is real...”

“It's real to you. It matters to you. Is that not enough...”

The boy says nothing.

“Here, let me show you. See this steak? It's not real. I'm not real,” the whale hums, “but the steak is still scrumptious and delicious. Is it not?”

“Yeah.”

“Then just enjoy it! See that's the problem, so many people spend their lives preoccupied with things that don't really matter. If you have good friends and good food, isn't that enough?!

“So I say, let's not worry about it. I say ignorance is bliss. Let's just enjoy this moment. Shall we?”

At this, a second round of steak splats onto their plates. They devour these as well. Soon the little boy was starting to get a bit full. Humphrey keeps eating.

“Wow. You just ate so much steak Humphrey how did you do that?!” the boy balks.

“Hey. A whale's gotta eat,” Humphrey points out.

“A whale's gotta eat?” the boy looks confused unfamiliar with the expression.

“A whale's gotta eat!” Humphrey bellows!

“But that doesn’t make any sense.”

“That’s just it. That’s what it means to be a whale. Just go with the flow, and let loose. Lose all sense.”

“Lose all sense?” Sunny scrunches his brows together for a moment. Then he gets it. He then starts to jump up and down in excitement taking Humphrey by surprise.

“A whale's gotta eat! A whale's gotta eat!” the boy repeats. He then begins trying to climb up over the table and onto the whale. Humphrey has to help him up with his tail.

“Everyone I have an announcement to make!” the Dreamer shouts to the other patrons, “the food is going to be ready in just a few minutes. Everyone can eat as much as they want!” The entire diner breaks into cheers.

Sunny smiles. A big smile, his eyes closed.

Humphrey looks on in interest. He had never seen Sunny act like this before. Smile like that before, maybe he would laugh as a baby, but this was different. Humphrey decided that he wanted to see Sunny smile like that more often.

“Now that is the right way to treat one's citizens,” Humphrey grins, then gives a belch.

“Hey, what do you say we get some dessert,” the whale adds.

“What do they have here?” the boy asks.

“Actually, I had something else in mind.” the whale looks around conspiratorially. The boy’s head tilts. The whale goes on, “Let's head outside, I'll show you.”

Before they leave, he slips the knife into his pocket. He wanted to use it later.

They are now just outside the diner. The muffled sound of chatter from within can still be heard.

“So what's the plan?”

“I need you to use your power again.”

“Okay. I can do that.”

The whale moves up close to him. “No, but this time, let's try for more. I say instead of trying to make just another room, what if you tried to make an entire new world!”

“Oh. I don't know if I can do that.”

“Just try it. Focus. Do what you did the other times, but think harder.”

“Where would we be going?”

“Just think: 'I want to be somewhere I can eat as much dessert as I want' and that's it!”

The boy looks a bit nervous. “But what if I mess it up?”

“You can't. Just try it.”

The boy steadied himself. Then closed his eyes and made a wish.

Suddenly an orange door appeared.

“Oh! I know where this is going to go!” the whale then floats up behind the door.

He then turns to the Dreamer. “Just a warning. This is going to really blow you off your feet!”

The door opens.

The boy was overwhelmed with a gust of wind and sand, sending him toppling over.

“I warned you.”

Sunny picked himself back up and made his way through the door. Shielding his eyes from the bright beyond. It takes a moment for his eyes to adjust. When they do, he can't believe what he sees!

“Wow...” The boy says under his breath. I wonder if there is more over here. Before him was a grove of palm trees and vegetation, but everything was made of candy. The trunks of the palm trees were bananas. Other trees had dipped candy apples. And at the center of this garden was a chocolate fountain, with gushing chocolate sauce.

“See that wasn't so hard. All you have to do is make a wish, and count to three,” the whale bellowed from the other side of the door. Jumping into the hot sand, he follows the boy through the gate in an impossible feat of pushing through but somehow was very possible by a cartoon whale.

Sunny looks at this spectacle and asks, “Humphrey. Are you on land? How are you moving on land?”

“Whale it's a secret trick given to me a few years ago by a tiny snake. He taught me how to walk, or rather, slither on land. See!” Humphrey shifts his weight back and forth to demonstrate his land mobility. He moves forward and uses his big tail to brush some palm leaves aside giving way to a spectacular view. They were at the top of a downward incline that overlooked a massive stretch of sand dunes as far as the eye could see. An orange-colored oasis sits just below them, at the foot of the sand dune, but his attention was more taken by the pyramids.

“Is that a pyramid?”

“Why of course! It’s the food pyramid!

“The food pyramid? Like in the book?”

“Yes, it’s even eatable. In fact, everything you see before you is eatable!”

“Even the sand?”

Humphrey runs his tongue along the floor with a slurp. He says, “Why yes! I think it's brown sugar!”

“Can you even eat the sun?”

“I'm not sure… I'll have to get back to you on that one.”

The boy looks around at the grove again. He notices that everything is made of candy and treats.

“Now time to dig in!”

Humphrey starts shoveling sand into his mouth, uncovering a large partially buried peppermint candy.

The boy doesn't know where to start. He had never felt so frozen in excitement. He jumped in place once. His hands shake. He then sprints to the closest plant to see what it has. He finds a berry bush. The berries were soft candies with gushing gooey centers. He plucks what he can into his hand. Stuffing a handful into his mouth.

Humphrey, having swallowed the peppermint whole, takes a lick of a palm tree. Then he takes a horizontal bite. “Mmm. Banana flavored!”

Sunny then approaches the fountain of chocolate. He uses his hands to shovel some into his mouth at first, but then gives up and puts his mouth directly on the nozzle. Once he gets his fill he gives a refreshed sigh, he then wipes his chin with his shirt.

Then Humphrey eats some corn dog cattails.

Then Sunny eats a candy apple off a tree.

They keep at this for about a quarter-hour. Devouring whatever looked tasty in sight.

Eventually, Humphrey waddles up to a gazebo. It has a table and tea set inside. He drinks all the tea in the pot. Then eats the pot, which tastes just like crumpets. Then he eats the cups. Then the chairs. Then the table. He eyes up the gazebo, but decides against it, preferring to keep the shade, where he finds himself a comfortable spot, deciding to take a little rest. He wasn't full. He never was. But he was getting tired from moving around so much. The boy had the opposite problem. He still had more energy but was getting pretty full.

He stumbles to where Humphrey is and falls over into a snow angel position.

“There is so much to eat. That was a great dessert after all that steak. Thanks, Humphrey!”

“Oh, there's no need to thank me,” the whale grinned.

“This is amazing Humphrey… I still don't really understand how you did all of this...”

“I didn't do anything. You did! You created all of this.”

“No, I didn't. I don't believe that!”

“But it's true. You made every little piece of it. Very impressive.”

“But I'm just a boy...”

“That's what you don't get... You are not human. Not here at least.”

The boy is very confused at this statement.

Humphrey explains.

“In your world. You are a god!”

Now the poor boy looks even more confused.

“In my world. I am a god?”

“Yes. Just try it. Take a moment to think of something to add,” the whale encouraged.

The boy looks inside of himself, lost in thought, then asks, “And it can be anything?”

“It's all up to you. Whatever you want, you can do it.”

The boy grabbed his chin trying to grasp the idea of godhood. “Hmm. I think I get it...” He then perks up. A light bulb going off over his head. Literally. Humphrey ignores it. “You know what would make this place cooler?” the Dreamer states, “dinosaurs.”

Humphrey has to take a moment to process what the boy just said. Before he has a chance to respond they hear a loud roar. To their absolute shock, a giant T-rex came running over a dune and sprinted towards the pyramid. Everything happened so fast that what followed was a march of dinosaurs pouring over the nearby hill. Sunny and Humphrey were forced to slide out of the way as a giant Sauropod marched right over them. The beast looked as tall as a building. The length of the massive creature's long neck made the boy crane his own just to see it.

“Wow!” the boy gave a look of pure awe.

The whale grabbed the boy and placed him safely on top of his blowhole. He then shifted his weight forward and entered a slide down the sand dune and in the direction of the orange-colored oasis.

A stampede of raptors where now pushing right behind them.

“Aaaaaah!~” the boy yelled.

“Weeeeee!~” the whale cheered.

At the last moment, Humphrey shifted his weight back and lunged for a jump.

They landed in the orange juice with a massive splash. Humphrey reemerged, the boy was soaked and spit out a stream of orange liquid. The stampede had kicked up a ton of sugar sand. So Humphrey then swam to the pond's center to get a good distance from the prehistoric march and allow them to get a better view of what could only be described as a dinosaur parade.

A pack of Stegosauruses lumbered their way swinging their mace-like tails in rhythm, while the raptors pranced and galloped, darting between the legs of the other bigger creatures. Pterodactyls circled the skies in choreographed formations, the kind you would see fighter jets do at an airshow.

“Now this I was not expecting. Delightful!” Humphrey proclaimed very impressed with the display, “You could even say it was a dino-mite performance.”

Sunny laughed, “Your jokes are so cheesy Humphrey.”

“Mmm. Cheesy,” the whale salivated at the idea, “cheesy pretzels sound great right now.”

Sunny stood up on the back of the whale and pointed in the air. “As my first order as king, I will make it the law that your jokes be placed everywhere.”

“Hmm. A government-mandated morale increase does sound like a good policy... It’s an honor!”

Sunny’s eyebrows bunch in thought, “This king stuff seems pretty hard. How do I know if I’m doing the right thing?”

“Oh you don’t have to worry about that,” Humphrey shrugs it off. “I think any choice you make is bound to be a good one.”

“But how do you know that?”

A brief pause runs between them as the whale considers what to say, “Sunny, would you ever ask a fish why it's scaly? Or an ice cube why it's cold?”

“No.”

“No sir you don’t. They just are what they are. It’s like how I’m just a big whale. And you Sunny, you’re just a good boy.”

Satisfied with his answer, Humphrey just then noticed the sparkling floating fruit in the juice surrounding them. “Just a fair warning. It’s about to get wet, I'm going fishing.”

In response, the boy scurried to lay back down on the creature, gripping him like a belly board. Humphrey paddled around the perimeter of the oasis, splashing juice everywhere. As he did so he opened his mouth wide like a net, swallowing the floating pieces of frozen fruit.

“They taste like popsicles!” the whale exclaims, “here try one!”

The whale stopped in the center again. He takes a piece of frozen lemon with his tongue and hands it to the boy, who starts licking it, “it tastes like fresh lemonade!”

“It does... yes it does,” the whale agreed.

The boy and the whale ate quietly, settling down as they watched the last of the dinos go by. Most of the sugar sand had finally blown away with the wind. Sure, the sun was baking them, but in a pleasant sort of way. It was kind of like the sauna sensation you get after coming back to a heat-wave-filled car in a parking lot after a long hot day of shopping.

“Humphrey.”

The whale looks up at the boy.

“I was wondering... This is fun, but...” the boy looks away, “is this going to have to end?”

“Hmm. Probably.”

“I don't want it to end, I want to stay here forever. With you.”

The whale is taken slightly aback. “It's okay champ, you'll be coming back tomorrow right!”

“Yes,” the boy perks. “Are you still going to be here? I want to see you again.”

“Whale of course I will! And so will the rest of this world. Look,” the whale picks the kid up with his tail and holds him up as high as possible. This gives him a view of the brilliant orange and faint purple of the setting sun as a red-orange orb sinks closer to endless sand dunes. The boy looks at the view, taking in the boundless possibilities.

“This world...” Humphrey explains, “It belongs to you!”

The boy marvels.

“And I'll be here every step of the way to make sure you see all of it!” the whale then brings Sunny back down and close to his smile as if to let him know something important.

“All the sights.

All the adventures.

Everything this world has to offer!

And...

All of my love.

I give it to you!

I give it all to you!”

At this, the boy breaks into a hug.

“I love you, Humphrey.”

“I love you too Sunny.”

They stay like this...

Their moment is sadly cut short, as they hear a splash from nearby.

It was that moment they realized... They were surrounded!

Crocodiles poke their heads out all around then. They looked black in the setting sun. The vicious beasts were now circling the whale and boy, and the latter was starting to get scared. Humphrey also became angry. He would reduce these creatures to chum if need be.

It was then at this moment, a crocodile lifted its head fully out of the water. To their surprise, it had a gun and a cowboy hat, and it was wearing sunshades. It then said, “This is a stickup! You picked a bad spot for a picnic!” All of the gators stood up now, dressed in stereotypical outlaw western bandit outfits. One of the crocodiles pulled out a walkie-talkie and said, “We have this in the bag!” This was the last straw for Sunny.

“Alright Humphrey,” Sunny whips out the steak knife he hid earlier, “it's time for a fight.”

= They enter a battle =

The boy had one attack: slash

Humphrey had two attacks: bite and tail-whip.

The boy stabs a Gator Guy; it does minimal damage.

The whale uses his tail to whip them. It pushes them back, reducing their stamina.

“Ha! You should have never left your house! This is no place for little kids!” a gator says.

They then take turns shooting the whale, it barely hurts.

Then one tries to shoot Sunny, and it misses.

Humphrey becomes angry at this. He bites one of the gangsters. It does massive damage.

This defeats the gator.

Before the fight can continue, they are interrupted.

“Reach for the sky~!” a mysterious figure says.

“Look out! It's Mr. Outback” Said the filthy retch.

“He's the rootinest tootinest sheriff in the great wild stretch!”

= The battle ended. =

“Put that knife away little boy. That's not safe for a kid your age. Leave this to the adults.”

The boy felt like he had been caught doing something wrong. Humphrey also felt a bit judged for having let him fight at all. The whale figured the boy was in no danger, and it wasn't a big deal.

“Do you know who these gators are, sheriff?” Humphrey asked, “Any idea where they're from?”

“No I don't, but I know where they're going to be. Lost!” the cowboy exclaimed, “if you guys insist on a fight, then I'm deputizing you too to help me throw these ruffians out on their rump!”

Sunny and Humphrey formed a party.

“They run away! So all ya have to do is catch em! Get after them and I show you the ropes!”

The gators ran away from Humphrey, the whale was not exactly fast but he managed to pin one gator in a corner and challenge one to a fight.

= They entered a battle. =

Outback spoke, “Alright kiddos! Nothing to worry about, you're a Dreamer and a Great Creature, so these little gator folks should stand no chance againstcha! But before you smash them, I want to teach you a special move! Hide! With this new skill, you can let the Dreamer hide behind you! Try it!”

Sunny uses 'Hide' and hides behind Humphrey. The Gator slams into Humphrey. Then he tries to slam Sunny but instead slams Humphrey a second time. Sunny is unhurt.

Humphrey recoiled only a bit from the pain and remarked, “Hmm, that second hit the one aimed at Sunny didn't hurt as much as the first one!”

“Yup, that's how it works! When the Dreamer hides behind you, the enemy can't put their all into their swing. Only dealing like 50% of what they intended. But not just the Dreamer, anyone who fights with you can use this ability. You take the damage, so they don't have to. The only problem is that they can't do anything while they Hide... But it costs no stamina, and it saves them from a hit. So it’s useful!”

= The battle ended. =

“Go wrangle another one!”

Humphrey and Sunny moved to challenge another Gator. The whale felt a bit better knowing that Sunny could hide behind him at any time. He charged another Gator.

= They entered a battle. =

“Oh geez, why did we think it'd be a good idea to attack a literal whale!” the gator said.

“Looks like ya, round up another one! Good! Let's try another skill. This one's for the whale, I call it 'Protect'. You can throw that weight around and protect the Dreamer even after he attacks. Try it.

Sunny runs up to the Gator and slashes it. The reptile gives an “ack!”

The gator tries to slam into Sunny, but Humphrey pushes him out of the way and takes the hit for him.

“Oof! That one hurt!”

The gator then turns and hits Humphrey again.

“Ah! Both those landed pretty hard cowboy! You sure I did it right?”

“Yup, that's how it works, you 'Protect' one person, and they can do whatever they want and take no damage. But you take the full blow intended for them. This ability also takes no stamina, since this is what you were made to do whale!”

= The battle ended. =

“What do you mean by that cowboy is that an insult? I'm not just a big punching bag!”

“No, no! I was being serious! You were sent here to protect the boy! I'll explain later!”

Humphrey nodded, then chased the last of the gators off to the cliffside.

“I think that's the last of em! Good work buckaroos!”

“What’s going on here boys!” A female voice spoke. The gators looked around in fear.

“Oh look what you've done now. You've got the boss all upset!”

Everyone watched as the doughnut girl appeared from over the nearby hill, making a big show.

“I know her. That's Sweetheart,” Sunny whispers to Humphrey, who nods.

All the gators poke their heads out from behind the cliff side.

“I told you boys to deal with the intruders. Why are they still here?”

“We're sorry boss, but Mr. Outback showed up.”

“That old coot?” Sweetheart shook her head. Sweetheart turns to the boy. “You three have no business being here!” Sweetheart shook her hands in fists, “This is my candy grove! This desert is allllll~ mine. It's mine! No candy for you two. You should just run home and get to bed little boy!”

“Wow what a brat! Why are you gators even working for this little girl anyway?” Humphrey question.

“Oh, that's easy. We want a boss!”

Humphrey considered the gator's words, “Ah so you’re doing this for the money, what's she paying you?”

“No, no no! It's not about money. We want a boss!”

Humphrey didn't get it, “what do you mean, aren't bosses supposed to be the worst?”

Another gator poked his head out and said, “We just want someone to protect us.”

“Make us feel safe!” another one said.

“Someone to keep food on the table!”

“Someone to give us a place to sleep at night and read us stories!”

“We've never had a boss before!”

Sweetheart spoke, “And that's why I stepped in. If no one wants to be their boss, then I will! And you guys have stepped into my turf, my home, mine mine mine!” She then shakes her head then moves straightforwardly pulling out a mace and whirling it, “These intruders need to get lost! Let's get em'!” Two gators jumped out from hiding to fight them.

Outback says to Sunny, “Maybe you should sit this one out, let your big friend here fight them off.”

“But... I don't want Humphrey to get hurt.” Sunny frowns, “I'm gonna fight too.”

Humphrey considered the situation, he felt almost disappointed that Sunny thought he was so defenseless. He had to prove to Sunny that he was someone he could count on for protection.

“Don't worry little buddy. I'm big and strong. This donut should be no match for a whale. In fact... she's just making me hungry!” Humphrey turned to Sweetheart with a menacing grimace.

“Ha! This whale needs to learn some manners,“ Sweetheart retorted, “come on boys! Let’s show this big mouth what happens when he can't keep it shut.”

= They enter a battle. =

Humphrey's main goal was just to protect Sunny, the whale had plenty of health and blubber to protect him, but the boy was so small. For the first two turns, Humphrey just took all the blows, telling Sunny to hide behind him, much to his annoyance.

“I want to swing at them. I want to help.”

Although he's right, that things would go faster if he let Sunny attack too, the boy was just too weak, he would go down in only two hits. He thought it over.

“Please,” Sunny pleaded.

Humphrey shook his head, “alright you can take a swing...”

Sunny took his knife and swung at Sweetheart.

“Ah! You dare attack me!” she yelled, “but I'm older and you’re just a little boy!”

She picks up her mace and raises it to strike the little boy, but Humphrey uses 'Protect' and jumps in the way of the blow. The cane hits the whale's head with an audible 'thonk'!

“Oof! Now I'm angry!” Humphrey becomes angry and bites the last remaining gator in retaliation.

“No!” a gator cries, “we must protect the boss!” A gator with only a tiny bit of health jumps back up to protect her.

“Hmm, say, Sunny, you strike down the gator and I'll munch the donut girl, how’s that sound?”

Sunny gives a determined smile and they do it, Sunny stabs the weakened gator, and Humphrey jumps forward and takes a bite out of Sweetheart.

“Ouch!” Sweetheart raises her flail indignantly, “Now you've made me angry too! I'm gonna whump you with an attack that's even biggerer now!” Sweetheart readies for a big attack.

Humphrey decides it's safer to just let Sunny hide, that way they only take 75% of the damage.

“No Humphrey. Let's just beat her now before she can hit you!”

“But then that'd put you at risk little guy...” the whale says with a somber tone of hesitation, “if I let you fight, you might get really hurt... it'd be safer if you just hide behind me...”

“Humphrey, trust me.”

Humphrey considered his plea and relented. Sunny darted forward and slashed Sweetheart. Afterward, Humphrey slammed her with his tail, breaking her mace.

“NOO! I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO USE MY BIG ATTACK! YOU GUYS ARE MEANIES!”

= The battle ended. =

Sweetheart starts crying obnoxiously on the floor, “NO NO NO!”

Outback steps forward, “now now, why not put the guns away, and let's just have a big sit down! There's plenty of candy here for all of us!”

“What a big baby, right Sunny!” Humphrey remarked. Sunny nodded in agreement.

Suddenly all the crocs of the gator gang ran up to the fallen donut. “No! Look what you did to the boss! And we just found one too!”

The gators approach Sweetheart. She gives them a sorry frown. “My my. Looks like I'm not cut out to run a gang after all. At least not here...”

“Don't say that boss! We can make it work.”

“No I'm not your boss anymore,” the donut girl stands up and walks to the cliff side, “I'm starting to think I don't belong in Orange Oasis. I have to move on and find a home somewhere new.”

“No this is all that little boy’s fault.” One of the gators cries. He then points the gun at Sunny. Humphrey moves in the way to guard Sunny, but that's when Outback steps forward.

“Now don't worry. I'll deal with this little whippersnapper.”

“Move out of the way old man,” the gator sneers.

“Let's make it a shoot-out. A duel. You stand over there, and I stand here. I'll even let you take the first shot. But trust me, it won't hurt me, and you're going to regret the transgression, no creature has ever survived my silver bullets.”

“Enough of this,” the gator suddenly shoots Outback in the chest.

“No!” Sunny yells in fear.

Everyone is silent, and Outback shuffles back and forth. It happens so fast that Humphrey doesn't have a chance to save him. But then, to everyone's surprise... Outback brushes off the bullet, and stands tall once again, “All alright, that was your turn. Now it’s mine.”

“That's impossible! How did you...”

Mr. Outback pulls out his revolver and trains them at the Gator gang.

“Run away! Retreat! Retreat!” One of the crocodiles spoke into his talkie, as they broke into a full route. At this, all the Gators ran away in a very unnatural janky motion.

“This is not the last you'll hear of the Gator Gang! We'll find a new leader! One of these days we're gonna find ourselves a real boss. Just you wait!”

Sunny’s eyebrows lift in excitement. He asked, “How did you do that?”

The sheriff then opens his vest to reveal a high-tech black bulletproof vest. Humphrey was flabbergasted by its appearance. It looked like something out of a science-fiction show.

“Just an old nick-nack I picked up on my travels.”

Apparently, this sheriff really was from out of town.

“Humphrey. Mr. Outback. I think I'm gonna go look for bugs in the sand,” Sunny states, then walks off.

“Sounds great! Get me some!” the whale bellows back to him. The whale watches him go. A few minutes after the shoot out the boy returned to his play. Like the encounter did not even happen. It was almost weird. Almost as if he had just forgotten about them. He was talking to Sweetheart while trying to catch beetles on the sand dune.

“He's really something isn't he?” the old cowboy looks around. “so when did he make this place?”

“Just today.”

“Really? How long did it take him to make it?”

“Instantaneously. I think he just made it with just the back of his mind.”

“Really! Woo Wee! That is remarkable! What an incredible imagination! It’s not normal for a kid his age to make a place this darn big! This is not what I usually see for a boy his age.”

“Ah. I see!” the whale chuckles nervously. Humphrey then asks, “So who are you exactly?”.

“There's a lot to explain on short notice. But let's just say, I am a force for good.”

The whale lifts an eyebrow, “that's not very descriptive.”

“And you must be the Oldest,” the cowboy points out.

“What do you mean?” Humphrey looks around, very confused. The cowboy sees this and tries to help him.

“The first three creatures of any new plane are usually a daredevil, a decision maker, and a worrywart. So tell me friend, which are you? Let me guess you’re the Oldest, right?”

“I'm not sure. Am I?”

“The Oldest is almost always the first creature, with rare exceptions.”

“I don't feel very old. I've only existed for a few years,” the whale hums in curiosity, processing for a bit, then responds, “You wouldn't mind if I asked how old you are?”

“Great question. See. You might be 'The Oldest' in this new plane, but certainly not in all of Headspace. I myself am a very old keaster! I'm about 33000, but the oldest creature we know of is a little pudgy lady named Venus. She's at least 2000 years older than me.”

“Ah, I guess I have a lot to learn...” the whale shrugs, “we should have more than enough time.”

“Not right now, unfortunately, I was just coming here to make sure the formation of this plane went all hunky-dory. Is all. And now, I should really be going now.”

“When will you be coming back?” the whale asks with an edge of seriousness.

“Ideally never. Hopefully, I won't have to come back. No worries though, chances are I won't.”

Sunny comes running down the sand dune and throws a hug around the sheriff’s legs. “I want you to come back!” Apparently, he finished up far earlier than they had anticipated.

“How did the bug-catching go? Catch any tasty scarabs?” Humphrey salivates.

“No. I didn't find any. I don't want the sheriff to leave,” he says still hugging the leather britches.

The sheriff gives a sigh, then relents. “Oh alright. Maybe I can visit from time to time. Sorry whippersnapper, but I have to go now...”

“No,” the boy cries in actual tears.

“Don't worry Sunny. He just said he's coming back,” the whale wraps the boy in his tail, picking the boy up and then holding the boy close to his tiny side fin. The boy cuddles up to the whale’s warm blubber becoming instantly comforted and subdued.

Sweetheart walks forward, “I have to get going too. I've decided to travel the world after all and find a place to set up my new kingdom.”

Humphrey starts moving toward the door to Underwater Highway.

“It was fun visiting ya'll!” the sheriff waves.

“Bye guys! Wish me luck on my adventures,” Sweetheart waved.

Sunny, on the edge of sleep gives a gentle wave back to the cowboy and the doughnut girl.

Then the door closes.

It didn't take long for Humphrey to find the nice cave he decided to settle down in.

“It's time to go to sleep. For real this time...” the whale said.

“Okay...” the boy was barely awake. Barely responsive.

The whale found a comfortable spot to curl up into. Meanwhile, the boy tucked into Humphrey like a large warm pillow. Humphrey examined the boy. He could feel the boy's warm breath on his cool skin, as he snuggled into the crevasse between his upper body and tail.

“Goodnight Humphrey...” He barely gets this out before being overtaken by sleep.

Humphrey sighs. He feels weaker somehow. Knowing the boy is going to leave. He took strength knowing that he'd be returning tomorrow. Where Humphrey could take him on an adventure again. Humphrey becomes comfortable himself and begins to let the sleep take him.

“I want to say good night. But it isn't really. Your day is just about to start.” It hurts having to see him go, but Humphrey knew the boy had so much to do in the real world. “You have a full day ahead of you little guy... So I guess I'll just say... good morning...”

With these parting words, Humphrey nuzzled into the boy and dozed off to sleep.

Chapter Text

Telephone poles flew by the boy's car window, as an endless stream of trees followed.

The little boy could barely see what was outside ever since they took away his seat. Sunny extended his back and poked his head up in a pathetic attempt to see outside the child-locked window to catch a glimpse of the houses coming into view. Suddenly, little soft fingers took Sunny's hand.

“Don't worry Sunny, we're almost there...” Mari gave her biggest smile.

Sunny was a bit nervous, but knowing Mari was right there, by his side, made the three-year-old feel much better. Mari would be there with him every step of the way.

“We're here.”

In a few moments, the sedan was pulling up to the curb of what was going to be their new home.

Sunny took Mari's hand as she pulled him out from her side of the car. Sunny took in his surroundings, looking from side to side. The first thing he noticed was another family at the house on the right, watching them from their door stoop. Sunny caught a glimpse of a little boy bouncing up from inside the house, but then Sunny turned his attention back to their new dwelling.

“So kids, what do you think?” their father asked.

Sunny stepped forward on his own to get a closer look at the place. Taken aback by its daunting size. It was so much bigger than anything he was expecting. Sunny looked up to Mari, still holding his hand, and she just gave him a nod almost to say 'Yes, we really are living here.'

Sunny looked back up to the massive structure as both of his parents approached Mari from behind taking her by the shoulder, even their father put aside his unpacking to skip up to them. The whole family was together admiring the new house, and Sunny could only marvel in silence.

The house was the size of a whale.

Sunny could only sit awkwardly as their parents were busy settling in. Her mother was bossing the movers around, piping in with little directions like “Don't forget to-” “Please don't-” “Just over here!” “Don't bump that one, I bought it for half off.”

Meanwhile, their father was talking to a well-dressed lady with a clipboard. He was beaming. Sunny had never seen his dad this happy. Ever.

“Now, I know what you kids are thinking. Right now things here seem a bit small, but trust me, soon this tiny town is going to grow into a big city. It's poised for aggressive expansion and frankly, this place is a steal for the location.”

His father is cut off by his mother, “Honey, we really shouldn't be talking finances in front of the kids...”

“Yeah, yeah...” he grumbled.

While their parents got everything in order, Sunny and Mari had nothing to do. They had set up the TV box and were now watching an old, corny black and white monster movie in a language they didn't understand. The one where the big snake attacks the city. And while some of the claymation monsters were scary, most of the scenes just had actors in monster suits, that became dull after the hundredth viewing. His mother looked over to her kids and took notice of their boredom.

“Honey, do we have to watch this movie again? We just watched it.”

Sunny's father took a moment to see off the woman with the clipboard, then responded with a bit of disappointment, “What are you talking about? When I was little, me and my dad would watch this all the time?” Their dad looked between the kids with a frown. Before the conversation could get any more awkward, they were saved by the doorbell.

“Someone here? We just arrived, I wonder who it is?” the mother put her phone down and walked over to the door, her husband saddling up beside her before she opened it.

The sound of his parents exchanging names with somebody could be vaguely heard from outside.

“Oh, how delightful! Mari, Sunny come here and greet the neighbors!”

Sunny pushed himself off the floor and made his way to the entrance. There, standing in the doorway was a large burly man, with big hairy arms carrying a cactus.

“Well, um- thank you,” the mother struggled, taking the large cactus off the man’s hands,” thank you very much. We'll find somewhere to put it.”

“You can put it next to mine, honey. It's so good to see you!” almost as soon as the cactus left the large man’s hands, Sunny's father was putting a business card in its place.

The large, bearded man nervously shoved the card into his cargo shorts, he added in a deep voice, “Yes, you're going to love it, this cactus comes from my home. Think of it as my way of giving a warm welcome. I hope I'm not bothering you on such a busy day.”

“Oh I'm in no hurry, that's just the best, you see, my father's not from around here either, he's from across the ocean, but my mother she's from the valley. It's hard leaving home, but hey this is the land of opportunity, and you gotta go where the opportunities take you...”

While the two men talked, Sunny hunkered behind Mari, peeking out from behind her, examining the other family. Next to the big man was an older-looking woman with a hair bun, and next to her was a boy around Mari's age. However, what caught Sunny's attention most was the little boy staring into his soul.

It was a little tan-skinned boy with shoulder-length hair, and he was quiet and just kept looking intently at Sunny like he was a dog and Sunny was a cat. Not that there was anything wrong with dogs.

“Anyway, you should come in. Come in! Make yourselves comfortable, we could have a little confab~” Sunny's father moved aside, and gestured the man and his family to enter, whereafter the two mothers took hands and greeted each other officially.

The bigger boy in the blue shirt shuffled forward to Mari and Sunny. He gave out a nasally, “H-Hey- Nice to meet you. My name is-”

“I like you. You're my friend now,” Kel pointed at Sunny.

Hero and Mari were taken aback by the boy's suddenness. “Oh- well, that's wonderful! Say hi, Sunny.” She gestured to Sunny, who was still hiding behind Mari, clenching tightly to her skirt.

In response, the raven boy could only peep out a tiny, “hi.”

Sunny was getting hungry.

Their first evening in their new house had turned out more eventful than any of them could have predicted. The neighbor woman and her older son, who they curiously called “Hero”, brought over soup-makings, and were now preparing a large beef stew. The two mothers did most of the cooking, sharing stories, while Mari and Hero helped them with the prep work.

Sunny could smell the soup and humidity wafting out of the kitchen and into the dining room, and it was adding to his appetite. It had been a long day of driving and he counted himself lucky to get a home-cooked meal at the end of it. Everyone was just trying to relax. From the other archway, the two dads could be heard shouting over the television, or one of them at least.

And Sunny, he was just drawing in his sketchbook at the dinner table... with Kel.

“So what's your favorite show, Sunny? What do you do for fun? Who's your favorite character? Do you like action figures, I like action figures. Do you read comics?-” Kel was a lively boy, about Sunny's age barraging the quiet raven with tons of invasive questions, and Sunny didn't know how to take it.

He just bit his lip. And eventually, Kel stopped, realizing he had to give Sunny a chance to respond, he settled down to stare at him intensely, leaning on the table, waiting for answers. Sunny could only frown and look to his side, still not sure how to even react. Sunny had never had a friend before.

“Do you like drawing?”

“Y-yes. I like drawing.”

“What are you drawing?” Kel maneuvers to see what Sunny is drawing before he even has a chance to answer. “Ooo, is that a cat! Is that the Big Yellow Cat?” Kel points at the silly cat drawing at the center of the page. Kel turns to Sunny looking for an answer.

“Mhm. I drew it on my way here.” Sunny gives a curt nod.

“And what's he doing with that big fish? Oh, wait. No. That's a whale!”

“That's his friend, Humphrey.”

“I don't know him.”

“He's from a book.”

“Oh well, that's cool. What's he like?”

“Ask him yourself...” Sunny gestures nonchalantly to the open seat to his left.

Kel gives a very puzzled look, his mouth open wide, giving a dumb “uuuh” sound.

“You can't see him, but he's there,” Sunny adds.

“Oh,” Kel is visibly processing and chooses his next words carefully.

“So, ummm, what does Humphrey think of me?”

“He-” Sunny takes a moment to consider what he's going to say next, “he's always cautious about trusting new people, but he likes visitors. He likes you... you're cool.”

“Yo! That's awesome! Thanks Humphrey!” Kel leans over the dining table, holding himself up with one hand, and giving a high five to the air with his other. The boy then sits down again and asks,

“So you have any other friends?”

“The Big Yellow Cat.”

“Oh but do you have like- any real friends though? I mean from your old city.”

“No. I didn't- I never had any friends before. Not real ones.”

“I'll be your friend!” Kel jumps like a kid raising his hand to a teacher.

“Thanks.”

“No I mean it,” Kel takes Sunny by the shoulders, shaking him from his drawing session, and forcing the raven to make eye contact. “I'll be your first friend Sunny. Everyone needs to have friends.”

“Thanks, Kel,” Sunny looks away blushing. This is followed by a growing silence, as Kel backs away, giving Sunny his much-needed personal space.

“So what is Humphrey saying right now?” Kel asks.

“He says he's hungry. He's always hungry.”

“I get that. I'm hungry too!” Kel says placing a hand over his belly, “I wonder when Hero and Mom are going to finish. They always make good food.”

Kel jumps out of his seat and pulls Sunny by the hand, “Let's go see if dinner's ready!”

Sunny entered the kitchen and was hit with the most wonderful smell. Kel went running ahead to jump up and onto the counter where Mari and Hero were cutting onions. The two of them barely reach the counter. Mari was giggling with him incessantly, it seemed as if the two were taking a liking to each other. She looked more focused on the boy next to her than mincing the onions.

At that moment, Sunny and Kel's dad walked in from the living room. “So how's it coming along? You helping the girls put dinner together champ?” the large man inquired.

“Y- yeah, Mari thinks I'm good at cooking,” he shrugged. Mari giggled again behind him.

“So when can we eat!” Kel yelled, “I'm hungry!”

“Kel, it's almost ready, please behave while you're here,“ his mother quickly corrected him.

Sunny watched all of this from the archway. It was almost too much to take in. Everyone was smiling and laughing, even his Dad. He felt a bit uneasy about seeing Mari spend time with someone he didn't know, time away from him, but he was happy she was meeting someone new.

This perfect moment couldn't last.

Just then, someone gave out a squeal. It was Hero. “Mari! You're bleeding!”

Everyone looked at Mari, who stood there quiet and confused. She looked at herself and confirmed yes, that she was bleeding, and her hand was red.

The sound of a knife hitting the tile shattered the silence, and she suddenly took her hand into herself. Seething with pain.

“Honey, come here!” Sunny's mom rushed to her.

Everyone crowded around the girl, as she let out a sob.

But Sunny just stood there. He just couldn't take his eyes off Mari.

She was crying.

He had never seen her cry before.

He walked over to the bloody knife and picked it up. Take a moment to look at it.

How could this be happening? Mari was never sad, Mari couldn't be in pain. It wasn't right. Sunny didn't understand why, but it felt like something was breaking inside of him.

While this was happening, the adults were getting her first aid, Kel looked like a mixture of sadness and confusion, and Hero was sullen. He said, “I'm sorry Mari. This was my fault. I distracted you.”

After hearing this, Sunny had had enough. Tears brimmed in his eyes.

Sunny threw the knife away, and broke into a sprint, dashing up the stairs and far away from the kitchen and the place where Mari was bleeding.

“Where are you going, Sunny!” Kel yelled from behind him.

“Sunny come back here!” his mother added, but Sunny didn't turn back.

Sunny slipped into his new room, slamming the door behind him. He just wanted to get away. He didn't even understand why he was crying. The boy just began crying, uncontrollably. He made himself very comfortable in his new bed as he curled up in his blanket, trying not to think about the knife.

He could hear growing footsteps and braced himself.

“Sunny! Sunny comes back. I'm fine!” suddenly the door pushed open with Mari poked her head in, she closed the distance between the two, trying to console Sunny before even reaching him.

“I'm okay Mari,” he muttered, not looking at her, not wanting to deal with what he was feeling.

“Sunny.” Mari sat down next to him on the bed, leaning over his body, showing him her finger, “See Sunny look I'm all better now. I'm all better!”

Sunny tilted his head to take a look. Her finger had a bandaid wrapped around it, it was purple and had some hearts and a Sweetheart design on it. “See, Mommy put some special stuff on it, from a brown bottle, it stung a bit but now she says it’s going to be all better.”

“Hm.” Sunny softly grunted, still not looking at his sister.

“I'm okay Sunny.” Mari hugged him, “You wouldn't mind coming down for dinner. I really want you to try the stew. I made it with love! You have to try it. You just have to!”

“I don't like it here. I don't like moving.”

“Sunny.”

“I don't want to see you cry.”

“Sunny, I don't want to see you cry either... “ Mari frowned, she then backed away as a thought came to her mind, “Stay here, I'm going to go get something.”

Sure enough, the girl left, and for a minute or so, Sunny stewed to himself, still unsure how to feel. It didn't take long before Mari could be heard stomping back up the steps.

Mari jumped in “Look Sunny!”

Sunny peeked over to where Mari was standing only to see the girl showing off his sketchbook.

“My sketchbook?”

“Here, I want to show you something,” Mari gestured.

Sunny sat up to get a better look at what she had done, “hm?” after getting a better look he could see a drawing of Mari herself in purple crayon. Her stick figure self was standing next to Sunny, and above the two was a loosely drawn purple sky.

“See Sunny. It doesn't matter where we are, here or in the city, I'll always be with you in your dreams. From now on, whenever you have a dream I want you to draw it here, in your sketchbook. That way I can put them all together and make a dream journal.”

“And... you'll always be happy there?”

“Yes, I'll always be happy, with you in your dreams...”

Sunny shuffled and gave a sigh, “and I can bring my other friends too? Like Humphrey and Kel?”

“Of course, look, see, I already have all your early drawings bookmarked.” Mari showed the early pictures Sunny drew of himself with Humphrey and Big Yellow Cat.

Sunny looked on, and somehow, all of this made Sunny feel much better. He looked at Mari again who was smiling ear to ear, “Now come on, let’s not keep our company waiting. It's time to feast!” And with that Sunny sat himself up and took Mari by the hand. She pulled him out the door and down the stairway of their new home, and Sunny was content once again.

His sketchbook was left sitting on his pillow, waiting for more adventures to be etched into it. It would stand as one of his only relics from a time before Faraway and all the memories he would make there.

Chapter Text

“ITS NICE HAVING A FRIEND”

Sunny and Basil hold hands.

“I WAS SO LONELY BEFORE BUT NOW...”

Basil's back is turned.

“I COULDN'T IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT YOU”

You wake up in White Space.

You look around you.

Everything is white. You seem to be in a large white expanse of flat nothingness. There is a laptop, a tissue box, and a sketchbook on a rug. You look up. A black light bulb presides over everything.

You also see a cat. You walk over to the cat and pet it.

You then search for an exit and find a white door but it's locked.

You then check the sketchbook, it has some crayon drawings in it.

You boot up the laptop. There's a diary. Yesterday, the log reads, “Today I spent time in White Space, Everything was okay,” and the day before that reads, “Today I visited my friends. Everything was okay.” All the other entries are identical to those two, talking about either White Space or friends.

You then hear a thud and a clink.

It came from somewhere in the white expanse. You try to find what made the sound and find it.

It's a knife. You pick it up and hear the door unlock.

You open the door.

It opens up onto a colorful purple room with a lavender floor and violet walls, three kids are playing a game in the middle, not having noticed you. Against the wall is a rainbow staircase leading up to a gigantic Big Yellow Cat. It hangs over the wall, almost like the room is some sort of diorama. You hear a splash to the left and you see a red tentacle twist in place in a small puddle.

“Hey look it's Omori!”

A girl with purple hair dashes up to you. As she runs, you hear a snap sound.

“Ah man! Aubrey, you ruined the board.”

You see a young boy and an older boy hunched over some board game.

“How does it look Hero?” the younger boy asks the older boy, “let me see it Kel,” he picks up the board to inspect it, “Hmm. I'm not sure if we can fix this... We might have to throw it out.”

“See what you did Aubrey!” the young boy, named Kel, pouted. Giving the girl Aubrey an ugly look. “I was winning too!”

Hero asks you, “So Sunny, I was going to ask you to join us when you got here, but it looks like that's not going to happen now...”

You walk around the room to explore. You start by looking at the board game.

It's a broken game of Gob Gobbling Gobblers. Plastic worms go in the middle, and four plastic turkeys can be used to “gobble” them. Whoever eats the most wins. One of the turkey's necks has been severed.

Kel picks up the board, “Welp, we're not gonna be seeing this thing again.” He then throws it in the bin like it's a basketball. And pumps his arm in the air when it lands.

You turn and talk to Hero.

“Maybe Mari and Basil will have an idea of what to do. You want to go Omori?”

You agree.

“Alright let's go, you take the lead Omori.”

The kids line up behind you, and you climb up the colorful steps to the world outside.

A snake on the steps stops you on your way up, “Going out? Don't forget your allowance.” It spits a pile of clams into your hands. It's kinda gross, but you're too polite to decline.

You proceed and emerge from a hole in a stump in the middle of a forest.

Your friends emerge behind you. You see a bunch of plant creatures walking South. Hero put his hand over his eyes to get a better look at where they were going.

“Looks like all the sprout moles are gathering near the playground.” Hero commented.

“Well, what are we waiting for? Let's go check it out.” Kel enthused.

You nod in agreement and make your way to the playground.

As you enter the playground you see a crowd of sprout moles and creatures forming around the billboard. A small stage is set up in front of where the bench should be.

“Mari! Basil!” you hear a cheer from behind you as Aubrey runs over to where two kids are sitting on a red picnic blanket. She hugs the boy named Basil, taking him by surprise.

“Hi Aubrey,” the boy gave out, deflated like a teddy bear being squeezed.

“Oh Aubrey! You guys got here just in time!” Mari, a teenage girl, announced.

“What's going on? What's everyone excited about?”

“Do you remember Sweetheart, the princess? She's holding a raffle, and everyone's getting a ticket. Well not me... I don't want to go, but Basil got one!”

You notice Basil still recovering from Aubrey's monster hug as he raises his ticket to show his friends.

“That's... interesting. What's the occasion? Is it part of some event?” Hero questioned.

“Shh Sweethearts here! Look!” Mari shushed Hero, putting a finger to his lips. This makes Hero blush.

You hear a fanfare of trumpets and an entourage proceed into the playground. Sprout moles in amour and spears guard a princess and what looks like a prince carrying a bunch of luggage.

They stop, and the princess in pink Sweetheart turns around, “Hurry up Space Boyfriend. I don't have much time and I don't need you dragging your feet.”

“Yes, honey....” the prince sighed from behind the luggage, blocking his face from view.

Sweetheart steps up to the stage, “Whatever. I can't believe I've been pressured into this. I hate this! Must we linger any longer my prince? These commoners are gross. Let's just get this over with...”

Sweetheart steps onto the stage and faces the crowd.

“Greetings, my royal subjects of Headspace!” she waves her hand, “it's a pleasure to see all of you!”

The crowd cheers and jumps in elation.

“WE LOVE YOU SWEETHEART!”
“Marry me!”
“Pick me pick me pick me!”

“As you all know, I am the princess and rightful ruler of all the land. More fabulous than any other maiden. Living in a lavish castle, with riches beyond any of your breathtaking, wildest dreams!”

“YOU'RE BREATHTAKING!”
“Adopt my children, Sweetheart!”
“Pick me pick me pick me!”

“And It's been three long years... Three years since I took power. Three glorious years of peaceful and majestic rule. All the various worlds are united into one kingdom. United in a shared love... Over me~ But what do you all think! Don't you love it here! Isn't this the greatest kingdom?”

“WE LOVE IT HERE! WE LOVE YOU!!!”
“Eh, it's been okay I guess..”
“Pick me pick me pick me!”

“I figured as much. Which is why I've decided to open my home up to all of you. A lady's home is her castle. In my case, literally. And I've decided to open up my dwelling to one of you... giving the raffle winner an exclusive, magical tour of my home. “

Sweetheart moves to leave the stage, giving one last wave, “The results will be announced in an hour. Other prizes will be awarded as well. I look forward to our time together~~”

She steps off stage, “Alright, come on my love, let's get out of this disgusting place.” The crowd cheers and pushes against the line of guards blocking her exit. She and her entourage retreat to the north.

“Well, that was... interesting,” Hero noted, “I guess we can join the raffle. Why not?”

“Go get tickets before they run out!” Mari shoos her friends away.

You agree. You try to find an open ticket booth. You over here a few people in the crowd.

You hear two monsters, Van and Berly talking,
“Sorry Van, but if I win I'm going to take Aubrey. She's my closest friend.”
“But if I win, I'm still going to take you...”

You hear a strange monster say, “I don't actually want to go. I just like waiting in lines.”

You hear a sprout mole shouting, “Pick me pick me pick me!”

You hear a wolf and lamb talking,
“I'd rather visit Otherworld than explore some gaudy castle. I heard there was a farm there! Wouldn't that be a cool place to explore, Lamb?... Seriously, that place would be unleveled! ”
“Honestly Wolf, that sounds kinda dull. I'd rather vacation in Deep Well.”

You navigate through the crowd looking for a way through, you nudge a big sprout mole standing in the way of the ticket booth. He says, “Oh am I in the way? I was just going..” The sprout mole then starts slowly floating upward until he ascends so high you can't see him anymore.

You walk up to the ticket booth and ask for four raffle tickets.

“Clams, please,” the vendor grunts. You give him the clams you got from the snake earlier.

You got 'Raffle Tickets'.

“Don't lose them,” the ticket vendor grunts, “Glory to Sweetheart! Next!”

You and your friends rendezvous with Mari and Basil.

“Alright! Now we might visit Sweethearts Castle!” Aubrey shouts close to your ear, “Wait. Why do we want to go there again?”

“Because it's a castle!” Kel replies,” Who wouldn't want to visit a castle? I bet there's tons of cool towers and knights and lots of good food to eat!”

“That does sound good.” Hero hums.

“Well, I'm glad you guys are willing to go too.” Basil laughs.

“Hey Basil, I was wondering... Why didn't you just get us tickets? I mean, it would have saved us a bit of time.”

“You're so entitled Kel! He's not just going to buy you free tickets, “Aubrey huffs.

“I would have paid him back!” Kel shouts.

“Well, I actually didn't buy them myself...” Basil rubs the back of his head.

“Oh did Mari get them for you?” Hero guesses.

“No, it wasn't me. He already had them.” Mari shakes her head.

Aubrey looks around confused, “Well if not Mari, then who?”

“My grandma actually got them for me,” Basil answers.

“Oh yeah! Your grandma lives just south of here, with you!” Kel remembers.

“She's really nice! She always makes us goodies whenever we visit.”

Basil shakes his head, “It's not you guys. She just makes big meals, even when it's just the two of us.”

“Yeah,” Aubrey sighs, “she always gets after Basil for not eating enough.“

“Hmm.” Mari ponders, “I wonder... it's been a while since we've visited her hasn't it?”

“Remember that cool birthday party we had there that one time!” Kel reminisces, “She really went all out! Sparing no expense. So much cake and soda! So many party hats! Takes me back...”

“Oh I know! Maybe we can go there now! We have some time before the raffle is called!” Aubrey jumps at the idea, looking at Basil and you for confirmation.

“That's really not necessary,” Basil shakes his hands, “we wouldn't want to bother her.”

“Hmm. I think she would enjoy a quick visit. Just to pass the time,” Mari suggests.

“Then its settled!” Aubrey announces, “We're all going to Basil's house!”

“Wait but...” Basil looks around, but then relents, “Oh okay. Worst case scenario, she's busy and forces us to help her garden. Don't say I didn't warn you.”

“That should be no problem at all!” Hero smiles, “Let's go!”

“Wait,” Kel tries to back out, “maybe this isn't-”

“Bye! Have a wonderful time! Don't worry about me, I'll just be here.” Mari waves.

You and your friends enter a party.

You set off for Basil's house, crossing the playground, and walking south into a vast forest. On the way, you walk past empty gardens. Each area is fenced off and well-watered. “Grandma and I just planted all types of flowers, but they haven't grown yet though,” Basil notes, “my home's just this way.”

You walk up some steps and enter a grove hidden between the trees. There you find Basil's house. It looks like a giant shoe, just as you remember. It is surrounded by a moat of water. You see an old lady with gray hair pulling weeds around the house. She turns around and jumps up at the sight of the children. Basil moves ahead of the group and hugs her.

“Hi grandma,” Basil says against her.

She nudges him away then walks up to the gang of friends and puts her hands on her hips. She says, “There once was an old lady that lived in a shoe, her grandson brought so many friends over, she didn't know what to do!” She then looks at her bashful grandson, “You should have told me they were coming so I could have made something! Aubrey, Omori, Kel,
and Hero. What are you all doing here? What I have in the oven is not quite ready yet! ”

You watched Hero step forward and explain, “We heard you entered Basil into the Sweetheart raffle. We did too. Now we're just waiting. So we figured he would give you a visit. I hope we're not a bother.”

“Oh not at all. You never have to worry about visiting me. It's welcome, I would like you to come more often, but... that's just how kids are. When kids are little they spend all their time with you. But then they get older, and it's like you don't even exist...” she bites her tongue, “and don't even get me started on my son. He never visits, ever.” Basil has no comment, he looks down, his bangs covering his face.

She then takes his face up into her arms and holds him against her, “but that doesn't matter. I have Basil now, and that's what matters.” She smiles up at the gang, and invites them in, “Let's head inside.”

You and everyone else head inside. Photos and flowers are hung everywhere. Each kid finds somewhere to sit in the small cabin. A fire crackles in the oven. You sit near a tiny stack of picture frames of all sorts of colors, presumably for Basil's new hobby.

“Make yourself comfortable. You may notice the photos hanging everywhere. Basil has been taking all sorts of photos since you got him that camera for his birthday.”

“Yeah, I remember that party! It was awesome!” Kel exclaims, “Hey uh, you wouldn't happen to have any cookies? They were really good!”

“Kel, you shouldn't ask like that, “ Hero scolds his younger brother.

“Oh no, I have all sorts of cookies,” she then takes a jar from a cabinet and gives it to Kel. It's filled with lemon cookies. Kel then proceeds to start chowing down on them, stuffing his face, “Mh- Thank you- Mhm. Cookies are good. Mm.”

Hero just shakes his head in embarrassment. The grandmother pats the older boy on the head, “Aw, don't worry about it. I know my cookies aren't as good as your girlfriends.”

Hero implodes, “she- she's not. It's not like that! She's just a friend! Mari's just a really good friend.”

“Oh forgive me for getting confused. It seems my lying eyes have deceived me.”

Hero is speechless. Aubrey interjects, “Mari and Hero have been making all sorts of things together. And when they have leftovers we get to eat it!”

“Mhmm,” Kel mumbles with a full mouth. The three just laugh.

Basil's grandma has been staring at you.

“And what about you? Don't you ever talk?”

“Oh don't worry about that, that's just Omori,” Kel says before shoving another cookie in his mouth.

“You don't spend a lot of time here, but Basil sure spends a lot of time with you,” she pats Basil on the back, “you and Basil have taken quite a shining to each other.”

“Grandma please, you're embarrassing me,” he protests.

“But what's wrong with you?” she walks up to you, “you look pale white? Have you been eating well?

Hero inspects you, then inquires, “What do you mean? Omori looks fine.”

She just looks at you for a moment. Thinking to herself.

Then says, “Oh! That reminds me, there's something I've been meaning to show you. When I was at the talking mailbox, you know when I bought Basil his ticket. Look what else I got. It's over here..”

She then walks over to the window and brings over a frilly white flower in its pot. The children crowd around it to get a closer look.

“It's a White Egret Orchid,” she says, “I just got it in the mail today, in the language of flowers, it symbolizes the phrase, 'your thoughts will follow you into your dreams.' ”

“Wow. I didn't even know that Grandma,” Basil states.

“Omori, there's something... do you mind helping me plant it outside.”

“Oh grandma, I can help you with that. Sunny can stay in here.”

She looks at you intently again.

“No Basil, I want your friend to come with me outside. To plant the flower, “she whispers, “you should stay with the others... make sure the little orange one doesn't break anything.”

You get up to follow her.

But just then, before you can, the whole house starts shaking and a loud engine noise breaks the silence. You can barely hear yourself think over the sound of the engine rumbling.

“What is that!” Aubrey shouts.

“I don't know,” Basil cries.

“Come children, let's head out,” the grandmother says waving them to follow her. You and your friends follow the old lady as she walks out of the house, over past the moat, and out of the trees.

You and everyone emerge in the clearing outside and are astonished by what you see. You see a green and blue spaceship land in front of you. The engine is cut off and a drop door opens. An alien man walks out with pink hair and a boom box. Kel jumps out and points at the man, “It's Capt. Spaceboy!”

“Greetings earthlings, sorry about the loud entrance,” he waves awkwardly like a delivery man, “are one of you named 'Basil'?”

Basil pokes his head out from behind you, “y-yes.”

“Ah! Good! I have a message for you.”

Space Boyfriend places the boombox down, and opens the cassette tape slot. He pulls a tape out of his pocket and places it in the box. He closes it and hits 'play'.

You hear smooth congratulatory jazz music.

“Congratulations, you won! Now's your chance to enjoy an all-expense paid trip to Other World! Enjoy the exciting ski slopes of Snow Globe Mountain! The serenity of a relaxing stroll through an amazing cattail maze. And finally, an exclusive VIP meet and greet with the most powerful pirate in the outer space. The entire universe is at his command! Capt. Spaceboy! Sweetheart is not liable for any accidents that occur or damage done by her romantic partner when angered. ”

He shuts it off.

“HOLY MOLEY!” Kel jumps, “that sounds awesome!”

“I'm supposed to play the other side.” Space Boyfriend opens the cassette tape slot again. He flips the tape around and places it in the box. He closes it to play it again.

“yes that button, why am I surrounded by imbeciles? Press the button... when I say 'action'... Action. Hello lucky winner! This is Sweetheart! Your magnificent ruler and lovely princess! If you're listening to this, it means you are not the winner of the extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime castle tour. But you won the second best prize, a tour of my boyfriend's home planet! Thank you for being such a wonderful pet, and signing up for the raffle! I look forward to ruling over you for years to come~ My manservant will play a short clip explaining the prize, now... Is it off?… Good. Oh my god, why do I have to do this? ... Yes the red one. That one should eject it... ”

“Hm,” Space Boyfriend shrugs, “I think I played them in the wrong order... But yeah, anyway you get the idea, you get to spend a day with me. Cause my girlfriend said so. It's in Other World.”

“That. That's great! And I can take anyone I want? I guess... maybe I should take Omori.”

“Nah, the one-person limit was only for the castle tour. For my place, you can take anyone you want. I don't care,” Space Boyfriend shrugs again.

All the kids cheer. Excited at the prospect of spending a day with Capt Spaceboy.

Basil smiles at Omori. He then frowns, “Oh but... well.”

Basil's grandmother pats his back, “Go ahead, tell us what you think.”

“It's just Other World is really high up... and Omori is afraid of heights.”

“Ah.” the pirate gives a nod of understanding, “Well if he's afraid of the climb then that's no issue. We'll just take my ship. It'll be like he never left the ground.”

You give a nod to Basil, telling him that works for you.

Basil looks at her grandmother. “You want to come too?”

“Of course, I'd love to come! You kids can't go on a field trip without a parental guardian!”

“Oh no, don't make it sound boring!” Kel whines.

“Alright glad you guys, are coming to visit, but first,” the space pirate pulls out a sheet of paper, “ before you kids go, you first need to sign this. It's a permission slip saying that Sweetheart is not legally liable for any accidents on your trip.”

Everyone makes their way to the captain to sign the document. Basil's grandmother signs her grandson's slip for him. You walk up to him too and sign it as well.

And just like that, you all enter the spaceship.

You did not enjoy flying. While your friends were poking their heads out the porthole windows, astonished at the expanse of space. You were busy cowering from it, you felt allergic to looking at the window knowing what's outside. Luckily, Mari was sitting next to you the whole time, having set up a picnic for your flight, and providing peanuts as accommodations. The worst part of the whole experience was the part where the spacecraft was landing. It sounded like it was going to crash, remembering why you didn't like vacations. She squeezed your hand as everything around you shook. It didn't last long though, and soon you were back on solid ground.

“Alright, everyone off, single file line...” you step off the spaceship into what looks like a town. Your friends march off after you, moments after Basil and his grandmother follow suit.

“So where do you kids want to go first?” the captain asked.

“Snow Globe Mountain, of course!” Kel answers, “Time to go skiing!”

“Good choice, little dude,” Space Boyfriend nods in agreement, “nothing like a mountain vacation to get away from your problems.”

“Aww!” Aubrey whined, “but I wanted to visit your house first Mr. Spaceboy!”

“Hm, maybe we can stop there, but honestly it's not much, I only have like- my own personal planetarium,” the Captain humble-brags, trying his best to look like he doesn't care.

“OH MY GOSH! That is so cool! We have to go there first!” Aubrey exclaims.

“Yes,” Hero perks up, trying to contain his excitement, “that does sound interesting.”

“Um guys...” Basil started.

“You're such a nerd Hero! Come on guys, the slopes are waiting for us!” Kel cried.

“H-hey,” Basil tried speaking up again, “I was, well...”

“What is it sunshine?” his grandma asked. Everyone else including you all stare at Basil.

This makes him shirk even more, “I was wondering if we could visit the cattail farm- I know it's not super exciting, and we don't have to go there first but...”

“Why would we go to a farm?” Kel deadpans incredulously.

Basil laughs nervously closing his eyes, “Never mind, your right, it was a dumb idea.”

“No it's not!” his grandma pushes back, “if that's where you want to go, we should go. You shouldn't let others' wants trample yours.” Basil just pulls into himself quietly in response, she then asks the group, “You kids wouldn't mind a stop at the cattail farm would you?”

“Sure, that sounds okay,” Hero shrugs.

“Ah man!” Kel cries again.

“Then it's settled!” the grandmother claps her hands, “ here's the itinerary, our field trip starts at the crop maze, then we'll shuttle over to the planetarium-”

“Then can we go to the snow slopes? I just really want a snow cone!” Kel jumps, losing patience.

“Yes, then after the trip is over, I'll take you all to get snow cones myself! You're okay with that, right Captain?” the old lady asked the alien sweetly, “can I leave with the kids once we're done?”

“Sure so long as you sign them out, it's all good,” Spaceboy, steps back onto the ship, “I'll just be waiting in my ship, while you guys are gone. Have a great time!” he pulls out a book and sits at the steering wheel, then closes the shuttle door behind him.

“Wonderful! Let's get going! You lead the way quiet one!”

And just like that, you and your friends make your way to the first stop.

“Alright, we're here. Let's settle down here,” the grandmother suggests.

You approached a small clearing with a bench in the middle of the cattail maze. Mari had already set up a picnic, serving marshmallows ready for toasting.

“Sigh, I'm soooo bored.” Kel whines, “Why'd you even want to come here?”

“This farm is filled with tons of edible plants. This place grows all kinds of crops and I thought it would be pretty nice to check them out,” Basil explains

“Hmm...”Kel inspects one of the cattails plucking one off the maze walls, “it looks like a corn dog.”

“Oh no, it's not edible, it's just filled with seeds.”

Kel just nods his head, while staring intently at the cattail in his hands.

“So now that we're here what do we want to do?” the grandmother asks.

“We could start a fire, that might be fun.” Hero suggests, “I know all sorts of ways to build campfires.”

“Let's just explore the maze. That's the fun part right?” Aubrey muses.

“Blah!”

Everyone turned to Kel who was now spitting brown fluff from his mouth. He hacked out as much as he could, trying his best to wipe it off his tongue with his hands.

“You are so dumb Kel!” Aubrey laughs at him.

“It exploded on me!” Kel spits.

“Oh Kel, I tried to warn you,” Basil shakes his head, “maybe we could play hide-and-seek?”

“Oh! Now that you mention it, a game of hide-and-seek in a maze does sound cool!” Kel realizes, perking up, acting like he didn't just try to eat a water twinky moments earlier.

“Well that sounds wonderful,” Mari hums, “would you like to eat with me while the others play?” she asks Basil's grandmother.

“Oh yes, I myself have already explored the maze, I know the way through it. I'd love to eat with you.” the old lady then settles down next to the teenage girl.

“Alright!” Kel shouts, “That leaves me Sunny, Hero, Aubrey, and Basil!”

“Who's going to be it?” Aubrey asks.

Hero considered, “Hmm, I think Basil should decide. Since this is his vacation after all.”

“Well in that case... I pick Omori! I want to see if he can find me,” Basil says, “I mean if that's okay with you Omori.”

You nod your head, telling him you'll do it.

“Then it's settled. Is everyone ready?” Hero asks, “Omori, close your eyes and count to ten.”

You close your eyes.

Ten seconds pass.

You open your eyes, ready to search for your friends

You see Kel immediately, crouching in a small bush of cattails, they barely hide him at all.

“Psst. Omori! Over hear!”

You walk over to him and tag him. “Cool! Now we just have to find the others.”

You explore through the north part of the maze, Kel marching right behind you, trying to jump and peek over the tall stalks to see who's around them. “Look Omori, I think I hear something over there.” You and Kel follow the crackling sound and stumble onto a campfire, with an intently focused Hero tending to the flame. His eyes shoot up at you, barely noticing you standing there.

“Hero.” Kel frowns, ” You're supposed to be hiding.”

“Oh sorry. It's just I saw this fire circle and couldn't resist trying out my fire-starting maneuver. See I started this flame using only the stalks of the cattails, and string fastened from the fibers of their seeds. The stick and string are pumped fast enough to create friction. This makes a small spark that catches-”

“Okay, okay, cool. Let's find the rest, Omori,” Kel cuts him off. You can hear Kel say, “Show off,” under his breath as the two of you walk away.

The two of you proceed downward, you see a barn in the distance, but its doors are shut. You proceed further southward and stumble upon a picnic table.

You see a watermelon patch near it, and a pink bow sticks out from the green.

You walk over to Aubrey laying down with the melons.

“Now she looks like one of those weird dolls that grow from the garden patch.”

“Oh quit Kel, at least I know what plants in the garden are edible,” she sits up and looks around, “I think we should bring one of these back to Mari. She'd love it!”

You and Kel set off for Basil,” now where is he?” Kel questions, “We've searched everywhere.”

You search around the maze and stumble onto the barn again... but...

Something... something's wrong.

The barn door is slightly open. A hellish red light emanates from the narrow opening.

You walk towards it and open the barn door. The feeling inside is oppressive. Something feels awful about the barn. You feel like something is scratching at the back of your skull.

You see Basil hunched over facing away from the door.

“There you are, Basil! How'd you even get in here?” Kel asks.

Basil gives no response.

You notice he seems to be inspecting a small pink photo frame lying on the ground.

It's about the size of your hand.

Kel walks up to the boy, “Basil, what's wrong?”

Basil pulls Kel down by his shirt and whispers something into his ear.

Kel backs away.

“No... no that can't be.” Kel looks down.

His face breaks into tears. It's distressing to see Kel cry. He falls onto his knees.

What could Basil possibly have told him? You feel like you already know... But somehow you have no idea. You feel curious to find out but also have an overwhelming urge to just run away.

Basil stands up and turns towards you.

His eyes are red.

He drops the picture frame, and you see the photo inside it.

He speaks, “Sunny... You're moving-”

You and Basil disappear.

Kel stands up in shock, wiping away his tears “Where- where did you go!”

The whole barn starts shaking.

Mari, Hero, Aubrey, and Basil's grandma watch in shock as the cattails shake violently around them.

The citizens of Other World town run in fear as the earthquake shakes their homes.

Sprout moles run like maniacs in Sweetheart's castle, as her priceless art gallery falls to the ground.

Sheer panic and terror overtake the guests of the Last Resort, as tables and machines tip over.

In Deep Well, Humphrey the whale sits in his cave. Unphased by the shaking world around him.

Chapter Text

Inside of him, in the Marina Sector, a Humphrey can be seen reading a book. All the other Humphrey's are running around in a sort of fake panic, but this one just reads his book unaffected.

Eventually, the shaking stops.

After a moment, he puts the book down.

“ ... It happened again?” he asks himself.

Humphrey sighs, “Who knew it would be so hard to maintain endless dreaming?”

“I didn't know it would be, ” another Humphrey answers.

“I wasn't asking you. I was just talking to myself.”

“Ah okay, my bad,” the other Humphrey nods and returns to his workout.

Humphrey then shakes his head and sighs, “Why does he keep reaching for the truth? Ignorance is bliss... Sunny... how many times are we going to do this?”

Just then a beeper can be heard, it's his pager, “Humphrey get down here! There's been an emergency!” It was Molly ordering him to report to the hub room so they could order him to repair everything that's fallen in the quake. Usually, they get into some argument about who needs his help the most. And he always sides with Medusa since she's the nicest.

Or at least that's how things panned out the last time this happened.

Humphrey plopped into the floor and popped out in the hub room, and just as expected the three girls were waiting there for him.

“Humphrey, there you are.” Medusa greets.

“Took you long enough!” Marina shouts.

“We are in need of assistance, fufufuf!” Molly chuckles.

They were his three bosses, the Slime Girls, so he had to help them.

Humphrey and the girls were simpatico.

The whale helps the sea witches do research, giving them a place to stay, and in return, they help him by giving him tasty clams and serving as a final buffer. Providing one last hurdle for The Dreamer to jump over on his journey, delaying or even sparing the whale a needless battle.

Over the years, he grew to know the Slime Girls very well. First, there was Molly the oldest and most mischievous of the three sea witches. Then Marina, the middle child, and by far the most rambunctious. And then finally Medusa the youngest but most wise of the slime girls. She was nice and level-headed.

“It's a catastrophe! All of my lab is in ruins!” Molly shrieks, “My furniture!”

“All my experiments are now loose!” Marina whined, “What in the world happened? Is this your fault Humphrey? Was this all just your belly rumbling”?

His belly was rumbling. Humphrey was starving. He was always starving. But, “no.”

“According to my seismic detector, there seems to have been an earthquake,“ Medusa explained, “need to start discussing the clean up. We need to prioritize containing the dangerous chemicals-”

“Now we need to get my experiments back into their cages!” Marina interjects.

“All of my computer screens are shattered!” Molly cries!

As expected they devolve into an argument. Just then, a Humphrey bud holding a telephone appears from the floor, it looks at Humphrey, “It's for you.”

He already knew that. He already knew who it was.

The whale ignored the shouting match going on behind him.

He took a deep breath and then took the phone.

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“Oh hey, Omori.”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“Yeah I noticed. This was a really big one!”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“Where was it this time?”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“All the way up there? Well, I'm a little surprised, to be honest. I kinda figured this thing wasn't supposed to happen anymore, not with Mari and Abbi out of the picture. What do you think caused it? Did anything big happen topside?”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“Oh....”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“Ah. I see... 6 months? Well. I'm afraid there's not much I can do... about that.”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

“I mean. I can try to seal it, but I don't really see the point since it's probably just going to tear open again once it becomes time for him to make the big move.”

The voice from the phone is inaudible.

A folder is shoved into Humphrey's bud hands, “Humphrey I need you to look at this!” Marina forced, “Look these over and tell me if these experiments are all assigned to the right cages.”

“Oh no you don't! We need to do a full inventory of all the technology broken in my sector.” Molly shoves another folder in his hands.

“Girls, girls, please. I'm in the middle of something, just put your files outside your door, and I'll review them in a bit,” but the Slime Girls didn't listen still arguing about some money issue, putting a pile of paperwork on Humphrey. He takes the files and turns his attention to the other end of the line.

“Wait. I'm sorry, but I'm having some... connection issues, let me put you on speaker,” Humphrey puts the phone on the ground, “sorry about that say that again...”

“I hope you're listening to me... I don't have to tell you how important the next several months will be... This move will take us into a new era... When Sunny moves, I will be taking complete control. There'll be no more room for Sunny. No more room for mistakes.”

“So like... is he... going to die or?”

“No, but I will control him, in a manner to how he controls me as the player character in the dream.”

“Ah. Okay, well that's not so bad.”

“Not bad at all. With me in charge, there will be no need to worry about him stumbling onto the truth. And, no more need for you to stay put at the bottom of Deeper Well. You will be relieved of your duty. There may even be a place for you in my most precious room...”

“That- … that would be pretty neat!”

“However, as I said before, all of this has to go off without a hitch. I'm not entirely convinced this was a coincidence. I think there's an interloper pulling the strings. That's how it happened the first two times. I know someone is behind the recent tear. Which is why I need your service, Humphrey.”

“No problem. What do I need to do?”

“Scour the world. Find whoever created the tear. And destroy them.”

“Hmm. Sounds doable. But I have no idea who it could be. Where would I even start?”

“Then you better find out. I only trust you with this task.”

“I'll see what I can do.”

“Do not disappoint me.” The phone gave a 'Bzzt'.

Humphrey took a moment to consider the weight of his new task...

“Who was that?”

Humphrey turns to see all three slime girls standing behind him silently. A look of concern was written on their faces. They looked like kids who stumbled onto their parents arguing.

“Someone important,” he answers.

The whale looks at the files, “so what was it you wanted me to do?”

“Do you have some other boss we don't know about Humphrey?” Medusa asks.

“Something like that,” Humphrey shrugs it off, “if it interests you to know, I've been given a special quest, one where the very existence of Headspace hangs in the balance.”

“Yeah right,” Marina dismisses, “who are you really working for? Jawsum?”

“No. God no.” Humphrey scoffs, “It's okay, I wouldn't expect you girls to understand. The less you know the better. Let's just focus on cleaning up these labs.”

“Well, I'm going to have to borrow some money.” Molly grimaces, “I just checked my coffers and I'm all out. I spent it all on new flat-screen TVs. Most of which are now broken...” she cries.

“Well, you can't borrow from me! You've caught me at a bad time. I've been putting all my money into that Cat Monster experiment... I think it also escaped. Again. Ugh!” Marina stomps.

Both the red and blue slime girls look over to the youngest with begging eyes.

“Oh Medusa! You wouldn't mind loaning your oldest sister some cash would you?”

“Give some to me! I promise I'll give it back!” Marina pleads.

“I'm sorry sisters but, my funds have become insufficient as well. I spent it all on new alchemical equipment. This was a very unfortunately timed disaster.”

“Whale whale whale.”

The girls looked to Humphrey, stunned.

“Looks like you girls are in a bit of a pickle. No money to fix your labs or pay your tabs! Nyak! Nyak!”

“Humphrey. I'm sure if you give us some time we could find enough clams to feed you,” Medusa offers.

“No need. I just had an idea. A solution to both of our problems...”

“Oh? Do go on!~” Molly hummed.

“Here's my offer. I'm willing to forgo collecting rent for 6 months.”

“WOAH!” Marina shouts, “Half a year, living rent-free!”

“That does sound like a boon to our budget sheets, fufufu!” Molly giggled.

“And let me guess. You want us to help you on your mission, right?” Medusa surmised.

“Whale yes! I was just about to say that! You are quite the sharp one! That quick thinking is exactly what I'm going to need in my investigation. The truth is... I've been getting weaker,” and the world under this one is getting stronger, “so this whale is going to need all the help he can get!”

“So what does this mean we're going to be friends now?” Molly purred in curiosity.

“Not exactly. Until this investigation is over, you will be my employees.”

Medusa scratches her chin, “So we'll be working for you on a contractual basis, where at any moment you can cut us off and eat the difference.”

Humphrey laughed to himself, “Heh. You took the words right out of my mouth!”

“We'll if it helps us catch up on rent I can't say no,” Marina concedes.

“Yes, I'd do anything for some easy clams,” Molly said.

“We'll help you get to the bottom of this Humphrey,” Medusa agreed, nodding to the rest. This was good as Humphrey really did need all the support for his upcoming mission.

“Get ready girls! This vessel sets sail in just a few hours!”

The girls nod and walk their separate ways. Each grumbled about their broken goods and equipment. With their backs turned Humphrey then drops into the floor.

He pops up in some sort of comfortable-looking office, with a desk and a chair.

“Humphrey, I'm so glad you could make it,” said a Humphrey with a honey-like southern accent in a leather coat. Humphrey made this appointment that morning and was lucky to get a quick opening.

“Dr. Humphrey. I've heard great things about you. Thank you for making time for me.”

Dr. Humphrey just nodded and appeared on a sofa chair, “I'm flattered, please sit down.”

Humphrey makes his way to a couch, and jumps onto it, laying down... kind of.

“My apologies for the mess. The quake went and ruined some of my décor.”

“Oh it's no big deal, this thing happens sometimes.”

“That was actually something I wanted for us to discuss, about this quake. You say it's happened before? Could you elaborate on what you mean?”

“Don't you know this already?”

“It doesn't hurt to retread old thoughts and old feelings,” Dr. Humphrey put his hands out, “Please.”

“Well, yeah. It's Black Space. The world under this one. It keeps reopening. After we sealed the first opening in Deeper Well, we thought that would be the end of it. But then.. she appeared. The real one. At the lighthouse. And it opened again...”

“Ah yes, this sister I've heard so much about. Do you know what exactly happened to her?”

“I know she... died. That's about it,” Humphrey said truthfully.

“Mmm, and what happened after she came back?”

“We managed to perform a reset and shut her out for good measure, and that made my friend Abbi really mad. She confronted the Dreamer about it not even a week or so later. This created a third opening to Black Space in her old library. And now she's gone. Imprisoned,” Humphrey frowned.

“Why in the library?” Dr. Humphrey inquired.

“That was her old place of work. She maintained the Library of Memories, Big Yellow Cat watches over the Neighbor Room, and I guard the Final Key and Map of Truth.”

“And what are those exactly?”

“Gee, I wasn't expecting a quiz. Is this going somewhere?”

“Bare with me, so just to recap, the entrance to this dark realm, first it was here in Deeper Well, then it moved to a lighthouse near a pier, then to a library, and now?”

“A barn on a distant planet. And I have to figure out who or what might have caused it.”

“I see, and why do you do all of this? Must be pretty tiring. How long have you been doing this?”

“Three years. And I do it for Sunny of course. This is what's best for him.”

“How long have you known him?”

“I've known Sunny since he was a baby! But we didn't properly meet until he was around 3.” Humphrey reminisces, “ he grew up so fast, he's already going to be turning 16 pretty soon.”

Dr. Humphrey put his pen down, “wait I thought Sunny was 16 already.”

“No, no. He turns 16 in late Summer! He's always been the baby of the group. If he was 16 right now, that'd make his old friends like 17, and one of them 20! And that wouldn't make any sense. He's still 15.

“I stand corrected,” the good doctor readjusts himself, “you see, I just want to get a sense of how you felt about him after all this time. It seems like you are pretty devoted to him.”

“Whale... like I said, we go way back...”

“And this boy, does he return your devotion?”

“He can't. He's... not himself anymore. And every time he visits I have to pretend like I don't know him...” Humphrey has to pretend that the only reason he eats Sunny is to feed himself when that's only half the story. It was a messy job, but that is the price of blissful ignorance...

“Speaking of Sunny,” Humphrey remembers, “there's actually something I wanted to talk about.”

“Yes,” Dr. Humphrey, flips his notepad, “what was the reason for you coming in today?”

“I wanted to talk about a dream I had. It's been bothering me.”

“Oh? Do go on? Was this a nightmare? What was it like?”

“No, the dream was very pleasant actually.”

“Then what was it about?”

“Well, it wasn't about me. It was about Sunny. About his first day moving to a new town.”

“Interesting do go on! Describe how it went,” Dr. Humphrey starts taking notes.

“Well... it all started in the car. The trees and telephone poles could be seen flying past the window...”

Chapter Text

The light of the morning sun rolled over your face.

You were unceremoniously forced back into the waking world. You just lay there, still and unready to face the day. Feeling your numb body against the sheets, wondering why you were alive. Wondering why you were a human being. Nevertheless, you weren't tired anymore, so you got up.

The first thing you did was walk over to the calendar and check the date.

It's six months left until Moving Day. It's also four days 'til Christmas.

You frown and finally turn to the blinking phone on your desk.

You have 3 new messages.

You decided to listen to them.

“Hey, Sunny! It's Mommy! I have good news! And I just couldn't wait to tell you, but I'm going to be back for Christmas after all! I'm going to have to take a last-minute flight but still. Have you put any more thought into what you want?… You know you can get anything you want right? Money's not an issue. Just think about it. … Also um, you know Hero's come back to Faraway for Winter Break, maybe you could visit him like we talked about? He's turning 19 in a few weeks, and you, you'll be almost 16 by the time he comes back for the Summer. You kids are growing up so fast … sometimes I wish I could freeze the picture and you kids didn't have to grow up. … But anyway, I'll be back on Christmas Day! See you in a few weeks!” bzzt.

The first message ends, and the second plays immediately after.

“Hello card holder. We are warning you that your grace period for [Card 4] is running out in three days. This is the last time we will be contacting you. If you fail to make a payment towards the balance of this card in three days we're going to have to turn it over to collections. Please contact us soon so we may discuss repayment options. Thank you.” bzzt.

The second message ends, and the third one plays immediately after.

“Hey again, this is Linda, from Samora County Custom Realty. We're calling to follow up and see if you are still interested in buying one of our listed properties. A few weeks ago, you visited our agency looking for an affordable home in the inner city, we spoke about how we offer super flexible low-interest rates that can fit any budget. One with a reasonable price that we can lock down within that six-month time frame you were talking about. I know this is the third time I've called you but I would really love to speak with you again. Some great properties just popped up! So call us back!” bzzt.

...

You have a feeling you only have six months left.

In six months you'll be leaving Faraway, you'll be living somewhere else, and you will be the oldest.

You frowned. You look out the window. There is a bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. You walked into your bathroom, deciding to brush your teeth today, by order of the almighty sticky note. You take a moment to look at yourself in the mirror, your eyes appear empty.

With nothing left to do, you set off downstairs. You try not to linger too long, not even glancing at the doors on the lower floor. Make a straight line for the living room. Entering the living room, you feel a wave of relief being out of the stairway.

You are hungry.

You walk into the kitchen, then open the fridge. The doors swing open. It's full. The freezer is stuffed with microwave meals and packaged meat, the bottom is just your leftovers. You pull out a frozen breakfast sausage from the fridge. You got a breakfast sausage. You walk over to the microwave. You open the wrapping and place it in the microwave. It cooks for a few minutes. You got a warm breakfast sausage. It's a really hot hot dog. You try to eat it, but it's too greasy. After a bite, you give up.

You feel too full.

You put the warm breakfast sausage into the fridge, and walk out of the kitchen and over to the TV.

Are you sure you're ready to watch TV?
You decide you are, taking a moment to settle onto your couch.

“Good morning! I'm your anchor...”

“And I'm … with the weather.”

“It's time for the daily report! It's a sizzling hot day today for ya, and our very own chief meteorologist is going to give you the scoop...”

“...I wish I could give them some ice cream scoops Vee, or at least get myself some ice cream.”

“That's very funny...”

“Ahaha! A heat wave is coming. Look forward to a clear, if slightly cloudy, sky for the next few days. Follow the clouds, and watch them dissipate with the heat. And the heat, the heat is not relenting. We're not going to be building any snowmen this holiday season. Let me tell you! It is hot! So very hot. I have never seen a December this bogged down in the heat. And this heat spell is here to stay for the next few days into Christmas. Time to turn up the air conditioner.”

“Don'tcha means turn down the air-conditioner...”

“Well, no, I mean like, turn up the power on the AC. Is that a thing? Do people really say 'turn down the AC'?”

“I'm pretty sure most people say turn down the AC.”

“The point is, it's really hot, and it's dry. So look out! In fact, we just got a warning from the UCS telling us that this dry winter spell could result in surprise wildfires from Nearport all the way to Faraway town. We're issuing a red flag warning here, here and here.”

You watch the rest of the local news. Then settle down, jumping from channel to channel for anything interesting on TV.

First, you watch a tennis match. Everyone seems very interested in the ball bouncing back and forth.

Then, you watch some market channels. You wonder why anyone would buy a fake golden watch.

Finally, you watch a home and garden show about an old guy visiting a local farm.

It continues, you wonder why you bother watching TV during the day. You decide to take a short nap on the couch and wake up just in time for the evening cartoons. They're the same ones you've been watching since you were a little kid.

It's now evening, you have nothing to do, you walk up back to your bedroom taking care not to look not down to the floor as you walk up, you consider using the computer to play some games, but decide to just go to bed. You observe your room as you try to fall asleep.

YOU ARE FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, YOU DRIFT INTO A DREAM

Chapter Text

YOU KNOW THE KEYS TO THE OTHER REALM

THEY ARE DIFFERENT EVERY TIME

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ B_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

= THEY ENTER A BATTLE =

FOUR FOES APPEAR
AUBREY 2 HEARTS, 2 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless boy in a checker shirt.
HERO 3 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

HUMPHREY SPEAKS:
“THE FINAL FIGHT HAS JUST BEGUN!
THE BIGGER I AM, THE MORE THE FUN!”

10 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY SWALLOWS EVERYONE!
EVERYONE loses 1 HEART.
KEL attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 1 HEART
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 1 HEART
AUBREY attack HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEART
HERO heals SUNNY
SUNNY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 1 HEARTS, 2 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 1 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless boy in a checker shirt.
HERO 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

5 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY SWALLOWS EVERYONE!
EVERYONE loses 1 HEART.
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 1 HEART
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO heals SUNNY
SUNNY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 0 HEARTS, 2 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 0 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless boy in a checker shirt.
HERO 1 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

4 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY CHOMPS SUNNY!
SUNNY loses 2 HEART.
SUNNY DID NOT SUCCUMB
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 1 HEART
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO heals SUNNY
SUNNY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 0 HEARTS, 2 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 2 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 0 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK,An 8 bit looking faceless boy in a checker shirt.
HERO 1 HEARTS, 1 ATTACK, An 8 bit looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

4 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY CHOMPS SUNNY!
SUNNY loses 2 HEART.
SUNNY IS DEFEATED

HUMPHREY WINS!

HUMPHREY SPEAKS:
“YUM, YUM, YUM...! IT'S TIME FOR GRUB!”

= THE BATTLE ENDED =

Three pieces of bread floated on the stomach floor. Three Humphrey's popped out and swallowed them greedily, giving him a much-needed snack. Although, in truth, their clams were much more satisfying than the kids themselves. There just wasn't that much meat on the scrawny children's bones, and wouldn't fill the million clam hole in his gullet. No. In reality, the whale's “sudden hunger pane” was just an excuse to dispatch the kids without having to arouse suspicion.

It was his job as the Oldest to keep Sunny out of Black Space and keep the last key safe. He's fought this battle many times before and this was just another victory under his belt. All in all, it was an easy bout, he had finished them off without even having to take them to his gut.

“Wow you really tore into them Humphrey,” Marina gawked.

“I didn't even know you had that in you, darling,” Molly agreed.

The Slime Girls had been watching the whole fight. A rare thing for them to behold since usually he'd have eaten the girls by now, but this time, he simply attacked the kids on their behalf. The whale needed them in fighting shape for the day to come.

“I was very, very, very hungry, but those kids were a real treat! Now that I'm all full, it's time to get going, we don't have much time.”

After Sunny's breakdown at the barn, Omori wiped all of Sunny's memory of that place, hiding the new entrance to Black Space for a time. Its opening is so new that he'd need to find all the keys before he found it. The way it worked is that every time Basil went missing, without fail, Sunny would go to every old Black Space entrance in the reverse order by which they were created. And this time was no different. Over the day the dreamer went to all three previous entrances.

First, Sunny stopped by the library, then he was already at the lighthouse entrance and quickly on his way through Deep Well. But sadly for Sunny, his little adventure was cut short. He wouldn't be reaching the first entrance on the whale's watch. Humphrey had to guard the “first entrance” of Black Space to prevent Sunny from getting wise about the keys.

This is exactly why, as a general rule, Humphrey could not leave his cave until Sunny and his fake friends were dead, and even then they'd be coming back the next night.

“Girls, we only have one night to accomplish as much as possible, are all of you ready?”

“It's been a while since we've been on our last hunt, so we might be a bit rusty,” Medusa admits.

“Oh that should be no problem girls, I haven't had a real battle in a very long time, “ but the whale would be having one by the end of the night, that's for sure, “which is why we need to have all the items we require and be at our best.”

“But that's just it, Humphrey, we're broke remember? How are we going to afford anything?”

Humphrey just shook his head, “And you girls had hours to prepare too...”

“We had to clean out our labs remember? So give us a break,” Marina retorted.

“Alright, whale then. If we don't have enough clams to get by. We're just going to have to get by on our own. Make our own supplies. How's that sound girls?”

“Hmm we do have all the equipment we need in the lab, just provide us enough clams for materials, and we should be able to synthesize anything we need here,” Medusa states.

“Of course, I agree. My metal workshop can make you just about anything you need Humphrey, it should be a good chance to test out my welding skills,” Molly purrs.

“Oo! Oo!” Marina perks, “I can make us something to eat! This is the perfect chance to try out my genetically modified food processor.”

The other girls look between each other in hesitation, Molly offers, “Perhaps we could rely on Medusa's potions instead, don't you have like- a potion of healing perhaps.”

“Nope,” Humphrey answers for her, “everyone knows only food can heal wounds in Headspace... Hmm, but I'm afraid that while the food Marina makes could feed you three. I'm going to need something a bit more.. substantial.”

“Oh don't worry about that. You can just eat my experiments. If you ever get hungry in battle, you can just 'eat a foe'. I can create different experiments, many of which will provide different effects too.” Marina grins, “But obviously you're the only one who can eat those Humphrey.”

“And I can produce potions that can provide special effects in battle,” Medusa adds.

Humphrey looks between the three girls, “okay so just to recap,”

Molly will mend us WEAPONS and good luck CHARMS.
Marina will make grub and experiments for us to SNACK on.
Medusa will brew potions for us to TOY around with.

And the best part is that if we need anything while we're in a bind, I can visit any one of your workshops anytime. I'd just need to find a safe spot to head inside.

“Yes, that sounds good, that arrangement should be most effective,” Molly laughs.

“Yeah, with you blocking all our blows, we should make an unstoppable team, “Marina agreed.

“If we are ready, should we not proceed?” Medusa inquires.

“Yes, my first contact should be waiting at a yellow diner not far from my cave,” Humphrey takes control of his outer self as the girls step outside, “but first, we may have to make a pit stop...”

The rushing waterfall pulled from each end of the cave like a curtain on a stage. It was quite loud. It could be heard even before they turned the corner, and when they did, mist could be seen emanating throughout the cavern, partially concealing the oracle.

“Girls, stand back. I'll do the talking.”

The girls silently nodded, recognizing this moment seemed important, and stood at attention behind the whale, as he made his way up to the giant colorful coral creature.

“It's been years since you've last visited me, despite us living so close to each other.”

“Just count yourself lucky I haven't eaten you. There would be no point though, considering how quickly you keep growing back. You're like a weed.”

“So why has the oldest come to pay me a visit? Could this have something to do with the recent opening of the dark realm? This time it was at a barn on a distant planet, how curious...”

“Yes, and I'm trying to figure out why that happened, so will you answer my questions or what?”

“You have questions and I have answers,”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

THE INTERLOPERS
DESTRUCTIVE FORM
RED SPACE

Humphrey had to choose which to ask first. Afraid that he might only get to ask one question, he decides to go with the one most related to his quest.

THE INTERLOPERS

“I need to find those that would destroy this world. Will you help me?”

“Since the creation of this world, there have been those who've sought to destroy it. The first was the spirit who appeared at a lighthouse near a pier. The second was the wisest who committed an act against the Dreamer's will, in a library since banished deep underground. And now, three more must be challenged... Over the coming week you will come into conflict with all three interlopers, and each time you will come closer to the truth. Closer to what you've forgotten.

“Ah. I see. I think I already know who two of them are. One's in the desert, and the other is in the spider forest. The trouble is finding the third. I'll have to search for clues.”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

THE INTERLOPERS
DESTRUCTIVE FORM
RED SPACE

Humphrey asks the last topic on his mind. He had been in this world for a long time, but there was one mystery he had been itching to figure out.

RED SPACE

“Hm. I already know a little about White Space and Black Space, but what about the Red one I've heard of? Are the rumors true? Is it real?”

“In this dream, there are three realms.

The white realm is the empty canvas. The nothingness underneath the colorful exterior. The self laid bare. The Favorite presides by its gate from within the Dreamer's most precious room. Waiting for something to happen. The Black Realm is the conscience, a place of unconscious moral authority. Though it may be repressed it will always find a way in. The wisest lays imprisoned just outside.

And then there is Red Space.

To be in Red Space is to be an object; a mere product or an animal. Devoid of any soul or empathy. It is what it is. Simply the matter of existence. Beneath all the opinions and persuasions, there is the cold hard reality; the Truth. And in the Dreamer's case, it has become the epicenter of the nightmare.

Though this realm is buried deep down, you as the oldest are still bound to it, if only indirectly. Its resulting spite and hideous nature has manifested in you.”

“Hey, I didn't come here to be insulted.”

“But you're special connection to this realm may present an opportunity. More than any other creature, you are in the most advantageous position to right the wrong. To undo the endless dream and endless nightmare. And to do this, you must go there. To the very bottom. Then confront it.”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

THE INTERLOPERS
DESTRUCTIVE FORM
RED SPACE

Humphrey went with the middle question last after assuming it must have been the least important.

DESTRUCTIVE FORM

“I've been curious. Tell me more about that monster we killed all those years ago.”

“Soon after the creation of this world, fastened from fantasies of his youth, the dreamer stumbled upon a new and most terrifying world bathed in darkness. Soon after, Something arrived. And took on a destructive form that sought to destroy the dreamer himself. With the aid of the Oldest, Wisest, and the Favorite, the dreamer was able to repulse and pacify this creature. But in doing so, in saving himself, he and the oldest were forever changed, warped into evil forms that-

“Yeah yeah yeah, I already know all that, now tell me something I don't know.”

“The dreamer is trapped in a vessel with two evil forms. One is a repressive form, that protects himself at the expense of others, the other is a destructive form that seeks to destroy himself in the service of others. So long as the former maintains the endless cycle, the latter will be kept at bay, but the evil vessel did not destroy the destructive form. It absorbed it. It remains an ever-present threat.
...
Yes. You have not finished your task. To truly protect the dreamer, you must play a role in the evil form's undoing. Your chance to do so is imminent. You may be leaving this place soon enough.”

“Thank you, I think that's enough. Why are you telling me all this?”

“Because some of us still believe in you. Holding onto the hope that you may deign to do what's right.”

“If that's the case. Then you've made a mistake. I will continue to work at Omori's side. I have my orders. And so long as I follow them, he will remain safe.”

'He will survive yes, but he will not live. Can you not see that I too work for the Dreamer's best interests just like you? I hope one day he will come through here once more, and I may sacrifice myself for his cause. My roots dive deep into the depths of the Red. I hope to take him there so he may feast on the fruits of my devotion and his self-realization. ”

“Ugh. Very gross. Come on girls, I think we have all the info we need.”

The whale turned its back and opened its mouth for the girls to climb inside.

“So that tree-thing, it said we had three targets right? Was that the long and short of it?”

“Yes,” Humphrey responded in a muted way, more focused on his inner thoughts. He had just emerged from the Deeper Well trench, making his way down the highway. This was the first time his tail hit the asphalt in years, and now he was almost nostalgic for the feeling of the water against his face.

“This is the place girls,” the submarine had not changed a bit. The cheap paint, the portholes, this submarine was part of his story and now he would be coming back, “my contact should be waiting in here.” By the muffled sound coming through the walls, he could tell the diner was packed. Was the whale ready to face the world again? How would the creatures react to seeing him? After all those years of being hulled up in his cave, he'd just be appearing out of nowhere.

“Are we going in? Or are you just going to stare at the door?”

Humphrey nodded and moved forward. He opened the door and stepped inside. The bell gave a tiny “ding” sound behind him. He moved onto the main floor, and the girls stumbled in after him.

As he suspected the diner was full of familiar faces. The mermaids, the regulars, and so many others he vaguely remembered in passing. A kid and her mother were ahead of them in line. The kid turned around and pointed at the whale, “Look Mommy a whale!”

Everyone in the diner turned towards the door, caught in a stunned, deadly silence.

At that moment, everyone inside started screaming.

“Oh my god, it's Humphrey!”

The cheers were almost overwhelming, the kid jumped up to hug the whale, and the mother apologized on her daughter's behalf. Everyone was getting up and started to crowd around the whale. Even the people Humphrey didn't know still wanted to get a closer look. Everyone, save one.

The shark was waiting at the table. Humphrey made eye contact and the shark waved him over.

“Whale, whale, whale. I'm happy to see all of you! It's good to be back. Even if it's only for a little bit. Now if you don't mind, me and the girls need a bite to eat.”

“Where have you been, Humphrey?” the mermaid asked grabbing a menu, “and who are your friends?” She sized up the Slime Girls sitting behind him.

“I already told all of you when I left. I've been on a super secret mission to protect Headspace, and these girls here,” he gestures to them, “are my hired help.”

“It's a pleasure to meet you,” Medusa pushes ahead of Marina to shake the mermaid's hand. She quietly pushed Marina out of view. The squid looked offended for a moment, but then she remembered the billboard of her face they had just seen on their way there.

“I would love to catch up, but someone is waiting for me.”

“Jawsum, of course,” the mermaid realized, “he's been waiting for thirty minutes. He's right this way.”

The whale and girls made their way to the shark's table. His corner of the joint was dark, lit only by candlelight. He was munching from a half-eaten plate of spaghetti.

“Took you long enough,” he said between bites,” you have some nerve leaving me waiting.”

“My apologies, 'bridge-o-clock' ran a little longer than usual.”

“I'm not sure what that means, but my pasta has run cold, and so has my patience.”

“All the more reason to get down to business. Do you know the location?”

“Maybe I do, maybe I don't,” the shark wiped his mouth, “I know you're calling in a favor, but I would at least like to know why I was brought out here, and what you're up to.”

“You already know. I'm on a mission to save Headspace.”

“Don't give me that,” Jawsum pointed his fork at the whale, “you may have everyone else fooled but I know what you are, I know who you are. You're not on some sacred mission. So drop the act.”

“But it's the truth.” Humphrey rebutted with a big smile.

“You're giving shelter to a wanted murderer,” Jawsum looked over to Marina, “and god knows what else you kids get up to in that dirty little cave.”

“I don't think you in any place to judge, chum breath!” Marina shouts.

Jawsum laughs. His henchmen crowd behind him, “Are these girls giving you problems Boss?”

“No, no. It's okay. I like them, they have spunk. Have you girls ever thought about moving your criminal operation to my place, at the Last Resort?”

“We're under contract right now. Sorry.” Medusa cuts in sharply.

“Ah well I respect that. You girls are loyal and at the end of the day. Your word is all that matters.”

“Yes, and you gave me your word,” Humphrey presses. Making Jawsum visibly uncomfortable, “now about that favor...”

“By the way, you know that pale-looking friend of yours, he already called in his favor. He asked me to set up those toll booths. I still have no idea why... but hey, profit is profit. Works out for me! GAHAHAHA! Now the only favor I have to worry about being called on is that big cat's...”

“Jawsum,” Humphrey says his name stiffly.

“Alright alright, I'll tell ya!” the shark puts down his fork and adjusts himself, “I guess I don't need to know about all the skeletons in your closet.”

“Where is it?” Humphrey leans in, in a threatening tone, “Where is the Lost Forest?”

“I already told ya, I don't know!” Jawsum squirms.

Humphrey leans in further, his eye contact doesn't break, and his smile doesn't either.

“I can get you the man who does.”

“LongLegs.”

“No, not even him. I know a guy who knows the guy.”

“Go on,” Humphrey nods. Goading him to continue.

“This little guy, a sproutmole, wanna-be big shot. Two-bit shady thug with a knife and blindfold, he was talking big and says he ran into your man while sneaking through the spider forest.”

“I already know the Lost Forest is in Pyrefly... Did he say where he ran into him?”

“Can't say. This is all based on the gator's ears. Rumors. You'd have to talk to this guy yourself.”

“Where is he right now?”

“He's squatting on the outskirts of the inner city. You know? The old encampment from the war. That's where the gators said he lived anyway.”

“Whale then,” Humphrey sat up, “you've been more helpful than expected.”

“Sorry about hassling you earlier, by the way,” Jawsum looks at the girls, “I'm happy you've found your calling, you got a good side hustle, you're making clams and that's what matters. Who am I to judge how you make them?”

“There are things that matter more in this world than making clams.”

Jawsum laughs, “That's a good one coming from you, whale! We'll keep in touch.”

Humphrey and the girls made their way back to the door,

“What you're leaving so soon, you just got here, I didn't even get you drinks” the mermaid slumped.

“Sorry, but I gotta go! We have some business to attend to in the city!”

And just like that, Humphrey swam out of the diner and hailed the nearest taxi.

The taxi sped down the Underwater Highway leaving the Last Resort in the dust.

The city skyline sped by in the background.

“It's been a long time since any of us visited the city, I can't wait!”

“We're not there to have fun girls, we're going there on business.”

“Humphrey's right, before we get there, we need to create a plan.” Medusa agreed.

“See, Medusa has the right idea. Step one is finding this sprout mole-”

“Actually, I was addressing you, Humphrey. Just what exactly are we going to be doing over the coming days? Just how are we going to find and confront these 'Interlopers'.”

“I think it's best to keep you girls on a need-to-know basis.”

“Sounds like a plan to me!” Marina added, “I'm just along for the ride.”

“I couldn't disagree more,” Medusa cut in,” if we're going to help. We need to know what you're planning. So we can help strategize the next move.”

“That really won't be necessary. The less you girls know the better.”

There's a brief, pointed pause of silence in the cab that makes everyone uncomfortable.

“Hmm, I agree with Medusa.” Molly puts forward, “We don't need to know why you're doing this exactly, but it would be helpful to know in advance what exactly we're up against. The success of any mission is built on thorough planning and preparation.”

“...” Humphrey considered what to tell them. Then said, “Alright. I guess, I can tell you that much. Our first plan of action is to remove the first two interlopers from play since I already know who they are, and since every second they're at large, they might be making more problems. The first is a sheriff named Outback, who lives at the very back of Orange Oasis. The second is a warden called Daddy LongLegs who lives somewhere hidden deep in the forest of Pyrefly. And I don't know who the third one is. Once the cowboy and warden are dispatched, we head to Otherworld to start looking for clues.”

“But wouldn't it make more sense to search for the third one first? For all we know they might be getting away,” Marina pointed out.

“Yes, perhaps you could get your 'boss', the man over the phone, to remove the first two for you, and put all your effort into the investigation.”

Humphrey was a bit disturbed by the knowledge, that the Slime Girls now knew a little about Omori's existence, let alone his role in the world. Nevertheless, if he wanted their help. He had to tell them at least a little. Perhaps he could have Omori remove their memories at the next reset.

“I don't know how long the investigation will take, and the first two, the sheriff and warden, already know I have their number. They know I'm coming.”

“So we have to remove them quickly,” Medusa concludes.

“Precisely. And 'my boss' can only bump them off if they choose to reveal themselves first. Which I have a feeling they're not going to do this time around. Leaving the task up to us.”

“Wait, why would they ever reveal themselves first?” Molly looked very confused.

“ 'This time around?' ” Marina gawked, “what do you mean by that?”

Medusa didn't even say anything, she just gave a I-have-questions-but-I'm-not-going-to-push-it look.

Humphrey shook his head. This is why he didn't want to tell them anything. He then continues. “the sheriff, shouldn't be too hard to find, but the warden, he lives in the Lost Forest.”

“It's supposed to be impossible to find,” Medusa concluded, “it's the perfect hiding spot.”

“So all we have to do is find that little sprout mole and make him squeal!” Marina enthused, “And we get to visit the big city while we're at it! Sounds like a plan to me!”

Humphrey nodded and looked out to the glistening red and green lights of the Deep Well skyline, he was certainly leaving his comfort zone for this mission, but it had to be done.

He sighed, “I just don't understand why anyone would want to leave their home for the city...”

The girls swooned at the size of the towers surrounding the taxi cab. Humphrey leaned forward to the driver, “You can drop us off here, just in front of the park” Humphrey paid the fare while the girls got out, letting them take the first steps into the heart of the city.

“We've arrived. Underwater Highrises, the city center and beating heart of Deep Well.”

And Marina couldn't contain herself. She stepped forward and twirled.

“Ooo, there are so many places to visit! Look at the park, it's huge! The grand train station is just under our feet! AH! Look at 'The Dagger' in the distance, it's taller than I remember! Oh and, the shopping mall is just over that way, so many brick-and-mortar stores I've been meaning to visit!”

“Marina, you're a wanted criminal. Is it your goal to be spotted everywhere?” Medusa chided.

“Medusa's right, we're not here to have fun, we're here on business.” Humphrey rebuffed.

Marina slumped. “come on! You gotta be kidding. You mean we can't do anything while we're here?”

Humphrey considered her words. He took a moment and looked around the bustling city center, the advertisements, billboards, the roaring noise, and the harsh smell. He didn't get the appeal. He looked forward to the large expanse of the central park, it stretched very far, it had to be the length of at least six city blocks. And at the end, stood The Dagger, the tallest building in Deep Well.

Being here was bringing up old memories, and not the good kind... “After the mission is done, if you girls want to visit the city, I'm okay with that. But for now, we have a mole to find.”

“Where is this gentleman anyway?” Molly asked.

“Let's see. Let's see.” Humphrey tried to remember, “Our guy should be squatting in the outskirts, which should be up and to the north! But my memory is a bit rusty... I'll remember as I go...”

“Then there's no point in wasting time! Let us commence the search!” Molly said.

Medusa non-verbally agreed.

“Big city here we come!” Marina shouted.

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party.

The whale knew that the mall and the nicer side of town were East of the park. So naturally he turned West. Humphrey made his way down the large sidewalk of Main Street Plaza, having to push his way through crowds of pedestrians until he reached a familiar nightclub on the corner of a turn-off.

“If my memory serves me correctly I had to cut through here.”

He proceeded down the turn-off to a less crowded, rundown city street lined with townhouses. He swam up to two creatures to ask for directions, they were examining the nearby houses, one was a bubble, literally just a talking bubble, with no mouth or eyes. Standing to it's right was another creature, it looked like a cut of steak past its prime.

The bubble said, “Can you believe some of these dumps can go for over 300k? This market is not sustainable.”

“Oh I disagree,” said the walking steak creature, his name tag read 'AAA-Grade Cut', “Trust me, my friend. Now is the time to buy! buy! buy! ”

“Excuse me, do either of you two remember where the overpass is? You know, the old camp?” Humphrey could approach either of them for two separate answers,

“Homeless camp? Those poor creatures are just down the road? What's a life without a home?!”
“Homeless camp? Those lazy bums are just over that way! What's a man without a house?!”

Humphrey took a mental note to eat the meat creature later if he got hungry. Afterward, with all the confirmation he needed, he led the girls down the road and deeper into the slum.

They arrived on the outskirts. It was a little homeless camp set up in a clearing near the mouth of the river's underpass. Humphrey remembered this place well from his past but to the girls this was new.

“This place is filthy,” Molly observes.

“We're not staying long, we just need to find the bandit.”

Humphrey moved into the center of the encampment, and some of the hobos looked over at them.

Don't worry girls, I'll do the talking, “excuse me, homeless creatures!”

Most of the hobos in the camp turn to the loud whale, while some of them don't move, and others look dead inside. While others looked just dead, he couldn't tell from a distance.

“Excuse me, gentlemen! I'm looking for a sprout mole! He's a bandit, has a little clam opener, he looks like a stereotypical bandit archetype. Anyone?”

One of the homeless creatures got up. He looked like a walking, talking silver can. like the kind that would be donated to a food drive. On closer inspection, he was a can of beans and his top was opened.

“No, no, no, no, no. I don't know, man.”

This creature sounded like some sort of hippie, and he smelled like one too.

“So you don't know anything? Whale why'd you answer then?”

“No, no, no, no, no. I do know, I know plenty. Things you couldn't even imagine, man.”

“But you don't know where the sproutmole is,” Marina said unimpressed.

“No, no, no, no, no. I've seen him, man.”

“So you have seen this mole, is he somewhere here?” Humphrey asked, getting impatient.

“No, no, no, no, no, he just said he was going to OuttaTown, man.”

“OuttaTown? You mean like the town in outer space?” Marina asks.

“Maybe Otherworld Town?” Molly follows her train of thought.

“No, no, no, no, no, he just said he was going to a place called OuttaTown, man.”

“Wait, do you mean to say he said he was going 'out of town',” Medusa surmises.

“No, no, no, no, no, he just told me he was heading to OuttaTown and not to tell anyone about it. This was like a few moments ago, man. Just ask him yourself, he's right over there man.”

The hobo points over to the camp's gate where a sproutmole in question was trying to sneak away, he matched Jawsum's description. Small shucker knife and his eyes were covered with two eye slits. The mole jumps when he sees he's been noticed and gives out an, “oh god damn it!”

He bolts off into a squint.

“After that mole!”

“Get back here, little buddy! I just want to talk to you!” Humphrey yelled.

The mole was darting down the old street running for his life.

Humphrey picked himself off the sea floor and actually swam after the thief. His tail slapped up and down, and the whale was picking up speed. The girls sped just behind him. They were probably very surprised to find the whale faster than them, but when he got going, the whale could go fast. Giving up, the girls jumped onto his back. The bubble and meat creature from earlier jumped out of the way as a massive whale whizzed by.

“Hey! We're walkin' here!” the steak shouted.

The thief turned the curve and then they were back onto the main street. There were too many people for Humphrey to continue swimming. The whale tried to muscle his way through. He poked his head over the crowd just in time to see the mole rush into the train station.

“He's going to the train!”

After making his way through the crowd, he smashed his way into the underground station.

“Hey! You kids need a ticket! Get back here!”

“Official whale business,” Humphrey pushed past him and zoomed toward the thief. The sprout mole was just getting on the train. And in an almost stereotypical manner, the train doors closed right behind him, leaving the station. But that was no problem for Humphrey he sped after the train.

With a little effort, he caught up to the caboose. The train was now leaving the tunnel and broke into the expanse of Deep Well. The shining city glimmered in the background.

The whale shoved his way into a door leading outside the train. They were near the front.

“You'll never eat me, monster!” the bandit yelled. Cutting something under the floor. Suddenly, the part of the train they were on was falling behind, he disconnected the back half of the train.

Luckily, Humphrey was able to make the jump just in time. And now the sprout mole was trapped at the front, finding the door to the engine room locked.

“No! I'm not healthy I swear!” the desperate mole threw his knife at Humphrey's face. It made contact with the handle and fell to the floor, but it created just enough distraction for him to run by them.

Humphrey just rolled his eyes, “I think there's been a misunderstanding.”

He and the girls turned around and followed him to the back of, what was left of, the train. The whole world sped behind him, he was a cornered rat with nowhere to run now.

“Wow, you are a real pain in our behind!” Marina yelled.

“Yes, we should punish him for our inconvenience!” Molly chided.

“No, we're not going to do that. We just want to talk to you...” Medusa said reassuringly.

“But the man in the forest said you'd eat me if you found out I saw him.”

Between Humphrey and Humphrey, that was actually not a bad prediction on LongLeg's part. He didn't even think it was meant to be a lie. But Humphrey decided to run with it.

“Yes. Unless you cooperate, I am going to eat you!”

“NO! I'm made of tofu! I taste horrible!” that was also not a lie.

“Tell us, where did you find this man, in the forest? If you tell us, we'll let you go free...”

Out of options, the thief looked between the whale and the girls, he then looked back at the speeding railway behind him, “Alright, you got me, I'll tell ya what I know. It all started in the woods...”

The train, or what's left of it, pulled into the Vast Forest. The moment the doors opened the shady sprout mole ran out, making himself disappear. A whale, an octopus, a squid, and a jellyfish followed casually after him. Stepping off the train, they took a moment to stretch their legs after a long journey.

“Don't get too comfortable girls. We're going to have to get back on in just a minute.”

“But Pyrefly Forest is this way,” Marina pointed.

“I know, but LongLegs can wait. We know where he is now. Besides, we're already on the train, we might as well take out the old man,” Humphrey looked at the train, watching pedestrians getting on and off, “the end of the line should take us to the desert.”

“What? Are we gonna have to chase this guy down too?” Marina scoffed.

“No..” Humphrey frowned, “he's not the type to run away. He's waiting for us...”

The whale boarded the train before he had a chance to think any more about it further.

The afternoon sun was falling fast, making the desert feel even more orange than its usual peach. The train rushed through to their destination and gave them all an expansive view of the sand dunes and ruffled canyons, sometimes argued to be one of the most beautiful sights in all of Headspace.

But all Humphrey could do was look down at his feet, “Yeah...”

“What's wrong Humphrey? You're not like your usual self,” Marina asked.

He looked up at the stretching shadows of the desert scenery that danced before him. His own shadow grew very large too, the whale watched his long shadow scrape over the cacti and pass sand like a scythe, “that bandit really thought I was a monster. We had to chase him all around town...”

“That's what's bothering you?”

“...” Humphrey just frowned.

“Ah, Humphrey. You shouldn't let it make you feel bad. You may be a little different... I've never met someone who can go inside of themselves. But... that's just the way you are!”

“I wasn't always this way girls. I used to be just a normal, wonderful, and lovable, big blue whale.”

“What happened to you then?”

“I've been ruined girls. I'm a monster now, assigned to a most monstrous task.”

“I don't understand...” Marina said lowly, looking between the whale and the other girls.

“Humphrey, is there something you're not telling us about this next target?” Molly inquired.

“Yeah, do you know this guy, is he an old rival?” Marina asked too.

“No, we actually used to be on good terms.”

“So a friend then?” Medusa gave.

“Well... not really. In the old days, I used to think of him as a mentor... Now he's my enemy.”

“What is going on?” Marina whined, “I am so confused, by this, by all of this? Why would you be forced to kill someone that used to be your friend.”

“...” Humphrey didn't answer that. He jumped off his seat and turned around to stare at the pane. The world flew by. The sun would be hitting the earth in only an hour. Or at least it looked that way. The sun never set in this part of the desert, and magical quirk that set this area apart.

“Hmm. Our destination is approaching fast, but if you really think about it... nobody ever really stands still. The earth spins, the moon cycles, and the train just helps us move a little bit faster. I guess my point is Marina, sometimes... you can't stay neutral... on a moving train! Nyak! Nyak!”

“Humphrey...” the girls groaned.

“And here I thought you were getting serious for a moment,” Medusa flopped back on her seat.

“Whale, there's no turning back now...” Humphrey smiles, “the train's already left the station. Nyak!”

“Humphrey please stop!” the girls laughed.

He sat down again, adjusting back into the seat, listening to the girls laugh and break into a different conversation. If he was going to be trapped on a moving train, he might as well find a comfortable spot.

“ATTENTION PASSENGERS! WE ARE NOW APPROACHING ORANGE OASIS!!!”

“Looks like this is our stop,” Medusa notes.

“It's actually not.” the whale informs, “we stay on the train, to the very end.”

“But, but isn't Orange Oasis the end of the line?”

“When the train stops and everyone gets off, we hide. We're hitching a ride to the rail yard, that's where the train actually refuels. From there we'll head up to where the sheriff has set up shop.

Chapter Text

The train pulled into a most industrial-looking rail yard; rust and oil smeared on tarnished metal. It did not look like it was designed for public commerce. They were clearly not supposed to be here.

“Careful girls, watch your step, there's no landing waiting for us.”

Each girl jumped down from the train, followed by the whale himself.

Everything in sight was either a deep orange from the dying sun or black from the shadows. The station was in some sort of closed valley, the sharp wind hallowed from above. Humphrey cautioned, “We should get out of here before we get caught. Follow me, girls, the place is just up ahead.”

Humphrey sneaked upward, following a mine cart railway to an opening in the cliff face. Above the opening there was a sigh that read :

“PRIVATE PROPERTY
Authorized Personnel Only”

“Come girls, it's just through here.”

They emerged from the narrow passage, which opened up onto a cliff, giving them an oppressive view of the expanse of stark tangerine canyon walls before them. Greeting them with more orange and murky black. A horizon marred with the silhouettes of derelict industrial machines as far as the eye can see. “It looks like something out of a cowboy movie. What is it? A mine?” Molly asked.

“This is 'OUTRIDER'S OUTBACK', home to the stalwart sheriff Mr. Outback. It also used to be the premiere tofu production plant in Orange Oasis, but everyone in-the-know was aware of what really was going on here. The tofu was made of meat, but Sweetheart kept that a secret from her spout moles. Until she couldn't. It's since been abandoned.”

“Yeah, come to think of it, there really isn't a place based around meat stuff in Orange Oasis,” Marina thought out loud, “I mean there's that one room in the food pyramid but that's about it.”

“Why was this place shut down?” Medusa asked.

“Animal abuse, neglect, health violations, and a whole host of other things, but mostly because everyone discovered the truth, ” the whale relayed, “Outback himself had nothing to do with what happened here. He was not happy about the acquisition. It was all Sweetheart's fault. Now the place has become a ghost town. People think it's haunted...”

“Yeah...” Marina noted, “Now that you mention it, this place does give off some creepy vibes...”

The wind howled even louder on the edge of the cliff.

“All I know is that it's freezing here!” Molly whined, crossing her arms for warmth, “I thought deserts were supposed to be hot!”

“Molly,” Medusa said, “this is basic environmental studies, deserts become cold at night. You should have brought a jacket from inside when we were on the train.”

“Well sorry darlings, forgive me for not expecting to spend my lovely evening exploring a fridged meat packing plant. Not exactly what I consider a night out.”

“We've been over this,” Medusa chided, “we can go somewhere nice once we're through. Now is the time for a hunt girls. We must be ready for anything””

“Yes, Outback should be somewhere around the factory. And he's expecting us.” Humphrey gathered himself overlooking the canyon. The girls moved right behind him.

“It's weird, you make it sound like you've killed this guy before,” Marina remarks.

“...” Humphrey goes very quiet, then says, “I haven't.”

Humphrey and the slime girls form a party.

They follow the railway against the edge of the cliff until it reaches a downramp, then follow it down to where the factory is supposed to be but find a closed train tunnel in their wake.

“Oh shoot!” Mariana says it's locked.

“Looks like we'll have to break in through the front entrance, we'll have to cut through the old company town. It should be abandoned like the rest of this place.” Humphrey said, he turned right, and towards the ghost town that hugged the large cliff they were on.

First, they found the old church. It was grayed and decrepit, the entrance boarded up, and the idea was to walk on through the graveyard and into the main town. But luck wouldn't have it be so simple. They heard a digging noise, the whale and girls looked both ways to see where it was, but no one was there.

Just then, a hand reached out from the ground!

= They entered a battle. =

At first, the zombie attacked the whale pathetically, swiping at him, doing only a little damage, claws dragging against thick blubber. But then, it burrowed underground again. Despite Marina trying to hide behind Humphrey, the hand clawed at her from the ground giving her a large gash across her leg. Apparently, Humphrey's “Protect” ability had no effect on this burrowing foe.

Marina took a chainsaw and lopped its hand off in retaliation.

= The battle ended. =

“Oh my god, what the hell was that? It got me!” Marina whined.

“Oh please, it was just a scratch Marina,” Molly teased.

“I wonder where it came from, is this place actually haunted Humphrey?”

“Nope, I know what it is, look!” Humphrey pointed over to a pile of barrels sitting near the church's front window. They were teeming with toxic waste, dumped on cemetery grounds, “looks like the factory really left its mark. We just need to watch our step.”

Humphrey and company proceeded past the graveyard and into the main street of the abandoned town. It looked in many ways like a stereotypical Wild West town with a saloon, bank, jail, and more. It had one main street and a row of wooden square houses on each side, most boarded up. Another zombie hand wandered around in front of them.

“Ugh, let's avoid that thing...” Marina suggested, “Hey look it's a bank! Maybe there's a safe inside!” Humphrey inspected the bank, it had a poster next to the door that said “FREE CLAMS IN HERE!” written in sloppy red marker.

“Eh, sure. I guess it couldn't hurt to check it out,” Humphrey said.

They walked inside and saw the bank's safe sitting on the counter. Marina saddled up to the black iron safe, finding it already opened, there was a bill for 100 clams, “Ah man, we've been had. This sucks.”

Suddenly, a siren begins to blare and a speaker's voice could be heard from outside it said,

“COME OUT! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP! WE'VE GOT YOU SURROUNDED!”

“Hmmm, I wonder who that could be?” Humphrey said without worry, making his way to the front door and stepping outside. To his not-shock, there was a group of gunslingers surrounding the entrance, but they weren't cowboys, they were in SWAT gear and had laser rifles trained on the whale himself. Whoever these guys were, they looked like they were not from around here, not from anywhere in Sunny's Headspace... Looks like Outback was really pulling out all his outsider connections.

One of the gunners spoke to the other, “Is that really the target? Maybe this is a mistake.”

“Affirmative. The biohazard matches the description. We have apprehended the oldest.”

The two gunmen give a nod to each other and lift their rifles to attack, “engaging.”

= They enter a battle. =

The two Hired Guns unload their clips into the whale, each round piercing deep into his blubber.

“Ouch that hurts! Now I'm angry!” Humphrey became angry.

Humphrey used his tail to swipe at the gunners but missed since they were further than he thought.

Medusa tries to throw a potion, but just then a hand comes from the ground and stops her attack. The jellyfish gave an undignified yelp. It was another zombie. It joined the Hired Guns in battle.

Humphrey considered the situation, these foes were not going to be pushovers like he was expecting, on one hand, they had a foe that pierced blubber and another that side-stepped his defenses completely. this had to be a premeditated plan.

“You know me too well, Outback...” Humphrey said to himself, “But you don't know the girls...”

Humphrey took his large tail and brought it down on the little zombie's arms, crushing it in one slap. The hand meekly retreated back into the ground, Humphrey then signaled the girls to jump onto his back, and in retaliation, they launched a synchronized attack called “Volley” a move that gave them 50% of the blocked damage effect of “Protection” while letting them unload their spears into the offending gunmen, who took considerable damage. Their body armor was not made for spears.

“Man down. Man down! The biohazard has unexpected ancillary support! Calling in back up!”

= The battle ended. =

“Whale that was a good team effort, if I do say so myself,” Humphrey looked around the street. A tumbleweed flew by, “hmm, maybe there are some other goodies to loot in these buildings.”

“Hey guys I've been wondering something...” Marina says.

They all look at her.

“Are we the bad guys... I mean, we did just rob a bank, and that billboard earlier.”

Everyone took a moment to stew in this unexpected, albeit harmless accusation.

“We have to do what we can to get by darling,” Molly answered.

“Of course, we're not the bad guys!” Humphrey pressed, “We are on a mission most good and pure! You girls are helping save a helpless little boy!”

“He's right, in a way, this is the most noble task we've set out to do in a long time,” Medusa added.

Marina looked unconvinced, “And you know for sure we're actually helping this boy?”

Humphrey sat silently to process the question, “I know this is right because he asked me to do it.”

“You mean your boss, on the phone?”

“No,” Humphrey answered firmly, “the boy asked me to do this, all of this, himself.”

“Hmm. If that's so... I guess it has to be okay then...” Marina conceded.

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party.

They explored the old buildings and even found a good amount of clams in the cashier of the old store. The area was riddled with enemies. They found another variant of the Hired Gun called “Hired Protection” which was a guy in a blue body suit holding a gun in the air, with styled blonde hair.

After clearing out the town they found the path leading down to the factory. Just outside the town, there was a baby blue picnic basket, “is this another trap?” Medusa asked.

“Pleasssssed to meet you,” said a snake as it wiggled out of the basket.

“Hey, I know you, you're the snake who lives with the cat.”

“Yesssss, I have come to help you on your misssssssion. I have clamsssss.”

“Oh boy, how much are you going to give us! All this fighting is making me hungry!” the whale said.

“Only enough to sssssatiate you.”

“So you're going to bankroll us, but only enough to feed Humphrey? Man, that sucks, ya know, we could really use some clams too ya know!”

“I will give sssssome to feed you girlsssss too.”

“Oh, I get it. “ Humphrey realized, “You're the SAVE point.”

“Precisssssely.”

“So what do you get for me to eat?”

“Money! Money jussssst for you! Here have sssssome money bagsssss, I found them in the bank.”

“So that's where all the cash went.”

Humphrey ate the Bags of Money, and he and the Slime Girls felt refreshed.

“Are you sure you can't lend us some cash to buy some toys?”

“No. I feed you and give you an allowance. That'ssssss it.”

“Girls, we should appreciate everything he does already. Thank you little snake!”

“I wisssssh you luck.”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party.

Humphrey led the girls further down the path, to the cliff below that held the factory. It looked about as creepy up close as it did from a distance. The girls looked up at the metalwork of a warehouse-looking building. The factory looked entirely contemporary, with a long trailer office just out front, and wriggled metal sheets lining the side of the meat processing facility.

Above the factory gate was a tattered billboard that read:

______SWEETHEART APPROVED TOFU_______
100% HOMEGROWN, FAMILY-OWNED TOFU
_______________1 800 TOFU _______________

“ 'Homegrown?' ''Family owned?' My butt!” Marina scoffed

“This place isn't a home at all,” Medusa agreed.

”Humphrey just shook his head, “ the railroad is right behind the factory, we shouldn't be in there that long, “let's head inside,” the whale tipped his head.

They stepped into the building and right onto the killing floor. It was nothing short of horrifying. A large dark room filled with dangling chains and hooks, conveyor belts, and a swinging ax.

What stuck out, however, in the middle of the horrific atmosphere was an out-of-place silly dog. A hot dog, a dog apparently waiting for them.

“Whale whale whale, if it isn't Outback's loyal deputy. Hotdiggitydog!”

“Humphrey, we've been waiting for you. Give it up! You're outgunned and outnumbered. Both of us know we don't have to do this. You can just turn around friend, this is your last warning.”

Just then two more Hired Guns appeared from behind the dog.

“Who is this pooch?” Marina asks with a tinge of incredulity.

“This dog and his master Outback have been a thorn in my side for years,” Humphrey answered, “Always blocking paths, holding up lines, gently directing the Dreamer's path.”

“Turn back Humphrey, we don't have to come to blows. We don't have to hurt each other.”

“Silly little doggy, you know I can't do that, you can't stop me. Not you, not the sheriff, not even your whole army. Seriously, what did you think you would accomplish with all the hired help?”

“They're here for your benefit, not ours, a last attempt to get you to turn back.”

“Nothing will stop me from carrying out my task, “ the whale just shook his head, “ by siding with Outback you're making a terrible mistake.”

“Not as terrible as yours, I'm afraid...” said... a deep yet elegant voice.

Just then, from the shadows of the upper rafters, a large intimidating masked man with big muscles was wielding two chainsaws.

“Jackson, what are you doing here?” Humphrey asks, “You can't hide behind that mask I know it's you.”

“Nobody cared who I was before I donned the mask,” Jackson responded politely, “I am here to help the sheriff stop you. He has paid me handsomely and I have to carry out my obligation, just as you have your obligations. Understand it's nothing personal.”

“You're tangling with the wrong whale,” Humphrey gave a show of his teeth to the big man.

“Oh, you think you're horrifying? You merely adopted fear as your ally. You who started from innocent means, turning yourself into something most monstrous. I, on the other hand, originated in the horror genre, I was forged by it,” he lifted his chainsaws in the air jovially.

“You seem like a gentleman, surely there's a way we can avoid this.”

“Hmm,” Jackson considers, “I do have a question for you.”

“Ask away.”

“You see those hooks, those chains that hang from the rafters, and those knives and blades that line the walls, all created to strip the flesh from the bones of the livestock...

Do you think they work on whales? Let's find out shall we?”

= They enter a battle. =

Humphrey was taken aback by the suddenness of the conflict before he could even think he was being pelted by more rounds from the Hired Guns. They took those guys out on the first turn and focused their sights on the crazy killer assaulting them.

Marina threw a chainsaw at Jackson triggering him to say something special,

“You wield your saw like a young girl... without holding back. A fatal if not admirable mistake.”

Humphrey decided to cut the battle short and just jump him, slamming him with all his weight, smacking Jackson with his tail, and knocking the saws from his hands.

“Oh. You're scarier than I thought,” Jackson says before keeling over.

= The battle ended. =

By the time the dust cleared, the dog deputy was long gone.

“Let's finish clearing out the factory floor,” Humphrey said, bursting into the next room and thankfully there were no enemies. It looked like some sort of packaging center with a big grinder machine and conveyor belts leading to a row of storage freezers. Sitting at the back exit near the clock-out machine were the snake and his picnic basket.

“How wasssss the fight? I have more clamsssss for you.“

Humphrey ate a “Pay Check” making him and the girls feel refreshed.

“Is this really the right place for a picnic?” Molly asked the snake. Her voice echoed in the metallic darkness of the packing room. Humphrey takes a look around.

“Maybe there's some more grub in here. It is a storage room after all,” they look around for some spoils. Marina finds a bottle of preservatives useful for making food. Molly found a blue watermelon up on the conveyor belt back on the killing floor, but couldn't reach it.

Humphrey, being Humphrey, checked all the freezers, all of them were empty, except one that didn't open. It must have been lodged shut. He tried opening it three times and it didn't work. Just when he was about to walk away he went back for one more try and sure enough, it opened...

To his surprise, it opens to a black expanse. A large black room. Black Space. He must have accidentally found a secret way in. These passages were littered all over Headspace. “Oh boy, talk about fridge horror! This place is always leaking into our world in the strangest ways.” Humphrey looked around the dark room before him. It was completely black with holes in the ground, the holes showed twisted images of purple meat. Just then, Humphrey saw someone walking towards him, it was Kelsey. The whale thought about saying, “Hello” but as he got closer, he noticed the boy had no face. The faceless Kelsey turned and walked off in a different direction before Humphrey could even interact with him. Even after all these years Black Space never failed to unnerve him.

“Humphrey, did you find anything?” Medusa called.

“Oh, um,” he slams the freezer door, “nothing dear!” he turns around and returns to the picnic, “Nothing to munch on in any of these, they must have cleared this place out years ago...”

“Well if we're done here it's time to continue,” Medusa concluded.

The back lot of the factory was some sort of distribution center. It had minecarts, boxes, and barrels of waste dumped all over, zombie hands moving around in the grass. Humphrey spotted the railway and followed it around the undead and down to the bridge. They found themselves on the other side of the tunnel bridge from earlier. Humphrey flipped a switch, giving them a shortcut back to the rail yard. But instead of going back, they walked further down.

They descended onto a cliff below the factory, it was some kind of field with acres and acres of fence made for holding livestock. Between the barbwire and barn were the occasional big pieces of meat and bones sticking out of the ground.

“Wow, this is the only place that even looks remotely like Orange Oasis,” Medusa noted.

“That's because we're nearing the original ranch, his ranch. We should be getting close.”

Humphrey looked off into the everlasting sunset, then back to the long shadows of the barns and posts. He thought back to the age before the barbwire when the sea cows roamed free. To the candy and the day he and Sunny first met. He had a dream about that day only the night before.

They proceeded through the field and surprisingly found no enemies. They heard only the pained mulling of cattle, from a time gone by, like moaning ghosts from a tortured past. But the factory was long defunct. All the trees were knocked down, all the fences erected, and a whole town lost its purpose, no longer useful. Molly found an entrance that led cattle up to the killing floor and came back with the blue watermelon from earlier. It was a large rusty saw blade, “this will make a good weapon. We can attach this one to your tail, this should give your slap a real sting!”

“Yeah, yeah,” he was not amused, he took no real joy in being a killer or monster, “thanks Molly, you should make it right now, before we go any further,” Humphrey said while jumping over the last wire fence, into a small clearing, and that's where he found it...

He knew it would be around here somewhere.

A broken chocolate fountain.

Behind it, stretches of candy cane trees, are cut down. Thousands of little stumps littered his entire view over mounds and hills that stretched into eternity.

Why? Why did they have to fall? One of the most magical places in Sunny's childhood was sacrificed for what? For this? For nothing? It had all been so beautiful, but now it was all gone. Unmade. All because of the powers that be demanded meat and money. So the past was slaughtered, and like any piece of forgotten meat; rotted and festered, like a tube of beef left in the trunk after a grocery run on a hot Summer day. His only consolation was knowing that the area around the pyramids was still intact.

None of this had to happen. Humphrey was upset, but more than anything he was sad.

“What's wrong Humphrey, you seem too quiet.”

Humphrey didn't say a word, he simply moved closer to the cliff and squinted his eyes. He saw an old ranch house and windmill in the distance sitting on the canyon floor.

It was time.

He couldn't hide forever.

Humphrey responded low and quiet, “Let's not keep him waiting girls... it'd be rude to drag our feet for someone who's expected us....”

Chapter Text

The air felt thinner at the bottom of the valley.

A strong wind blew howling dust, whistling on the cavern walls and over the hills, Medusa covered her face as they crossed over each hill, Molly looking down.

Humphrey faced the wind head-on, his eyes trained on the funny-looking ranch house.

Each time they mounted a hill, the house got closer and closer until eventually it was just one long incline to the ranch. He was close enough to hear the windmill's rusty constant metallic clinks, the old device was swerving back and forth erratically. A storm was coming.

Humphrey stopped.

And old man sat in the darkness of the house's shadow, hiding his eyes behind his cowboy hat, swaying calmly on his rocking chair. Hotdiggitydog was sitting next to him, resting under his hand until the whale was close enough, it then jumped up and trotted out to stand out in front. On guard.

“Well. Looks like they're here old buddy, time for you to skedaddle.”

His deputy looked back, taken by surprise, “No, I'm staying here with you!”

“No, no. Someone has to go warn the others. Better to be a hero that gives them a head start, than be one that stays here with me. It's time for us to part ways, old buddy.”

The dog shifts in place just a bit considering his options, not wanting to abandon his master.

“Well, what are you waiting for? Get skipping little doggy!” Outback insisted.

The dog nods.

“Goodbye, old friend,” the dog says.

“Why the long face, I'll be at ease no matter how this ends. Now go.”

After another moment of hesitation, the dog skips away, leaving Outback to his fate.

“You've been a real thorn in our side old man, got any last words?!” Marina sticks out her finger.

“Yes, we came all the way into this freezing wasteland just to find you. Just what are you trying to accomplish bringing us out here?” Molly adds.

Medusa looks at him intently and asks, “Who are you?”

Outback speaks, “Humphrey, it's been a long time.”

“Yes.”

“So is this really it? Is this really how it's going to end, for the two of us?”

“I'm afraid so.”

“I remember the first day I came here. To this world. I remember being so impressed by the sheer size of what the boy could conjure. It's pretty special... And you, you were right there with him by his side.

“Good times. Good times.” Humphrey was shaking his head, “remember that one time we stumbled upon Vast Forest for the first time? It was just me and Sunny, and you showed us around.”

“You two ran across your first sprout mole, it got spooked and you two thought it would be a good idea to chase it off into the thicket. You got lost, and wandered off the path... this was before Abbi and her map, so I had to saddle out and bring ya' home before sundown. I ended up finding you in a dark and dangerous part of the forest... The boy was crying and you were wrapped around him, guarding him from the darkness. Holding him tight... I still remember his face when he saw me come to the rescue. He was sobbing, but still overjoyed. I believe that part of the forest in question has now been swallowed up by the dark realm. I'm not surprised.”

“That day, do you remember, you took me aside and reminded me of my purpose. To protect the boy and serve him faithfully. It's a lesson I've taken to heart.”

“Yes, perhaps I taught you too well... Over the years, the world changed. So many new characters, so many places and people. Until eventually he found real friends and found a real place... out there...”

Humphrey tilted his head in question.

“This world. He outgrew it,” Outback spat.

“Well good thing for us he plans to stay for a bit longer,” Humphrey smiles,” and he will.”

“He's not yours. He never was. You can't stop what's coming... The world's not going to wait on you.”

“Maybe so, but I have my orders. So how is this going to happen, cowboy?”

The geezer just shakes his head in disappointment and stands. He steps forward into the light, but his figure is still cast in shadow against the horizon.

A silence rolls over them as the wind howls louder.

“There's a battle coming.”

The whale waits, letting him speak.

“Good and evil. One good, one bad, one showdown. A duel. To determine which side will prevail. And when that day comes, you need to make the decision Humphrey, of which side you going to land on.” Outback shakes his head and looks to the sun, “how much longer do you have to mosey down this road, until you see where it leads...”

“What are you getting at?”

“I don't want us to be enemies. But time is running out. I can still save you and we can work together to make things right. Just like old times. But you have to let go, be ready to let the boy go his own way...”

Humphrey says nothing.

“Now is the moment to redeem yourself,” Outback nods, “let me help you.”

“...” Humphrey then whispers a barely heard, “No. I'm sorry but... I'm not letting go. I can't.”

Outback closes his eyes, his head hangs low.

Humphrey presses a smile and shakes away his reservation. “Nope! You heard me, I'm not interested! Now... are you going to make this easy, or are you going to run for it after all? There would be more dignity in admitting to your situation.”

The cowboy just stands perfectly still, almost frozen by reluctance, but then it breaks.

“If that's how it's gonna be...” Outback says, ” Then I have no choice than ta' lay waste to ya!”

“...” Humphrey is taken off guard, he wasn't expecting that response.

“You've gone rabid. And left me with no choice but to put you down, old friend.”

“Heh. And just how do you plan to do that old man? Don't tell me your gonna fight...”

“Tetch',” the cowboy laughs, “you go to hell...”

Humphrey smiles through the insult.

“You great ones are always so arrogant...” Outback continues, “You may be the oldest around these parts, but I'm not from around here, and I am far older. I've been doing this for over 10,000 years! I've seen nightmares you couldn't even imagine. And now you've gone and stepped past a line you can't unwalk. Mr. Outback flips his guns and readies his stance.

“Now... be still, it's time for you to pass on partner, from here unto the hereafter...”

= They enter a battle. =

Instantaneously, before Humphrey can even make a move, Outback lights them up.

Loud bangs cut in from nowhere in rapid succession. After the last round, the echoes keep going.

By the end of it, the Slime Girls are reduced to toast.

Humphrey has taken 9999 damage, leaving him with one health point left.

“Don't struggle, you'll be at ease soon.”

But Humphrey is overcome with pain and doesn't even process what the cowboy is saying. In truth, he wasn't expecting this. He didn't want to have this fight, he didn't want Outback to make a resistance, and above all else, he wasn't expecting to fight for his life.

Humphrey looked up at his adversary. Outback's black silhouette stood tall, the red-orange sun sinking behind him, his hands resting on his firearms.

The whale glared at the sheriff and spat out blood and the silver bullets pulled from inside of him which made a tingling sound as they bounced off the hard rocks below.

The sheriff shot his magic bullets, he can only shoot them once. The whale pulled himself up from the ground, and bit the head off one of Marina's experiments, giving him his full health back.

Outback reloaded his weapons.

Humphrey threw one of Medusa's potions on the ground. An electroshock potion that had a 50% chance to revive each downed party member. It brought back, Marina and Medusa at half health.

Outback unloads more of his revolver rounds at Medusa but misses. He sneers.

“You were supposed to be his protector! Not be consumed by the evil you were supposed to deliver him from!” Outback yells, “he believed in you, I believed in you! Look what you've become!”

The words stung more than the bullets.

Humphrey has become SAD. He can no longer become HAPPY or ANGRY for the rest of the battle.

Outback had been with him since the very beginning. His close friend and mentor. And now, they had to fight, he had to kill him, he had to carry out his duty... for the Dreamer, for Sunny.

Humphrey slammed his tail at Outback but missed. Marina jumped at the cowboy and slashed him with her saw, this actually got him to back down and back up while Medusa revives Molly, she analyzes the depressed whale.“Humphrey's having a breakdown, we have to get him to snap out of it.”

“I'm kinda busy right now!” Marina says, trying to dodge and weave past Outback's bullets.

With the three girls revived they managed to fend off the long arm of the law. He tried throwing some dynamite at them, but it was ineffectual. Though Outback tried his best to keep the girls at a distance, they just kept coming back at him. It was a four-on-one battle, and he was running low on ammo. Even without Humphrey's help. It looked like this battle was nearly over.

Outback panted, slouched over from exhaustion, “So you've brought help... and now I have to bring out mine.” Outback stuck his fingers between his teeth and whistled.

The sky grew suddenly dark.

What was once an orange sunset with a yellow sun, became a black dusk with a blood-red sun.

They heard a neighing horse fast approaching. And barely had enough time to jump out of its way. It whizzed past the girls, Marina and Molly jumped out of the way but it hit Medusa head-on, sending her flying and leaving the other girls picking themselves up in the dust.

The horse turned back around and trotted up to the sheriff. The horse had to be at least eight feet tall, it was pure black, with glowing red eyes. A creature of pure darkness. It bristled and screeched, as Outback, pulled himself onto its back.

Outback made eye contact with Humphrey as he pulled out his real weapon: The rope.

“You're in the valley of death now...”

The black horse stood tall on its hind legs and cackled, as Outback circled the lasso high above him. He then flung the occult lasso, wrapping it around a nearby boulder. With little effort, Outback flung the boulder through the air and smashed it right next to where they were standing.

= The battle entered its second phase. =

“... it's far past your high noon.
He'll be leaving you behind. It'll be all over soon.”

Humphrey became MISERABLE.

After he said that, the black horse unleashed a dark mist called “Famine” Causing the girls and Humphrey to lose 66% of their stamina.

Medusa cursed to herself. Unable to heal her sisters as she planned. She watched as Marina tried to cut down on the horse with her chainsaw, but the horse just kicked his feet at her. Then trampled her.

She struggled to get away but Outback was one step ahead, he lassoed her. He flung her up and slammed her to the ground, over and over again. Each time, it changed her emotional state, causing her to be thrown around by her emotions.

Enraged, Molly runs up to Outback at super speed to save her sister, but the lawman just stares down at her with red eyes, and with his free hand he sticks his gun down, placing the barrel of the revolver right into her face. He unloaded his full clip, and Molly was toast.

Marina had escaped the lasso and was in a state of FEAR. She crawled back to Humphrey. Medusa tried to make a move for Molly's toast, but the horse trampled right past her, tossing her back. He then used his lasso to wrap around Humphrey's body, tying him up, and immobilizing him.

Medusa and Marina's backs were pushed against the whale, which was stuck in place. Every so often, Humphrey would try to bite and slap the rider away but his retaliation never had any punch to it.

The lawman was doing circles around them as the darkness of dusk was setting in.

The horse's feet clacked confidently, but the man on the horse remained dead silent. Just then, the steed strolled out to a distance and kicked its feet into the air ready to charge.

“Humphrey you need to fight back! You can't let your sadness distract you!”

The rider charged at the green jellyfish, but Marina pushed her out of the way, taking the hit for her. Humphrey looked at Marina twist in pain on the ground, then looked at Molly's toast. He was helpless to save them and this only made him more depressed. He was useless, worse than useless...

The horse sped past the whale again, this time knocking Medusa to the ground, taking Marina back down with her after a failed attempt to pick herself up again.

Humphrey had to pull himself together, wriggled out of their binds, and made a desperate leap towards the rider, “This is what he wants! I'm going to save Sunny!”

“You're not helping him!” the cowboy cuts in. He then snags him by the tail. The whale grimaces. Humphrey was thrown through the air by his tail. He's slammed against the floor, he hits it skidding against rough gravel and sharp rocks.

“You failed to save him! You've failed all of us! What more is there to say?
How can you do all of this knowing... ”

He threw Humphrey up into the air again and sent him down again. Hitting the floor face first, unlike the girls, his emotions didn't change, overcome by his misery he could feel nothing else. Humphrey spat dirt from his mouth and barely caught his breath before being sent into the air one more time.

“He's going to throw you away!”

Humphrey suddenly had the mental image of Sunny throwing his book in the garbage.

It shattered him.

And with that, Outback slammed the whale down with all his might. Humphrey tumbled, deflated, and broke like a porciline vase, left in pieces for others to sweep away.

Outback stood over him on his steed. Ready to reap all the sins Humphrey had collected over three years, “...may I remember you for the friend you used to be, not the monster you became.”

The lasso wrapped around what you could call the whale's neck.

Outback pulled at the rope, his horse lifting up its front legs to help him strangle him. Humphrey squirmed as he struggled to breathe.

Humphrey closed his eyes, he couldn't let it end here, everything started to go black and he started to hallucinate, he started to remember... He remembers the promise he made long ago.

“Please Humphrey, you are the only one I trust with this.”

“Well, that's... That's just monstrous. It's monstrous of you to ask... And it's a monstrous thing to ask me to do! How would I even do that?!”

“Please!” the boy hugs Humphrey in desperation, “please do this for me, I need you.”

Sunny's words echoed in his mind.

No.

No. This wasn't right. He had no right to feel depressed. No right to let himself be distracted, now when Sunny was on the line. Sunny could throw him in the trash! That wouldn't change a thing.

Humphrey opened his eyes.

Humphrey was no longer MISERABLE, he felt NEUTRAL. He felt nothing.

The whale bites down on the rope around his neck...

...and starts slurping.

He began pulling more and more of the lasso into his mouth like it was a noddle. Outback tried to pull it back, but was losing his grip, his horse neighing and shuffling in place. Eventually Outback lost, and the rope went spinning into Humphrey's lips.

“Mm! Mmm! Now that's what I call a spaghetti western! Nyak nyak!”

If Humphrey was to serve the Dreamer to his fullest ability he would have to teach himself to lean into the pain; lean into the nightmare. Become the monster Sunny needed him to be.

Outback had lost his lasso giving them a much-needed break.

Medusa yelled, “Humphrey come to me!” she had a strength potion in hand.

Outback shot the potion with a well-placed bullet. He tried to fire a few more rounds into Medusa herself, but Humphrey used his 'Protection' ability to jump in the way. He opened his mouth at ate all the bullets, Outback fired until his revolver only made a pathetic repeating hollow 'clink' sound.

After, Humphrey just playfully spat out the bullets like they were watermelon seeds. From behind Humphrey emerged the Slime Girls, all patched up and at full strength. The whale swayed back and forth like a predator moving forward for the kill, and the horse jumped backward in fear, whining.

Outback struggled to get control of it. Humphrey taunted,

“It's time to feast! Of course, of course!
I'm so hungry, I could eat a...
Hmm, girls, how does the saying go again?”

A bunch of horse cries are heard as Humphrey eats the black horse, its legs kicking pathetically as it's pulled into the whale's mouth. Outback is thrown off. Making Outback revert to his first form.

“Well partner, looks like you've won. I guess the good guys can't win every battle...
but this war... It's far from over...”

= The battle ended. =

Outback fell onto his back,

“I shoulda seen this comin'...” Humphrey stood closely over the cowboy, as he spoke, “I was never the fighting type. To tell ya the truth, sometimes I would go on patrol and not even carry a piece on me. This was back in the day when the men weren't low down and everyone played fair.”

“Your time has come to an end old man,” Humphrey shakes his head.

“I reckon your right...”

Humphrey frowned, “yes. This had to be done. I don't think things may ever be the same as they once were. But we all have our place in his future, and I have my part.”

“Sorry about what I said earlier... I have no idea if the boy's gonna throw you by the wayside.”

“Don't worry about it... we have no idea what he thinks...”

“I think I was wrong about ya, friend....”

Humphrey quirked his brow as the dying man spoke, “This whole time, I'd just figured you were just yella'. Ya' know, like the cat. The big yella' cat who was too afraid to do anything, against the Dreamers will... so I always figured you were the same way... Well... I think this fight may have challenged that notion. You wouldn't have fought back like this if you were a coward. Which tells me, you actually believe what you are doing is right.”

“Well, I'm sorry to disappoint. I'm not who you thought I was.”

“Don't be sorry friend. If anything, this gives me hope! This has only strengthened my resolve.”

“What,” Humphrey shook his head, how could he possibly come out of this more optimistic?

“If you ain't yella, it means ya have the gusto to do the right thing. Even if you don't want to right now. I'm happy to learn you have it in ya to make this right. I still believe in you.”

Humphrey wordlessly shook his head, “That's foolish.” Humphrey looked away, off into the sunset, not wanting the sheriff to get any satisfaction from seeing his tears.

The cowboy didn't notice, he laid his head down and looked up at the passing night stars, “even still.”

The two just stayed there. Both of them are far too stuck in their minds to make a move. The girls just motionlessly watched them from a distance, in the silhouette of the setting sun.

“Tell me friend... do ya remember. Way back in the day, when the boy was just learning to get walkin'. Remember that TV show, I was a part of?”

“Yes, yes I do,” Humphrey said quietly.

“Sunny would always get so sad when it ended. Each time I'd have to say goodbye and the credits would roll. In hindsight, it made no sense. Why get all worked up over a cartoon character, but that's just the kind of boy Sunny is. Nearly brought him to tears every time.”

“Yes,” Humphrey nodded.

“What's the song? How did the song go?” the sheriff began singing deliriously to himself:

“Mis-ter. Outback~,
I'm sorry it's that time again.
We-had good times!
But it's my time to go my friend.”

Humphrey cuts in, singing somberly, “It's time we ride into the sunset...”

They finish the song together, “but you needn't wear a frown,
I'll catch ya, at the next time I come round', in-to town...”

The sheriff then fell silent after that, lying perfectly still. He must have fallen asleep, to take a very long nap. Humphrey waits for a few moments for him to become toast... but he doesn't. Humphrey moved up to the sheriff and confirmed he really wasn't breathing.

Not wanting to leave his body to the elements, Humphrey rolled out his tongue and scooped up the sheriff's corpse. He rolled the body back into his mouth and swallowed him whole. It had a bitter taste and was a hard thing to swallow, it felt like it caught in the back of his throat.

Humphrey shook away his tears before turning to the girls. “here I am getting all worked up over nothing... He'll be back...” All of them came back after the hard resets.

“I'm not so sure about that,” Medusa said rubbing the whale's back.

Humphrey didn't bother explaining what he meant, he just nodded, “Well girls, I say it's time we headed back... No need for us to linger here any longer than we have to...”

“There's no rush,” Molly assured him.

“We can stay here as long as you need, Humphrey,” Marina added.

“...” In response, the whale simply turned to the Sun and sat there, watching it.

Not speaking another word to the girls. They stood next to him, all the same, watching the sun fall with great interest, with him, letting the minutes pass on despite its unending twilight.

Chapter Text

Their cart shook gently, as Humphrey and his company sat on the train, making their long commute back to Deep Well. In silence, they watched the world go by from their seats. The train was completely empty and quiet, broken only by the repetitive sound of the cart bumping up and down with a rhythmic cadence. The whale just sat there twiddling his tail. Humphrey was doing a bad job at holding back a frown. The girls just look at each other clearly not sure what to say, and were concerned for their landlord, not having seen him this bummed out before. Molly pushed Medusa forward.

“So, um Humphrey...”

The whale looked up from his distraction to the green jellyfish.

“What are we going to do now?”

“We're going home. Outback's dead. And we don't have enough time to go after another target.” He said that without any of the emotional strength he'd actually need to pursue that, even if he could.

Medusa speaks up, “Me and the girls are planning on stopping by the city. To have a girl's night out.”

“Oh, that's cool...” Humphrey shrugged, “We're already done for the day, you guys can do whatever.”

“Well,” Marina added, “actually, we were wondering...”

Molly jumped in, “We were wondering if you wanted to come with us!”

Humphrey didn't react, he just kept looking out the panel windows as the world moved on without him. He eventually said, “Thank you, that's kind of you. But I wouldn't want to ruin you girl's evening... I just want to go home, and curl up for a nice long nap.”

“Oh come on Humphrey!” Marina shook her hands openly, “You said you were stuck in the cave most of the time, right? How many chances do you get to have a night out like this!”

“Not many, but I'm okay with that. Lots of fun things to do at home...”

The girls all gave each other a look.

“I think you should come with us,” Molly pressed, “it'd be fun! It'd help get your mind off things...”

That did seem appealing to him. Humphrey examined the girls and considered their offer, then he nodded his head, “All alright. I'll go. What do I have to lose?”

“Alright!” Marina yelled. “this big whale is going to have a big day out on the town!”

Humphrey was a bit touched by the enthusiasm, but he also felt just a tinge of regret wondering what exactly he just signed onto. An announcement played over the train's speakers.

“Attention all passengers, we are approaching Deep Well!”

The girls skipped out of the train station and onto the busy streets.

“WOO! Nothing like being broke and out on the town!” the red squid cheered.

“Broke is an understatement.,” Medusa drawled, “We didn't make too many clams on that last mission and most of that should be going to restock our inventory.”

“Oh, our youngest sister is always no fun!” Molly pouted.

“My point is, where can we go on a budget?” Medusa pondered, she turned to the big whale, who had been silent up to that point, “Any ideas Humphrey?”

“Oh, I don't know...” Humphrey was genuinely at a loss, “I'm just following you guys. I've never really liked the big city,” he saw them slump at his response, but he continued, “I belong in the boonies. That's where my story is set. On the Underwater Highway, in my little cave.”

“There has to be something we can do here that you like...” Medusa wonders.

“Oh, I know!” Medusa perks up, at her big idea, “Food. The city has LOTS of great food!”

“ Yes.” Molly concurs, “The food is so awesome it almost makes up for the high taxes and impossible cost of living,” she follows with a “fufufu!”

“Hmm. Well, I am hungry...” Humphrey conceded, “What did you have in mind?”

“Let's take a look around! ”

The whale and girls then walked up and down the city streets looking for a place to eat. But it was already the evening rush. All the stores either had an hour's wait or were too expensive for their budget.

“Oh wow. We really are broke, aren't we?” Marina slumped.

“Wow, and is it just me, or is it getting really foggy,” Molly noted. The weather must have soured, it didn't look like rain, but it wasn't very pretty. It seemed like this whole evening out had been a bad idea.

“I hear there's going to be a lot of rain over the next week,” the whale stated.

Medusa looked up at the gray sky. “Hm... I think I know what we can do. The air is so cool and crisp, this would be a great time to have a picnic.”

“Is that really a good idea? I heard city parks are... kinda gross?” Molly said squeamishly.

“Whale... I do have some leftovers in my pantry...” Humphrey lit up.

“Yeah, it'd be like a meal from home but while out on the town,” Medusa enthused.

Marina jumped up, and added, “And I got some activities we can do while we eat!”

And just like that, the plan was set. But could they really have a nice picnic in the big city?

They all sat together on a big baby-blue blanket in the gray melancholy of the park.

Cloud cover and fog created a soothing blue evening glow. Humphrey had taken out all the sandwich makings, and everyone was eating silently, listening to the sounds of the city life behind them, all sorts of honks and sirens blared. It should have been annoying but somehow being there was its own experience. Like they were eating somewhere special.

“So this wasn't so bad after all, “ Marina said between bites, putting down her massive sandwich. She had stuffed it with all sorts of meats and condiments. Humphrey was silently judging their sandwich-making skills and quietly decided hers looked the most appetizing, if not a bit messy. Personally, he'd give it a 9/10, but he also knew anyone else would rank it a 5.

The same could not be said for Molly's sandwich. Now it was not his place to judge, but he was not a fan of how little she had put on it. Just baloney, cheese, and smothered in mayonnaise. She had cut off the crust and then sliced them further into triangles. They looked more like oderves than a meal. 3/10. She wiped her face every time she went to take a bite. “Mmm, yes. While it's not as nice as a restaurant, it's always lovely to spend some quality time with my favorite sisters, and whale.”

Humphrey mindlessly nodded and looked over the last sandwich. Medusa's. It was graceful and gorgeous as expected. It had frilly fancy lettuce and beat red tomato slices sticking out, all on toasted rye bread. It looked like a meal from a commercial. 10/10.

“That looks absolutely scrumptious Medusa.” Humphrey gave.

“Thank you, are you going to eat anything?”

“Oh no thanks, all the food came from inside my stomach. So I'll just keep it in there.”

The girls look down at their sandwiches and consider the implications. They were eating food that was technically regurgitated from the stomach of a whale.

“Suddenly, I'm not so hungry anymore...” Molly states

“Ah that's too bad,” Humphrey bristled, “ I was just starting to have fun too, turns out the city park isn't so bad after all. It's littered with all kinds of cool things, look at this.”

Humphrey opened his tongue, to reveal an empty dirty syringe.

“Isn't this cool! I found it on the ground. You think they were holding some sort of vaccine drive around here?”

Molly gawked at it in disgust.

Medusa followed up with a, “Yeah...” she swallowed, “that's probably it.”

“Free vaccines? Public safety at its finest. What a nice neighborhood,” Humphrey concluded.

“I- think I'll take that away,” Medusa plucks it off his tongue, “ to dispose of it.”

“I'll go with you,” Molly coughed, trying to hold herself back from throwing up.

The blue and green girls scuttled away to the nearby restroom, leaving Humphrey and Marina alone.

“Those two are so weak,” she shakes her head, “how'd you like the picnic Humphrey?”

“It's been great. You know who used to throw the best picnics... Mari!”

“Who's that?”

It barely occurred to the whale that not everyone in this world knew the inner circle of the Dreamer.

“Oh- well. She was... someone really nice,” Humphrey shrugs, “you would've liked her... you definitely would like her picnics at least. But she's not around anymore.”

“Oh did something happen to her?”

“...” Humphrey gave the squid an intense stare.

“Humphrey?”

“No, she's still around, she just doesn't hang around me anymore. That's what I meant. She was a friend of an old friend. That's all ancient history now...”

Marina nods her head, looking like she's been holding in a question, “So Humphrey, I was wondering if we could do an experiment together. Just the two of us.”

“Oh?! Sounds interesting. But why?”

“Not sure, I'm just bored.” she shrugs.

“Whale I can't argue with that! Want me to get out the supplies?”

Humphrey closed his mouth and after a few seconds opened it up again, with all sorts of crafting supplies. Cotton balls, popsicle sticks, toothpicks, yarn, and so on.

“Yeah, this should work!” she starts unloading the clear containers and looking through them.

“So? What are we going to be making today, mistress? Nyak, nyak!” Humphrey says putting on his best 'Igor' persona whenever he helped her make experiments in the past.

“Well, that's the thing. I was hoping that today. You could make it.”

“Me?” Humphrey drew back in an exaggerated manner, but then smiled again, “You want me to pick?”

“Yeah Humphrey, I want to see what a whale's mind would come up with!”

“Ah ha! So the real experiment, is examining me, you want to see what I'd make... intriguing, I'll play along. Hmmm~ Let's see. Let's see... what-oh-what should we make today...”

“But there's only one rule!” Marina threw in, “It can't be anything food-related.”

Humphrey's face fell, “What... No! There goes all my ideas!” Humphrey whined and shook his tail, “now I have no idea what to make!”

“Come on Humphrey... just be creative! Try to make something that... shows your feelings.”

“Hmm,” Humphrey considered his options, looking at the materials available.

The two just sat in silence, letting the sounds of the park speak as they looked over the supplies.

As Humphrey mulled over his options he was distracted by the sounds of laughter and children, playing on from jungle gym. He looked up and saw the little monster creatures jump up and down on the bars like little monkeys. He then noticed a little toddler sitting not too far from where the whale was sitting, playing with trucks in the sandbox. The sight of the little boy warmed the whale's heart.

“It's good to just play, and let loose, don't you think?” the woman said, catching his attention.

“I agree, these sorts of crafting projects are good for the imagination.” Humphrey nodded.

“Yeah, that's true, but you know what else?”

“Hm?”

“It's good for expressing yourself. Let's you get out all your feelings so you don't have to go through all the trouble of saying it.”

“Is that why you do so many experiments? To express yourself?”

“Absolutely, but also because it creates a company. I was always lonely growing up. I couldn't always find friends around on the road, so I just sort of just created them. That way I'm never alone.”

“Ah. Well. Making them is way easier than keeping them, that's for sure.” Humphrey nodded fixated on his project. “And once I'm done making this little guy... he might want to go his own way too.”

The little boy from earlier runs by them with some friends, a pair of swings swaying empty in their wake.

“I never knew you were this sentimental. You're a good listener you know that?” she said.

“Hm. It depends, I guess. I just try to enjoy life and hold onto what I care about... Hmm, so what do you think about me adding some arms to this guy? Should I use wire or sticks?...”

The whale then set off to work, becoming hyper-fixated on his task. Using the tip of his tongue, the whale started assembling something with popsicle sticks making a skeleton out of them, and taping on bundles of cotton balls to put some meat on its bones. He then finally started wrapping it in blue yarn. Then shoved a few toothpicks into its cheeks to give it whiskers.

Marina meanwhile, tried her best not to interfere with the whale's process; taking notes on a clipboard.

“There! It- is- mag-ni-fice`~” Humphrey beams.

Marina only lifted her eyebrows in approval.

The strange cat creature had two legs and had the vertical shape of a Greek pillar. It looked like the creature was straining to hold up something heavy, an invisible ceiling, and failing.

“Behold, 'Sad Cat-pillar'!”

“Wow! That thing looks awesome, honestly, I didn't think you had it in you!

“Whale of course! Just look at it. It's big, it's droopy, it's tons of fun!”

Marina wordlessly inspected the lifeless frowning cat creature.

“What do you have there Marina? And why is all this mess out?” Molly asks, walking up with Medusa. Both seemed very curious as to what was going on.

“Where were you two?” Marina asked incredulously, “It seems like me and Humphrey had hours to make this thing,” she looked around, noticing the park lights, “and it's getting late too.”

“Oh, we got jumped by a recycling cult at the restroom. It wasn't a big deal. They went down in swift fashion and we got some much-needed clams out of it.” Molly bragged.

“Did you guys see what I made!” Humphrey moved to show them, “I'm gonna call it... Sad Cat-pillar.”

“Did you make that all by yourself?” Medusa asks.

“Why yes I did! I got to make my own experiment, as part of a greater psychological experiment.” Humphrey wagged his tail back and forth, ” Rest assured, I will have this study peer-reviewed by the board of Humphrey scholars and I'm certain we'll get it published. ”

All the girls laugh, “Yeah it looks wonderful!”

“I'll put it in my machine and it'll be a real living creature soon enough!”

“Whale then, with that accomplishment out of the way, I think we can pack it in,” Humphrey noted.

After spending a few seconds packing up the picnic makings, the girls all stepped into Humphrey's mouth to rest after a long day. The whale then hailed the nearest taxi with his tail outstretched in the air and a stuffed blue cat monster tucked under his fin.

“NOW! There is no time to waste! Let us begin the procedure!” Marina shouted.

“Yes, mistress, in a few moments this meager stuffed toy will be given life!” Humphrey added, he then turned to Marina nervously... “So um, I was wondering, would you mind if I... kept it.”

“Hmm?” Marina was busy flipping on all the necessary switches that lined the contours of her laboratory, “you want to keep it as a pet?”

“As a pet, yes, but also as a companion. I've taken a shine to it you see!”

“I've noticed... consider it yours.”

“Really!” Humphrey jumped like a little kid then pulled it back, “Oh that is quite great to hear!”

“Now, enough talk, let's get started, place the creature in the tank.”

Humphrey did just that. Taking special care to sit it upright in the tube.

“Good now stand back!”

She flipped the leaver. And the machine started to blink in flashing lights.

Humphrey's bud moved up close watching it intently. Humphrey was a bit nervous, wondering what the little thing would say, what it would think of him.

“Any moment now!”

Then it stopped...

The tank opened. And the smoke poured out.

Humphrey marveled at the creature, but... something was off. It was moving but... only a little bit. Humphrey felt an apple gets lodged in his throat. As he realized it was struggling to breathe.

Loud beeping sounds, came from Marina's machine.

“Nonnononononono!” Marina said, “Move over Humphrey, please!”

She rushed the creature and started shocking it with something,

“What's happening?” Humphrey asked dumbly, “helpless to do anything.”

Marina kept shocking it, but eventually, she went still, and the beeping flat-lined.

The smoke from the machine finally cleared.

Marina turned around, blocking the view of the creature, she just looked at the ground.

“Humphrey.... I'm so sorry....”

Humphrey stood in complete silence.

He then moved forward to gently brush her aside, to get a look.

At its blue fur. Its puffy body... its silly whiskers.

The creature looked... peaceful.

Humphrey turned around, turning his back to Marina to hide his brimming tears.

“I'm so sorry, I couldn't help,” she said lifelessly, not daring to look up at him.

“It- it's no big deal, Marina, please, don't get upset. I just... need some time to myself...”

Humphrey disappeared onto the floor not looking back.

They put it into a little shoe box.

A quick makeshift funeral on the edge of the highway.

They decided not to bury it in Humphrey himself, he didn't want to eat it...

They buried Outback right next to it.

The sound of the city roared in the distant background, the whale and his slime friends were gathered just off the freeway, on a small cliff overlooking the warm glow of the city, in the darkness.

Humphrey could only frown, little tears dripped from his face.

He wondered why it died? That's what bothers him the most. Not knowing why it happened. Was it just a cruel accident of fate? Was it malnourished? Did he do something wrong?

In the end, it didn't matter, since the result was the same:

The sad sight of a whale burying a shoebox in the grass... on the precipice of a city too busy to care.

Humphrey needed some alone time. He spent a few minutes in the cave. It was where he always went when he was sad. To get away from the lab and be away from all the other versions of himself. In the end, time healed his pain.

He felt silly in hindsight. Marina's experiments died all the time... So why did he care so much this time? After a while, the sense of crashing pain was overtaken by a feeling of disappointment.

“It would have been nice,” he concluded.

But decided he had to just move past what happened, not let it hurt him more than it had to.

Humphrey dived into the water and surfaced somewhere special. He snakes his way back and forth through the guts of the dead beast until he reaches the end.

This was it. The first tear. The first entrance to Black Space.

The whale took a moment to examine the mural on the wall, a mural of Something.

“Oh Sunny... I wonder if we'll ever play again, just like the old times. I had a dream a few days ago. It was about the day we first met: that ratty old apartment. Me finding you there, then the desert. All of it. And I was just thinking, I miss you. The real you. I hope I'll get to meet you at least one more time...”

After a moment of silence, Humphrey turned to make his exit. But once he did, the room lit blood red. He looked around to see a shining red light beaming onto the center of the room, and...

Him.

“So The Oldest returns to the scene of the crime once again.”

The shadowy stranger stood on the water's surface.

Behind him was a red key and a red light shining on it.

“Whale whale whale, what are you doing here? Stranger,” Humphrey spat with venom.

“I'm here to offer a path forward.”

“Get lost pest!” Humphrey grilled him, “I'm in no mood to deal with the likes of you!”

“You don't have to take this path. But if you choose to, pick up this key, you may step into this light, and face your demons. Face what you've been avoiding... what you've been forgetting.”

“What could you possibly offer me?” Humphrey threw out his fins.

“The Truth.”

Humphrey froze.

“Walk down this path, the same Abbi once did. And when you reach the end, you'll find the same Truth she did all those years ago. The knowledge she learns, knowledge since taken away from her.”

“Why. Why would you offer this to me? Know already know my answer is 'no'.” Humphrey asks in pure astonishment, still reeling from the presented opportunity. He always wanted to know. Know what actually happened. And now he was given a chance to find out? From the Stranger no less...

“As the Oldest, you wield undue influence over the outcome of the boy's fate. I have to, at the very least, give you the chance to do the right thing. And now, I leave the choice up to you...”

And like that, the Stranger disappeared. The red key in the spotlight stayed. All he'd have to do was walk in, and he'd be on his way... to knowing.

Against, his first instinct, to run away, Humphrey followed his better judgment.

He swam over the light, grabbed the key, and then everything was red.

= END OF CHAPTER ONE =

Chapter Text

“We're about ready to go, Dad!” Mari called.

“Hopefully it doesn't rain!” he called back.

He and Mari had just greeted Kel and Hero and were surprised to see that Aubrey was already with them when they arrived at their doorstep.

They had just moved into the house around two weeks ago.

“Alright, wait just a moment.” Sunny's father strode over to them, almost too happy. His smile twists his face. “Here Sunny, I have something for you my boy.” His father then reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handful of quarters. He then gives his son an enthused nod signaling him to hold open his hands. Sunny holds his hands out.

“This is your allowance,” the father says.

The quarters cascade into the boy's hands, as Kel is seen shaking giddily in the background.

The kids head off in the direction of the park. “Alright, you kids have fun!” Sunny looks back to see his father gripping the frame of the front door as he waved them off.

“It must be nice being so rich!” Kel chimes, “Your house is so much bigger than ours!”

Sunny looked at Kel's house in a double take. They looked about the same size. Sure, it was a tiny bit smaller but beyond that, he couldn't see a difference.

“Wow. You couldn't be more rude Kel!” Aubrey piped in.

“I'm just saying it's a nice house. I'm complimenting him,” he puts his hands behind his head. “Ahh! I have a feeling we're gonna be spending a lot of sleepovers at Sunny's house. Besides...” Kel gives a peek over to Sunny, “She's just jealous cause her house is way smaller. It's pint-sized.”

Kel gets a punch to the gut. He keels over in pain.

“Aubrey!” Mari scolds.

Hero walks over to pick up his brother, “Kel, you had that one coming.”

“Ugh! What the heck Aubrey!” Kel shouts after regaining his footing.

“This is why I didn't want to tell you where my house is! I shouldn't have trusted you!” Aubrey looks away with indignation.

“What's the big deal? You can't take a joke? I didn't even think you'd care that much,” Kel dishes back still rubbing his sore stomach.

“Snake!” Aubrey retorts.

“Where!” Kel freezes. Jumping back. Looking every which way at the sidewalk, “Where is it?”

Aubrey pauses, then starts to laugh at him, “You idiot!”

“No Kel,” Hero sighed, “it's just a metaphor for someone who turns out to be a backstabber.” Hero tried to explain.

“I don't know what a 'metafer' is, but if Aubrey is calling me a backstabber, she shouldn't. If anything, she's the snake for hitting me out of nowhere. That hurt!”

Sunny was getting tired of this exchange. Both of his new friends were too high-energy, and the raven boy never had patience for people who could not control their emotions.

To him, it felt like, that is to say, appeared to be a lack of personal responsibility. Especially when people use their “moods” to justify a wide range of bad behavior as if saying 'I'm in a bad mood' made up for anything bad a person says or does. But even beyond that, there was this lack of agency about the whole thing that bothered him. Sunny liked feeling, or rather, being in control. He loved dreaming and fantasizing for this very reason. In his mind, Sunny could do whatever he wanted, but the real world was mired with hard tasks and boring things to do. And it was just weird thinking that a bunch of chemicals in his brain would dictate what he would do. So he made an effort to control them.

At this point, Kel and Aubrey had mellowed down. Hero had pulled Kel aside to walk with him and Mari had tethered Aubrey in tow. Sunny walked in the back, watching them from behind. Sunny was very observant. It had only been just over two weeks and Sunny was getting a good grasp on the new cast of characters that had entered into his life. The first two were Kel and his brother.

Their father had shown up at the door with a large cactus from his home state, and Kel was jumping up and down trying to look past his dad through the doorway. They then locked eyes, and that was it. His neighbor's happy grin melted into a more subdued knowing smile like the transition boiling water makes when it goes from a loud rumble to a quiet rolling boil. His eyes never left Sunny's. He could see all the plans the tan boy was making in that little head of his, and it felt just a bit creepy. But that's just who his self-proclaimed 'first friend' seems to be; someone happy and sure of himself.

His brother, on the other hand, came across as very insecure. Ironic considering how apparently gifted he was a everything. Sunny suffered through a solid week where the only thing Mari would talk about was her “Hero” the sandwich man. And all his many talents. All the activities he was involved in. It was obnoxious and made Sunny want to barf. Mari's fawning aside, Hero wasn't a proud guy. He would overthink things and his intelligence left him in a default state of sadness. Or at least that's what he could piece together from all of Mari's ramblings about him.

And then there was Aubrey. He knew the least about her since he had just met her a few days ago. He knew two things about her though: she was happy to see him, and mad when she saw Kel. That was it.

Eventually, they had finally reached the park.

“So you guys know the game plan. Today's the day we finally explore the forest behind the park,” Hero instructed. “Now it's important that we all stick together while-”

“Oh my god! It's Basil!” Aubrey runs away from the group, to the shock of everyone.

She runs over to a surprised-looking boy, hunched over in the bushes. They have a short exchange, where the boy shakes his head. But is still pulled up by the girl anyway.

She then started to drag him by the wrist back to them He was blonde and wearing overalls.

“Everyone. I want you to meet my new friend Basil,” she gestured to the boy now closing his eyes in embarrassment, putting his hand behind his head. “He moved here just this month. Just like you Sunny!” Aubrey adds. Now she pushed her blonde friend forward to the rest of the group.

“H- hi,” the green boy musters out. Sunny's first impression of Basil is that he seemed on edge.

“Basil dear!” yelled an old lady from a nearby picnic table, “are you making some new friends? Bring them over here!” the lady beckoned them to sit with her.

“Oh wow.” Mari remarks, “Looks like you're meeting all types of new people Sunny.”

They took a seat at a picnic table as Basil and his grandmother made their introductions.

He was very polite but after he greeted everyone, he went silent. The only other time he spoke up was when Aubrey and his grandma started talking about flowers. Knowledgeable about this topic, Basil started speaking on all these fancy flower names Sunny didn't know, but still, the boy didn’t come off as pretentious about it though.

As they spoke Sunny found himself distracted by the sunlight dancing through the approaching black clouds. Light slapping his face on and off. It looked like it was going to rain now. It made for a moody and cold picnic, the forest looked almost sad. Sunny noticed a glistening spiderweb in the treeline just left of where he was sitting, and worried for the spider's safety in the advancing storm.

“And what's your name little one?” the old woman asked the raven with brightness in her eyes. This question nearly made Sunny jump, pulled out of his thoughts too abruptly for his taste.

“My name... is Sunny...”

“I'm sorry,” Mari informed her, “My little brother can get distracted easily by his daydreams.”

“Oh I see,” she nods, “do you always get lost in your headspace so easily?” the woman leans over putting her hand across the table in a show of confidentiality, “That's quite alright, I'm sort of a dreamer myself. Only so many of us understand the special nature of dreams.”

The old woman winks at him, and this makes him look down in a blush.

“Yes, my little brother is a heavy sleeper alright,” Mari confirms.

“Sort of like my little brother,” Hero adds in, making everyone but Kel and Sunny laugh.

“Now what are you doing here old bat?” an older voice called over to them. It appeared to be an older gentleman who seemed to know this new kid's grandmother.

“Look what I found! So many new friends for my grandson to play with, I was really worried he'd get lonely moving here, but not anymore!” Mari aggressively rubs the gentle boy's shoulder, making him sway forward and back, “the real question, is what are you doing here? “ she responded in kind, “shouldn't you be pacing the cemetery at this hour?”

“No, no. Not today, I got there and I noticed the spirits were all sleeping. I didn't want to disturb them.”

“Spirits? Is the graveyard in town haunted?” Kel pulled his teeth into a frightened grimace.

“Ghosts aren't real,” Aubrey gives the silly boy a dismissive glance.

“It's not like that at all. You don't get it now, but the church cemetery is a peaceful place. It's where so many of my friends live. I visit them often, and it's fun to listen to them chat with each other, it's not scary at all little boy. Trust me, when you get older, you'll learn that spirits aren't what haunt people...”

“Then what does?” the older boy in blue asks.

“Oh please,” the grandmother cuts in, “don't let this old man scare you with all his tales of the supernatural. Let's save the talk of dream lives and afterlives for another day,” the old woman turns to the children again, “so what was it you kids where planning on doing on a fine day like this?”

Everyone was now getting ready to finally start their forest adventure, even the grandmother was busy making conversation with the old man as they packed. But Basil and Sunny kept sitting at the table, positioned diagonally from each other on each side, sitting awkwardly.

Neither were particularly good at starting a conversation.

Suddenly Sunny points at something.

Basil turns to look at the massive spiderweb just in the trees.

“Oh wow,” Basil tries, “that's a lovely-looking spider web.”

“Is it going to be okay?” Sunny asks.

“Oh, you mean the storm, you don't have to worry about it. They retreat when it rains. Sure the web falls apart, but they always just make a new one,” Basil then turns his attention back to Sunny, “Do you like spiders?”

Sunny shook his head.

“Oh, are you scared of them?”

The raven looks off to the side.

“I get that. Lots of people are afraid of what they don't know. It's why we're scared of the dark. Ignorance can be terrifying. But once you get familiar with something and know all the facts, it suddenly gets less scary,” Sunny just twiddles his thumbs in response.

Basil then looks off, wondering if he said too much. “I- I like spiders anyway. They help me in the garden by eating all the pests. Heard you guys were going bug hunting. Is that something you like to do? Explore the outdoors? Catch bugs?”

“I'd rather just stay inside...” Sunny frowns, “Catch monsters on my 'Jash Boy'.”

“Ohh. You play video games?” Basil smiles and leans towards Sunny in excitement, “I just got into Petrocks. My grandma got it for me for my birthday. Although, I'm not sure if I'm any good. I don't really have anyone to play with.”

“I have a Petrock.”

“Ah! Which one?”

“Jash.”

“Oh, well he's a classic, makes sense,” Basil nods, rubbing his chin. He didn't realize that Sunny's long game was to stick it out and wait for Jash to evolve into One-Wing.

“My sister uses Ocotaco. But she barely plays,” in truth, Mari only got one because Sunny did. She preferred real-life games like softball over virtual ones.

“Oh, that's nice. Well, mine is Roselad, you know, the one that looks like a handsome grayscale portrait. Truth be told, I just liked how it has a rose.”

At this, Sunny starts to think about his own art. Thinking back to his sketchbook.

“Do you like painting Basil?”

Both boys are interrupted by a yell, and look over to the now-screaming Kel, “we can't go back now!”

Little drops trickle down as the tree leaves shuffle wildly.

Both Basil and Sunny looked at each other and then at the gray sky, as they began to feel the drip-drops of the rain. Kel was throwing a proper fit, as Mari was rushing to get everything together.

It seems like their adventure would have to wait for another day.

Suddenly, Sunny's mother pulls up to them in her car.

“Get in the car!” It was Sunny's mother shouting venomously from the driver’s seat.

She was mad. Inordinately so.

Sunny gave his goodbyes to his new acquaintances as he and Mari were rushed into her car.

“When we get home, start packing your things.”

“So is it like an underwater tree?”

“Well, no. It's kinda like a plant, but not really. I'm not sure what it is.”

He and Mari were now hiding in the piano parlor. Mari attempts to play Omori, a nice melancholic rhythmic melodyl: “Lost Library”. The pattering of rain against the towering venue window is punctuated by the occasional clap of thunder. Otherwise, the room was drenched in a soggy silence buttressing the muffled shouting coming through the walls.

“BECAUSE I KNEW YOU WOULD REACT THIS WAY! YOU ALWAYS REACT THIS WAY WHENEVER I TRY TO DO-”

Sunny wanted his parents to stop fighting. Mom and Dad were arguing in the kitchen. The siblings tried their best to ignore it. Usually, Mari would take Sunny outside whenever Mom and Dad fought, but today it was pouring out, so she figured the sound-proofed walls of their new piano room would be the next best thing. It didn't take her long to get a lay of her new surroundings.

Sunny loved his new house. The first day they arrived he was nervous about the size of it. But with time it grew on him. It was just so big and comfortable. There was more room for toys, more room to play, and enough room for Mari to have her own grand piano which was really something she always wanted. It was just super unfortunate that he was stuck in Mari's second room on a rainy day. With nothing to do but read in a vain attempt to block out the stress of his family life. This should have been a fun day. Instead, all he could do was spend his Saturday reading about underwater sea life.

“But it has branches so it must be a tree,” Sunny prodded. His eyes never leave his book.

“Not exactly, it could be an animal too. I know barnacles are animals even though they are stationary. Soooo, I'm not sure... I'll just have to look it up.”

Mari gave up. Between the shouting, thunder, and inquisitive little brother, it was clear Mari was not going to have a chance to try out her brand-new piano. Flipping her music sheets closed, she stood up and made her way over to the bookshelf Sunny sat adjacent to. Sunny could barely read so that left her in charge of being his personal dictionary whenever he didn't know a word, or whenever he just had a random question in general. A heavy task when catering to a boy with such a vivid imagination, but she didn't mind. Mari loved her little brother and wanted to be there to help him discover the world. She skimmed the necks of each encyclopedia searching for the key letter. Behind one of these letters was the information she was looking for. After all, this was the most up-to-date set, the '1986 24th Edition', it came free with the house along with her grand piano.

“Are they tentacles then? Why aren't they called coral tentacles?”

“I don't know, Sunny. I'm trying to find out right now. Why are you asking anyway?“

“Because today I saw a shark swimming next to one of them in class.”

Sunny was always one of the weird kids who would run to the informational section when picking out his library books, some of which he wouldn't be returning, including a certain book about the Food Pyramid. He'd soak up knowledge like a sponge, perking up every time his teacher would wheel in a TV cart to play documentary videos, the kind that would make all the other students groan.

“I really like the cool videos where there like dinosaur bones and a white museum, and it has a theme song where it goes like DO do-do-do doooo; DO do-do-do doooo; DO da-da-do do DO-DO-DO-DO.”

Mari put her finger to her mouth, “I think I know which one you're talking about....”

“I'M SORRY I CAN'T BE HERE EVERY MINUTE, 24/7, I HAVE A LIFE TOO. YOU KNOW DAMN WELL THAT I CAN'T-”

“Are Mom and Dad fighting?” Sunny asked, knowing the answer.

“I think they are.”

“Why are they fighting?”

“I don't know, but you shouldn't be thinking about it, Sunny. Just keep reading your book.” Meanwhile, Mari was flipping through the 'C' book searching for the nature of the branch coral. Sunny was very bored already having lost interest and was about to start reading his book where he left off but to his great surprise, he was interrupted by the sound of a familiar boisterous voice.

“Psst. Psst! Hey Sunny! Sunny! Yoo-hoo~ Over here!”

Sunny looks for who is calling him. There was nothing in his immediate surroundings, but all it took was one look outside and he knew who it was. Sunny was greeted by a gigantic grin smiling down on him from the bay window. The boy's eyes lit up.

“Humphrey!”

“Whale what's going on hear? Why is there shouting? Trouble in paradise I'm afraid.”

“What?” Sunny whispers back.

“Heh. You'll understand when you get older. ”

“No, I mean, I can barely hear you,” Sunny gives a hand motion to his ear.

“Oh. Hm,” the whale seemingly understood giving a sharp nod.

“Just give me a second, I'll have to use my sneak ability to find a way in.”

The whale looks in one direction. Then looks the other way at a loss. Then in one glorious motion, Humphrey throws all of his weight gracelessly towards the window like a brick smashing through it. There is a loud crash of glass shattering. Sunny covers his face as the window shatters into a gazillion pieces. In the wreckage the whale lays, beached, flopping a bit next to the piano.

“Well that wasn't my smoothest maneuver, but it worked,” the frazzled whale takes a moment to reposition himself, rocking himself back and forth, using momentum to sit himself upright. “I'm in!”

Mary turns through the pages of the encyclopedia blissfully unaware, not becoming distracted by off-topic subjects. She is unable to detect Humphrey's stealthy maneuvers. Sunny wanted to run up to the whale and hug him but didn't want to alert Mari to his presence.

“Gee. It must suck to be cooped up inside on such a beautiful day,” Humphrey gestured to the whipping branches and thunder outside.

“I know. I wanted to explore the forest today. But we're stuck inside. There's nothing fun to do here.”

“Oh-ho-ho! But that might not be the case. I can think of a few exciting things to do inside...” the whale gave the room a good look around. “Starting with the obvious. Just what are mommy and daddy up to? Maybe that's the real mystery. I wonder what they are talking about. It could be about anything. It could even be about you.”

This made Sunny suddenly become nervous.

“Hey. What do you say we go out and take a look? Just a little peek!”

“There will be no such thing!” came a booming echoing female voice.

At this, a portal appears in front of the book shelve. The winds blowing out of it throw Mari's hair wildly, yet she is still too engrossed in the book to notice.

Out of the aperture comes a humanoid squid creature. It had tentacles for hair and a question mark where its eyes were supposed to be. It wore a blowing priest-like gown and held a red book clapped in its right hand. The indignant creature floated its way to the ground, landing gently and with grace.

Abbi took a look at her surroundings.

“My god! What happened here?” Abbi hounded, gesturing to the shattered glass scattered over the room and piano. She surveyed the small boy and then the large bloated beast beside him.

“Humphrey.” Abbi glared disapprovingly.

“I tried to squeeze my way in, but my waistline isn't what it used to be,” Humphrey feigned innocence.

Abbi then casts her magic. All the pieces of the gorgeous bay window began to float up and reassemble. Soon the whole window had been reconstructed. Glass mended as if it had never broken.

“Where's our feline friend?” the whale asked, avoiding the subject.

“He's working on a project in our world. Should be done by tonight.” Abbi crossed her tentacles, “now what's this about going out there? Talking to your parents right now? It's unthinkable.”

“But he's a big boy! He needs to know what's going on!” Humphrey flapped his tail twice.

“Mari said no. You should listen to your sister. She's been right so many times before.”

Sunny looked between the two. Uncertain who's lead to follow.

Suddenly, Humphrey jumps. Squishing Abbi beneath her.

“What in the world- “ she struggles and kicks.

“Go Sunny! I'll keep her down. You go out, now's your chance! Run free!”

Mari perks up. Finally having found what she was looking for.

“Ah, see, it says here that coral is an animal and they even have a mouth! Isn't that cool Sunny?”

No response.

“Sunny?” His sister looks to her brother to find his book closed. Left on the chair he was just sitting.

She briskly dove out of the room to find Sunny crouching in the hallway, creeping his way toward the kitchen. Hiding behind the staircase, poking his head out to listen.

“Sunny, what are you doing!” Mari shout-whispered.

Sunny jumped, then looked back at his sister, “I want to know what they're fighting about.”

Mari strode over to him quietly but at lightning speed, grabbing his wrist.

“What did I just say? We shouldn't be listening to them...” Mari trailed off as she focused on the argument in question. She then went quiet, the topic of the fight actually piqued her interest as well. She led herself and Sunny over to the hallway archway to listen in herself.

“You are un$%#*ing believable, how did you think this would be a good idea?” their mother's voice scolded. Sunny looks over to his sister.

“Hey Mari what does that word mean?” he whispers conspiratorially.

“Uhhhh. I'll tell you later, for now, stay quiet little brother,” she placed a hand over his mouth.

“Okay,” the boy responds muffled.

“I had to Honey! I can explain,” a loud male voice yells back.

“Explain? What do I even say to that? Do I really have to explain why we can't afford a million-dollar two-story house? “

“Look hear me out I had a good year-” he stops. If glares could kill. Sunny's father would be dead.

“Shut. Up. Shut it.” Sunny's mother silenced him, “This is not just about the price- or how we don't have the sort of income to afford all this, how we just had a second child- how we can barely keep up with the bills as it is-” she takes a breath,“ but its how you lied. You went behind my back… This is the last time I sign anything you just hand to me.”

“It's really not a big deal, and this- “

“You took out a mortgage rate we can't afford. That's the deal. Are you going to magically pull a million-dollar check out of your behind? I'm calling our accountant we need to sell this place as soon as possible.”

“No no no. That's not necessary. Honey. Honey. Listen, look at me. It's a sure thing, I have everything lined up. I've spoken about it with Bob and my promotion is basically a sure thing. I had to close on this place before someone else took it. This place was a steal.”

“I didn't agree to this.”

“You picked this place out yourself! You said you loved it!”

“We can't afford it-”

“We can't afford to lose it!” Sunny's father then breaks into a whisper, “The next few years are the most important for their development, these are the years where they'll make all the memories. This home is going to shape who they are… In these formative years, a sense of security is everything. I don't want them growing up in a bad place.”

“There are other houses.”

“But this place is perfect. It has to be perfect. My children are going to have the perfect childhood. I can see it now. They'll be playing out in the backyard. Running down the stairs on Christmas morning. I can see them playing in the kitchen, having friends over. Mari is already on such good terms with the neighbor boy, and his little brother is already on the way to making friends with little Sunny. Honey, Please. Trust me on this.”

Mom looks at Dad for a moment. The sound of the water hitting the window was all that he heard. A hollow thud breaks the silence. Sunny was leaning too far in to hear what his parents were whispering about, and his grip on the stair rail slipped. He does his best to stop his fall but fails, anxiously scrambling to get back into this hiding spot. Mom tilts her head towards the hallway.

“Mari, Sunny, come out. I know you're listening.”

At their mother's request, they both shuffled out, tails between their legs. Mom looked between them. Sunny looked guilty and Mari was a mix of nervous and upset. She figured there was no harm in providing their thoughts on the matter.

“What do you think of the new house Mari?” the mother asked firmly but earnestly.

Mari took a few steps forward, her hands behind her back, bouncing on her toes, making sure not the look directly at her mom so as to not give away her stake in this. She was not doing a good job of it. Only maintaining the thinnest mask of false neutrality.

“Hmm. I like~ the forest. I like~ the big window. I like~ the piano.”

“That's it go on!” her father piped up before getting another death glare.

“I think...” Mari then gives a wide sincere grin, “It's perfect!”

“See!” her father positioned himself behind her, placing both hands on her shoulders. Her mother turns her attention over to Sunny who is still doing his best attempt to seem invisible.

“And what do you think of the new house Sunny?” the little boy usually had no say in the matters of the house but she was still curious to know his early impression of it.

Sunny wasn't ready to face his family and give his opinion. He was looking away, not making eye contact, but then noticed Abbi and Humphrey who were now peeking in from the living room.

“Go on Sunny. Answer your mother,” Abbi implored. Giving a nod.

But Sunny was still unsure how to answer. He then turned to Humphrey who had just dragged himself comically out from behind Abbi with his tiny fin flippers.

“Just tell her how you feel!” the whale insisted. Nodding his head with a big smile.

Sunny looked down gathering his courage. Suddenly, he then pounces on his mother hugging her belly.

“I really like it. I don't want to leave. I want to stay here forever.”

Humphrey smiled extra large, very pleased with Sunny's response.

Abbi crossed her arms in an approving manner, as his mother picked him up. Mom hugged Sunny tight against her chest, cradling him. Sunny was now very comfortable. Something bound up released inside of him. It seemed all the rain, boredom and stress had made him sleepy. His mother was still upset at her husband's idiocy but she would have to at least consider the options.

“By the way,” Mari inserted, “you're right Dad, I really do like the neighbor boy,” Mari giggled, “he's something special.”

“Hey, hey let's not get ahead of ourselves,” his Dad blurted in a befuddled fit.

Mom then placed Sunny down and pitched the bridge between her eyes.

“Alright, you can go. Mari takes Sunny back to bed. He's ready for a nap...”

Mari picks Sunny up and carries him out. Sunny looks back to see Dad getting in close to Mom, murmuring into her hair while running his hand through it.

“They love this place,” the father stated.

“I knowww.”

“Exactly, look, if it doesn't work out, we can always sell it later. Let me make this work.”

“Where are we going to find the money though, in the meantime,” the Mom asked.

“We can put it on the credit card.”

“We already maxed out our credit card.”

“We can get another one! That should give us enough clams to hold us over until my big promotion. Let's just give it a chance.”

That was the last they heard as they made their way up the stairs. As they climbed. Mari took a look down at her little brother who was already well on his way to his dreams.

SEVEN YEARS OLD, SUNNY DRIFTS INTO A DREAM

Chapter Text

“Alright, so what's this new project about Yellow Cat?” the whale inquires.

The cat looked very excited about this one tree. The three Great Creatures and Dreamer were gathered around it. It didn't look particularly remarkable besides its location. It was located at a crossroads in the Vast Forest. The cat peeked its head around the trunk from both sides and then pointed to its base. Humphrey had to squint his eyes but then noticed a hole at the bottom.

“I think he wants us to go into it,” Abbi supplies.

“Don't tell me there's gonna be some sort of rabbit at the bottom, nyak nyak!”

The rabbit infestation was bad enough as it is. The cat chuckled at his joke.

The Big Yellow Cat was the newest addition to their group, a group that was growing too fast for his taste. It took a while for Humphrey to adapt to having Abbi around. Especially when all she would do was question every fun suggestion he made to Sunny. No, 'We can't jump off the roof into the leaves.' No, 'We can't melt plastic toys in a fire.' No, 'We can't use a kitchen knife as our legendary sword.' And on and on... All great ideas were dismissed by Abbi. But for all her annoyance and bluster, Humphrey preferred her in one aspect, she was boring. And Humphrey was still the fun one, in comparison to her at least.

The same could not be said for the Big Yellow Cat.

Since this yellow fur ball entered his life. Humphrey had to compete for Sunny's attention in a way he wouldn't have to before. And it was a war he was losing. The boy loved cats. Cats were always his favorite animal, and it's not surprising at all that a feline would end up being “The Favorite”.

“Well I guess I'll go first,” Sunny volunteered. He was always more courageous than his real-world counterpart, and in moments he was crawling on all fours into the hole under the tree.

“WOW!” the boy exclaimed immediately after making it in.

“What is it?!” Abbi went in second, “Oh my goodness! You made all this!”

Humphrey was now super curious he peeked his eye into the hole but had trouble adjusting his vision. He couldn't fit through normal means leaving him to squeeze his way in. After a few moments of pushing, the whale reemerged on the other side. Humphrey was taken in awe of what he saw.

It was some sort of clubhouse, everything was purple and gold with pink carpeting and had an open ceiling. This room seemed to be its own dimension somehow. It was confusing to the whale but he ran with it. There were toys stocked on the shelves and most importantly it was air-conditioned.

“This is unbelievable,” Abbi gaped, “color me very impressed Yellow Cat.”

The Cat was peeking its head out from over the wall and gave a happy audible purr.

“So what are we going to call it?” Abbi thought out loud.

“Maybe we should call it the 'Great Lair of the Great Creatures'!” Humphrey asserted excitedly.

It was about time they got a real headquarters. It was their duty as Great Creatures to help Sunny become the person he wanted to be and make the world he wanted to live in.

Or so they were told by their cowboy partner.

Mr. Outback had kept in touch after all, since the sheriff took special interest in this Dreamer's incredible power, and the boy liked him as well. He had become something of a friend and mentor. He would tell old stories to them about his adventures beyond this realm of their Headspace and in turn, they would tell him their latest adventure. Outback had become something of a mentor to the whale and the rest. Sometimes Humphrey would even confide secrets to him that he wouldn't tell his friends. In short, it was useful to have a mentor to guide him. Although recently... Humphrey got the sense that the old cowboy was not telling him something. Like the old man wanted to say what was on his mind, but couldn't bring himself to do it. It was concerning. He was usually so informative.

As a mentor, he took them each aside and gave a rundown on their respective roles.

As the Oldest, Humphrey's job was the simplest: Protect Sunny.

“...Until he could survive and live on his own,” the cowboy would always add.

His duty was to devour and destroy anything that might threaten the boy and keep him alive at all costs. The whale was a built, fearsome beast and unlike the other two Great Creatures, his role was completely defense-oriented. Although the other two could fight as well when needed.

The Wisest's role was understandably intellectual.

Sunny would ask questions. Abbi would give answers.

They found her near the Abyss one day while going out to eat, and said she was looking for a new home and a new name. Sunny decided to call her Abbi uncreatively naming her after the abyss where they found her. She cheerily accepted it without question, delighted even. All this to say that Abbi could be a pain in the whale's backside sometimes, even if he understood her purpose to Sunny.

They never did find out her old name.

And then there was the feline. The 'oh-so-wonderful' Favorite.

They didn't know a lot about his role since we were so new. Something about making decisions and time reflecting on the future and past. Or building bonds, or whatever. Honestly, Humphrey wasn't listening to the cowboy's lecture at the time. He was really bored, and couldn't care less.

Beyond their role, each Great Creature had one Great Ability that came with it:

The Oldest could “Consume” with his Gut of Emptiness. In battle, he could consume one small enemy without question. But outside of battle, his power was limitless... He could consume anything. Forever. No matter its size or length. His gullet had no regard for the laws of physics and acted basically as its own dimension.

The Wisest could “Watch” with her Eye of Analysis. She could use it to predict who a foe would target next in battle but also use it to discover general information making her a living encyclopedia. She would use her endless knowledge to help Sunny craft his worlds. She had a tentacle in making every world Sunny created. Literally.

The Favorite could “Reset” things with his Paws of Time. In battle, it meant he could undo an unfavorable mistake and rewind time just before it was made. In Headspace, however... He could reset everything. The implication of the cat's powers was impressive so far.

Together. Sunny and his imaginary friends could do anything. And this place would make a fine base of operations for their future exploits. Sunny was crossing his arms, giving the room a long look around, clearly impressed.

“I don't know what to call it yet. But this looks great Yellow Cat,” the boy praised the cat, it then crawled down to the floor and snuggled up to him. He giggled. It reminded Humphrey of the first day he met Sunny. He was kind of jealous and began wondering how he managed to do all of this. He wondered what exactly each of them could do.

Suddenly there was a knocking sound like someone was at the door. The large cat broke away from its hug and then skipped briskly to something they had not noticed before.

A door.

“Is this another surprise, Yellow Cat?” Abbi asked.

It then gave two quick nods and gave a luring motion with its paws toward Sunny. The boy's interest peaked, he walked up to the door and opened it with great curiosity.

It was Basil.

He looked just like his real self but green. Behind him was a white void.

The two boys stared at each other for a long moment. Sunny blinked.

“Uh, Sunny. I'm not sure how I got here. But can you please let me in?”

“HMM NO.”

And with that, the door slams shut. Basil was stuck again alone in the void, nonplussed as to what just happened. He was also shocked, then turned to the whale whose tail was still holding the door closed.

“I'm sorry Sunny, but I'm afraid we have to be very careful with strangers.”

“Humphrey! First of all, that was rude! Second, since when did you become so careful?” Abbi scolded.

The whale ignored her, not breaking eye contact with the boy. The knocking started again.

Sunny leveled a look at Humphrey.

The whale smiled back.

“Humphrey, I think we can trust Basil,” Sunny waved his hand, signaling the whale to move.

The large sea creature stood still for a moment, thinking. Unmoving, “Okay. But you just met him. He's a stranger. Remember that.”

“Alright,” the boy slowly nodded in recognition. The whale then backed away.

Sunny opened the door to the flower boy again, Sorry about that. Come in.”

Basil came into the room and made a greeting with each of the Great Creatures. Abbi was the first to make a big greeting, very formal, giving a bow. It made Basil a bit uneasy, but he gave his little greeting in return. Then the Yellow Cat dropped down. It grabbed Sunny and the flower boy into a hug. Now this really made Basil flustered. However, what made the boy most uncomfortable was the whale glaring daggers at him. He would give uneasy glances to the whale, until eventually, he approached with a big “Whale hello there!” For the next hour, Basil spent his time talking to them. He made little notes to himself as each Great Creature spoke with him about themselves.

Soon, things got quiet as they ran out of things to talk about.

“So what do you want to do Basil?” Sunny asked.

“I don't know. You guys should pick. I'm just the guest.”

“No, we insist. We'll do whatever you want to do!” Abbi spoke up.

Basil twiddled his fingers together. He darted his eyes not sure if he should say something, “Uh. I was wondering if you guys would help me make a flower arrangement.”

“We can do that!” the boy smirked, looking to the Great Creatures for support.

“Great... so... for this arrangement... We are going to need to collect four special flowers...”

Basil looks at each of his new friends. They look back expectantly.

“The Lotus, The Astilbe, The Begonia and The Tulip”

The tulips were very easy to find. Some were sitting right outside the tree as they stepped out.

“The Tulips are plain, simple, and symbolize perfect love. Each of the colors has a different meaning. The yellow tulips represent cheerfulness, the purples are regal, and the white ones symbolize forgiveness. I could go on but overall, I just think they're very cute.”

Eventually, they found the Astilbe standing in a sunny clearing. They were fluffy and pink, in fact, it was the same shade of pink that made the carpet of their new clubhouse.

“The Astilbe is a special flower known for having a very long blooming, making it a symbol of patience and dedication. You can give it to a loved one when you have to leave as a way of saying 'I'll be waiting for you', no matter how long it takes for something to happen.”

They had a bit more trouble finding the Begonias. Until Abbi deduced that they did not grow in a non-tropical environment. So they searched near the shores of Orange Oasis, and sure enough, the shrubs were found at the foot of a sand dune. The Begonia's bright red petals folded into each other.

“The Begonia is traditionally given as a warning. It's a way to let someone know a misfortune may happen in the future. They represent vigilance, caution, and harmony,” Basil spoke.

The next flower proved even harder to find. They searched and searched, but no dice.

“I don't believe the environment needed for the Lotus flower exists here,” Abbi sulked.

“Ah. That's too bad,” Basil hummed, “I really wanted that one.”

Sunny gave an upset pout, “Well, in that case, I'll just make one,” he turned to Abbi.

“What sort of place am I going to have to make?” this was Abbi's main function as a member of the group. Whenever Sunny had a question, she would always supply a prompt answer.

She opened her handbook, “They grow in very wet areas. Rivers, swamps, foggy and moist forests.”

Sunny then took a deep breath and focused his mind.

Suddenly a door appeared. It was purplish.

When they walked through, they were in a foggy purple forest.

Spiderwebs were everywhere. “Gross. Spiders,” Sunny shuttered.

“Oh god, there's one right there!” Abbi yelped.

A largish black spider about the size of a baseball was sitting on a leaf nearby.

The Big Yellow Cat threw its arms around Sunny and Basil protectively, giving a mad face. The spider could be venomous, a serious threat. Everyone stood there frozen, unsure of what to do.

“Whale. Whale. Whale. What do we have here.”

The mammoth of a whale had just barely entered the forest. I had an issue getting through the door before. He scooted up to the spider with a smile. The spider didn't move, not acknowledging the whale's presence at all, “hmm. Is this thing giving you some trouble? Is it bugging you?”

“Humphrey, test to see if the spider is good or bad!” Sunny commanded.

“Hmm. Okay,” Humphrey looked at the perfectly still spider, then in a split-second wrapped it in his tongue and reeled it into his mouth, like some sort of lizard.

He started chewing it with a 'Munch Munch'. “Hmm. Not bad. Not bad at all!”

“That's... Not what we meant,” the crew deadpanned.

After the spider debacle, and seeing how fearless he was, they decided to let Humphrey take the lead on their expedition. It was an opportunity to lead, he was happy to take it.

Sunny, Basil, Big Yellow Cat, Abbi, and Humphrey form a party.

In hindsight, this was a mistake.

Humphrey's head-first approach was not the best for navigating a foggy Swamp.

Pyrefly Swamp was an ancestral home of the sprout mole. It was before their home was demolished by the donut to make room for her lavish palace. Humphrey couldn't imagine how it would feel to lose everything and have to start all over, but such is the state of the weak and powerless. The sprout moles were weak and Sweetheart was strong. In the end, her twisted desire destroyed their home...

Sunny and the gang spent their time roaming through the swamp. They would sometimes swing across vines to get over ravines. Would navigate the huts of sprout-moles in their territory. They would also have to fight wild Crawlers, which Abbi said was their natural predator.

Interestingly enough, sometimes Sunny would save a group of sprout moles from a crawler and they would then serve and follow him in gratitude. The sprout moles had a collaborative behavior much like ants in the real world. And their predators, the crawlers would take advantage of this in the later stages of their life cycle. By incorporating dead sprout moles into their body. This whole process shook the two boys as Abbi explained it, but Humphrey just thought it was cool.

One peculiar behavior, Humphrey noticed: Is that the sprout-moles would dance at any opportunity. It was kind of weird, but still, useful. The little critters would help him do tasks like building a bridge or carrying a heavy object from here to there in Sunny's quest to make progress.

Still, they ended up running in circles.

“I think we are officially lost,” Abbi griped.

“I think we passed that tree at least five times now,” Basil agreed.

“Look. If we just keep going I'm sure we'll stumble onto the flowers eventually...” Humphrey stated.

“That sounds like literally the worst idea ever,” Abbi rolled her eyes, “we need a plan.”

“No, we don't!” Humphrey exclaimed, “We just need to focus on having as much fun as possible!”

Sunny and Basil giggled in delight giving each other a look.

Abbi pinched the bridge of her non-nose, “My word! If this is where the monarchy is headed count me out! You kids might as well banish me now. Our situation is hopeless.”

“Aimless searching is how we found all the other flowers, so lay off,” Humphrey rebuffed.

“I didn't like that either. This is your problem, Humphrey, you never have a plan. You just do whatever you want. And now we're lost. Unbelievable,” she was shaking her head.

“Whale then, if you have a problem with how I'm-”

“Hey wait! What is that!” Basil points. They follow his hand to see a tall figure standing in the fog. It was completely black, wore a hat and held a lantern, and wasn't saying a word. Its aura was terrifying.

Everyone positioned themselves for a real fight.

= They enter a battle =

Humphrey moved to Sunny's side.

As the most 'tanky' member of the group, it was agreed that the whale would stand in front to take the heavy blows, sometimes even taunting the enemies with a rhyme to get their attention.

Abbi hid behind Humphrey. The octopus was a glass cannon dealing strong status effects while doubling as the healer. Her whip-like tentacles were also not the be trifled with.

The Big Yellow Cat stood right behind Sunny watching over him. It was a quick, agile beast for its immense size, and while its paws were all it had, they were sharp and dealt fast heavy damage.

Each of the Great Creatures would be hard to defeat on their own. Together they were unbeatable. But that didn't stop them from becoming afraid. Especially by somethings. Somethings were scary dark eyeless creatures that roamed the world. Abbi was scared stiff. The cat was also afraid but used its arms to protect the two kids who were also petrified in fear. They must have thought the creature was a something. But Humphrey knew better.

Humphrey was not afflicted by fear.

For a second, Humphrey thought it was a something too and was ready to kill it at a moment's notice, but then he observed its subtle behavior. It was standing completely still. Somethings would normally gyrate at all times like gelatin. Still, even if it had been a real something, the whale still would not have been affected by fear. To him, the only scary thing about somethings was their terrible taste.

Looks like Humphrey would have to take the initiative, “Whale who might you be a friend?” Humphrey asked with false politeness.

“I am a watcher. I watch Dreamers and their dreams. I come to them when they are lost. I oscillate between the many realms of Headspace. Taking notes. Watching closely.”

“Neat. Is there a special reason you are speaking to us?”

“You look lost. It's always scary finding your way home, it can be even scarier leaving it. Are you having trouble finding your way back home? If so I can take you.”

“Oh. In that case, it looks like you're a friend!” the whale then slaps the back of the Big Yellow Cat with his tail a few times. This broke the group out of their petrified state.

“So what's your name?” Humphrey asked.

“I have no name. I am a creature that exists only in the abstract essence. In relation to other things. I know no name and take no name. I am one with the worlds and cannot take place in them.”

“No name huh? You look like you're wearing a 'dad' hat. And you have long legs... Can I call you... Daddy Long Legs? Nyak Nyak!”

This makes Basil laugh. Abbi smiles over at Humphrey.

“You may call me whatever you wish.”

= The battle ended. =

“Sorry, for the cold greeting. We're just a bit on edge...” Basil surprisingly spoke up, “You wouldn't happen to know where we could find some lotus flowers?”

“Yes. I can take you to a grove. It is a special place where the very nectar of reality pours forth. It is a place where-”

“Alright. Alright. So where is this place again?” Humphrey thankfully stopped him.

“Yes. Let us proceed.”

The group made their way through the dense forest following “Daddy Long Legs”. Things quieted into a lull. Soon the fog breaks into a light drizzle. It was just enough not to be bothersome.

Abbi saddles up to Humphrey.

“I'm sorry I got mad at you earlier. I should have been navigating the whole time. But I was scared.”

“It's okay Abbi,” Humphrey looked her over. This was the second creature. He still did not know how to feel about her. At first, he was a bit insecure about sharing Sunny with someone else. So afraid of losing his special bond with him. He was so flustered that he never really tried to get to know her.

“Can I ask you something personal,” Humphrey asks, “why can't you have any fun?”

She gives a groan. “Ugh. I can have fun. It's just.. someone has to be the adult around here...”

The whale considered this, “What about before?”

“Before what?” Abbi asked tepidly.

“Before you met us. Like what did you do for fun in the time leading up to your meeting Sunny.”

“Oh,” at this Abbi's demeanor changed. It was like life drained from her face.

Humphrey noticed this, “if it makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to say it.”

“No-” she struggles, “it's just- I'm not used to talking about my- history. My home. The black space...”

Humphrey's eyes widen, “you mean the Black Space. Like where the somethings come from.”

“Y-yeah,” she looks aside nervously, “you can see why I withheld this from you. I don't know if you would have trusted me if I told you then. So I just waited.”

“I didn't know anyone could live there,” the whale puzzled.

“Well, I did. And I have some friends too. Anyway...” Abbi pulled her tentacles close, “to answer your original question. Back at home- Black Space. I used to well- you're not going to believe this.

“What?” he smiled.

“I used to play percussion.”

Humphrey gave a confused expression.

“With the sticks, on the ground kind of like a xylophone.”

“WHAT?” the whale shook his head and tail to get a hold of himself.

“Please don't laugh,” she sighed.

“No. No. That's great. But like why?”

“It's a long story. But I'll give a brief version. Basically my old friends. They didn't really approve of some of the things I liked. They are more interested in things that are wacky and senseless. Abstract even.” She then pulled a tentacle to her chest. “I, on the other hand, preferred order and structure. And they just didn't get it. I would explain all my ideas to them, but no matter what I said. The words were lost on them. So I decided to take a more actionable approach. I used to sound. I used my own tentacles to play music on the hard floor. I figured maybe some music would make them understand.”

“You made music with just your hands and some sticks.”

“At first yes, but then I found other things to play with. Anyway, the point was I just wanted to show them that order, the melody of the music, could make something beautiful and worthwhile.. “

Abbi smiled and looked off in the distance away from Humphrey, “and it worked. They liked to hear me play the music, and they never once teased me for it.”

“Oh. Well, that's just wonderful. I'd love to hear you play sometime, and you should invite your friends too. I would love to meet them, and Sunny would too.”

Abbi frowned, “I'm afraid that's not going to happen. They would never come here. Ever.”

“Are you sure?” the whale prodded hopefully.

“Yes. They were very clear.” Abbi inhaled sharply, “as I left, they made that super clear...”

“I see...” the whale turns away, sorry that he had broached a sore topic.

There is a sour silence. As they walk in the pitter-patter of the rain.

After a bit of nothing, the whale says, “Whale at least you have us now.”

“Yeah,” Abbi smiled. Her mood was saved.

She hums and looks around.

“I like the rain. I actually like it here,” Abbi states, “perhaps one day we can make a small world where it rains like this all the time. What do you think?” she turns her face to the whale for a response.

“Whale that sounds like a splendid idea,” he smiles.

“Thanks, Humphrey. Anyway, I was wondering, why don't you get scared? Not of that spider or that thing. Or even the somethings. Nothing seems to shake you. Ever.”

“Hmm. I guess I just have so much blubber. Not very much can hurt me. In the beginning, I came to the boy in the darkness, he was surrounded. I wanted to protect him. I guess he thought of me as a way to scare all the monsters away. I can be pretty terrifying.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Abbi snorts.

“You have no idea,” the whale responds.

Eventually, the group came to a great clearing, where they found a gorgeous spring with white flowers.

“There they are!” Basil perked up, “Look! Look at the lotuses!”

The lotus grove was absolutely stunning.

The pond was situated at the foot of a waterfall, speckled with tiny white lotus flowers blooming near lily pads. It reminded Humphrey of an illustration Sunny saw on a calendar one time.

“So tell me, Basil. What is special about this flower?” Abbi asked.

“Oh. Right,” the flower boy was broken out of his trance. He seemed to have a bad habit of getting lost in his own thoughts, just like Sunny. He knelt down near a lotus and answered. “The Lotus is a spiritual flower with deep ties to Eastern religion, even regarded as sacred. This is because every night they sink into the mud while in darkness, only to then burst out in full bloom in the morning, symbolizing purity, enlightenment, and rebirth.”

“Hmm. It has to be really important for us to have to trek all this way...” Abbi concurred.

“I just wish we could go on an adventure that ends with an awesome meal. I'm hungry,” said Humphrey.

“Well..” Basil pressed his index fingers together, “they are eatable flowers. You could try one.”

“Oh!” At this, the whale drew out his tongue and picked up one of the pretty flowers. He then brought it into his mouth and gave it a chew. He was giving it a full evaluation, “The outside petals are kind of tart,” he munched, “but the inside is sweet. It's very subtle. Unlike anything I have eaten before!”

“Hmm. Now you got me curious,” Sunny approached the water. The boy knelt down near the water, drawing his knees into his chest. Staring down at his reflection near the flower, “I'll eat one.”

The bowl-cut boy reached out his hand to pluck a flower, but as he did so...

Suddenly a head popped up with it! It was some type of mossy creature and it was now inches away from Sunny. Said boy stumbled back in a scramble, totally taken off guard.

Abbi screamed.

The mess of green locks screamed, then started crying.

Looks like it was time for another battle.

= They enter a battle =

Basil and Daddy Long Legs just stayed out of the fight. One out of fear, the other out of indifference. Humphrey did not blame the strange creature for staying out of it as the whale could already tell this was not going to be a serious fight. There was a goofy atmosphere about it, as he could almost hear the comedic music playing. Looks like there would be no real fight today.

Humphrey looked over to the angry protective cat. The Big Yellow Cat was ready to strike it with its massive claws. Humphrey then turns over to Abbi giving her a skeptical look. She too, sees the silliness of the situation.“Hey Dreamer, let's wait a turn to see what it does,” Abbi requests.

Everyone guards.

The Weeping Willow cries more helplessly.

The cat bristles its ears.

The Big Yellow Cat retracts its claws and then limply bats the Weeping Willow.

The Weeping Willow cries even MORE helplessly. Tears shoot out of her like a water fountain.

This was a silly encounter, the whale was getting tired of these false alarms.

“Now, now. Must we continue? There's no need to whale on her.”

= The battle ended. =

The Weeping Willow keeps crying.

“Is there something the matter?” Basil tepidly tries to console the mossy creature.

“Now there's no reason to willow in your sadness,” the whale jests.

The Weeping Willow cries harder, “Your jokes are terrible!”

“I get the feeling that you're the type of person that cries over everything,” the whale muses.

“I'm sad that you guys are stealing the flowers from my home!” she cries.

The boys and Great Creatures then look between themselves.

“Our bad, Ms. Willow... We're sorry. We just needed some for a flower arrangement,” Basil says.

“Well you should have asked!” the willow cried.

“Hmm...” Sunny ponders., “Is there anything we can do for you in exchange?”

“I don't want any clams! I just want to be left alone!”

“Surely there's something we can do for you,” Abbi presses. Big Yellow Cat agrees with a nod.

After a moment, she stops crying.

“Well. There is one thing... It's this boulder. In my cave. I can't move it.”

“Where is your cave?” Sunny asks.

“It's behind the waterfall,” she says with a peep.

“What an inventive place for a secret passage! Why didn't I think of that!” Humphrey exclaims.

“Let's take a look at it.” Sunny insists, “Humphrey you stay behind with Daddy Long Legs.”

Sunny and company follow the Weeping Willow down the shallow edge of the water, behind the waterfall, and out of sight. Everyone seems excited to help out.

“Okay! I'll just stay here and watch the flowers!” Humphrey gives a playful “eye on you” look at Daddy Long Legs. The lanky creature says nothing, just standing there. Watching them.

The whale was too big to fit in the cave anyway. He was a tad disappointed to be left behind like this, even if it was only for a few moments so it would not be an issue. Humphrey frowns. In general, he hated being so heavy and big sometimes, but there was not much he could do about it. The Yellow Cat was “Big” too, but it was mostly just fur and fluff and could squeeze into a surprising amount of places. Just another item added to the list of useful things the silly cat could do, that he couldn't do.

He sighs. The rain begins to pick up just a bit. He notices a storm brewing in the distance.

“You are the Oldest. Are you not?”

The whale turns slowly to the lanky creature. Then responds, “Whale what if I am?”

“I have seen many realms; many Headspaces for many Dreamers. And some facts do not change, and one of them is how the Oldest always sours over time. I am warning you. Watch yourself.”

“That is just rude!”

“The call of Red Space will only grow louder with age, it never lessens. If you truly care for your friend, your Dreamer. You must resist the call, and even pull him away from it too.”

“Hmm. Well. I will keep that in mind. Until then, just be sure to show us the way out, tall stuff.”

With nothing left to say the two just stew awkwardly.

Humphrey's belly rumbled.

All this searching made him hungry, and he was now bored with nothing to do.

At this moment, a frog jumps with a splash nearby. Humphrey looks over to see its ripples expand out to all of the nearby lotus flowers. He had barely noticed all of them sitting on display. Humphrey plops the closest one into his mouth. It tasted so sweet and delicate. He then ate another. Taking a moment to admire the texture of it. Then another.

“I guess I can eat a few of them while I wait. They won't even notice.”

One by one, Humphrey licked up the flowers as he paddled his way around the pond. The more he ate, the more of them he wanted. Daddy Long Legs just stood watching him.

Then the whale noticed a large bunch of lotuses floating in the distance. He blinks, then submerges into the water with a wet squelch sound. A moment later he reemerges with his mouth wide open, gobbling a large bustle of the tasty flowers

One flower is pushed away by his waves.

“Mmmm. Looks like I missed one,” he picks up the lotus and balances it on his tongue.

“MY LOTUSES!!”

The Weeping Willow shrieks, tears streaming bigger than ever, “YOU ATE ALL OF THEM!”

Everyone is back.

The two other great creatures looked upset, disappointed, and overall very disgruntled.

Basil looks around in disbelief, searching for any more the whale might have missed.

The whale looks around too. He sees no flowers left in sight.

Sunny stares down at him. Furious.

“Uh oh,” the whale takes the last flower on his tongue and plucks it back into the water.

Nothing is said.

The Weeping Willow could be heard crying softly as the Big Yellow Cat was now trying its best to console it. Abbi was just crossing her arms, looking up, unsure what to even say.

Humphrey mustered his best explanation, desperate to break the tension.

“A whale's gotta eat?”

Silence.

“All of our effort was for nothing. Basil is my guest, he wanted to craft us a piece of art, and now you've gone and made that impossible. Because why? Because you can't stop eating? You're sick.”

The words punctured the whale's heart like a harpoon. His trademark smile flips to a frown. Humphrey could barely hold himself together. Of course, he would ruin everything.

The whale stares at Basil. Picking up the remaining lotus, Humphrey then swims over to him and uses his tail to offer it to him. Basil takes it gently between his fingers; clearly saddened by how all of this turned out.

Defeated. The whale then sunk into the water, leaving only his blowhole visible.

Basil turns to Sunny.

“Sunny. Listen-”

Just as Basil was about to reason with Sunny a loud horn blares.

At that moment, an army of sprout-moles jumped out from the hidden brush in the tree line, surrounding the Dream gang with spears. This was some sort of ambush. They were surrounded.

Humphrey emerged from the water to join the group. This was going to be a fight and he was needed.

“Why are they attacking us?” Abbi pleads, “We didn't do anything did we?”

Just then, the horn goes off again. The team turns to hear a rustling sound in the bushes uphill. A large sprout-mole jumps out of the bushes. It appears to be their chief.

Ye Chief Sprout looked very displeased by the presence of Sunny and his company. It stomped its foot and began to charge at them. Looks like their argument would have to wait.

= They enter a battle. =

The start of the fight was easy enough. It seemed like the Chief was more interested in making a show of strength and bluster than actually having a battle. It reminded Humphrey of an angry bull trying to make a big show of dominance. Maybe they thought they would just run away.

They didn't and quickly cut the mole to pieces in an embarrassing display.

“Whale done there friend. Is that all you can do?

Is this going to be a day you look back on and rue?”

This didn't go unnoticed by Ye Chief Sprout. Humphrey could see the moment it realized this was going to be a serious battle. The foe jumped up and down three times and blew its horn.

= The battle enters a second phase. =

To their shared shock, the Chief formed a golem-like monster with the formation of his army.

This was incredibly more difficult, and every time they attacked it. More sprout moles jumped on, rebuilding its formation. The display was almost impressive in its machine-like efficiency.

After a few turns of dealing damage, the Chief kept healing its golem, calling on more moles.

= The battle pauses. =

“This is hopeless! How are we going to beat him, if the army just keeps reforming.” Basil cries.

Humphrey looked around for any sort of leverage.

At that moment, Humphrey noticed a member of the sprouts holding something important. It was playing a marching beat with a bongo-like drum.

“Abbi look at this!”

The whale shoved the mole aside and egged Abbi towards the instrument.

“Humphrey now is not the time!”

“It is the time. Just play it! Trust me!”

= The battle resumes. =

Uncertain, Abbi started to play the drum with the two rounded drumsticks. Her beat played in tandem with the music that was already playing. Suddenly, all the sprout moles broke into formation and started to dance and jump around.

The Chief fell to the floor as his tribe started to twist and dance to the beat. Leaving him vulnerable.

Apparently, this ruler did not inspire much devotion in his subjects. Perhaps the Chief controlled them through fear alone? If these creatures were benevolent, then they were bound to work against him.

Sunny used Abbi's drumming skills in a pattern to distract his army and deal damage to the chief.

= The battle enters a third phase. =

In one final last-ditch effort to salvage the fight. Ye Chief Sprout rallies his troops to form a giant tower with his remaining sprouts. Before Sunny even has a chance to attack him, the tower starts to wobble. Every sprout shakes. It looked like it was going to fall over any second.

Ye Chief Sprout points its knife-like horn at his enemies with confidence and fury.

Apparently, unaware of its precarious position.

Sunny gives the tower a simple hit, and the whole tower begins to sway like a snake noodle.

Then it falls apart under the weight of its leader. As Ye Sprout hits the floor their battle is over.

= The battle ends. =

Basil approaches the monster as it topples from its stack of servants.

“Hello Mr. Sprout-mole, my name is Basil.”

The monster tussles its mustache with a grumble.

“You're not really trying to hurt us are you?” he asks.

The chief makes an indiscernible grunting sound and then stomps its foot again. Gesturing to the ground.

“I understand,” Basil turns towards his friends, “I think he's just trying to defend his home.”

“Oh, so he's just trying to protect his little kingdom?” Humphrey asks.

The monster jumps up and down again with more grumbles. Confirming their suspicion.

“Apparently so,” Abbi concludes, “we'll in that case, he has no reason to worry. We were just visiting.”

“He still attacked us, and it's Sunny's decision what we do with him,” Humphrey states.

Sunny contemplates what to do. Then decides, “The sprout may continue to rule his kingdom, but he must allow us to visit as we please.”

The boy didn't really want to go through the effort of setting up a formal ruling structure for the Headspace worlds so this seemed like the most diplomatic solution.

At this, the Big Yellow Cat waved its arms in a “get going” motion to the sprout moles.

The Chief and his army all retreated into the forest.

That issue was dealt with, but there was still the issue of the Lotuses and Humphrey.

“Hey Sunny,” Basil approaches the boy to speak to him,

“I'm not upset. I'm really not. This is kind of a big misunderstanding. Those flowers were meant for him, they were going to be his lotuses to eat anyway.”

“What?” Abbi gawks.

At this, everyone is confused.

“You see. The flower arrangement I was making. It was for you guys... After hearing so much about each of you in the clubhouse, I wanted to make an arrangement based on your personalities.”

Basil picks up the picnic basket holding the flowers.

“The tulips are for you, Sunny. They're perfect, just like you,” the boy gives a big smile.

Sunny's angry glare melts into a softer look.

“The astilbes are patient and careful just like the Big Yellow Cat.”

Said the yellow cat picking up the pink soft flower and then rubbing it against his face with a purr.

“The begonias are cautious and calm. Just like you Abbi!”

Abbi rubs her chin. “Hmm. My understanding of them is that they can have negative connotations, however, the layered petal design reflects my schematic levels of deep thought. I like them.”

“And then there's the Lotuses,” Basil continues,” they were for Humphrey.”

Humphrey pokes his head halfway out of the water to listen.

“Lotuses are bright and pure.. content. Like Humphrey.”

Humphrey peeks out of the water just a bit more.

“They also reminded me of how you pop in and out of the water,” Basil then looks at the basket.

“Here I have a new idea.” They all watch as Basil takes out a piece of string in his pocket, then takes the flowers they have and starts weaving them into a crown. By the time it was done, it looked amazing. Pink astilbes made up the base, while red begonias and white tulips jeweled it on all sides. The final lotus remaining was now centered as the front jewel.

“See!” Humphrey bursts up with a splash, “He still made something great out of them!”.

“Something great for the 'Great Creatures',” Basil adds.

Humphrey was happy and surprised that Basil had come to his defense. Perhaps he had been too fast to dismiss and push away the flower boy. He would have to think about it some more later.

“You should show us how you did that sometime in the future!” Abbi added.

“Yeah,” Sunny added, petting Humphrey's face, “that sounds like fun.”

It started to rain heavily on their way back.

Luckily, they had found an abandoned railway running through the forest. As they traveled, Abbi discussed how she was planning to make a project of her own in the newly named “Pryefly Forest”. After a short ride on the mine carts, Sunny and Basil made their way to the tree which would now serve as their clubhouse. Sunny was very excited, to get back.

But Humphrey was a tad depressed looking at the flower crown. They now stood under the leaves of the great tree. Watching them shake in the rain. Something about the leaves gave him anxiety.

Humphrey gave an audible sigh. “It's a shame we went through all this work to make this flower crown just for it to die in a few days. I wish there was a way we could preserve it.”

“There is!” Basil states.

“Ah yes, we can coat it in resin,” Abbi notes, “It will never decay and stay just the way it is forever.”

“Although,” Basil adds, “is it really possible to take the beauty of flowers and make them everlasting, wouldn't that defeat the point? What I love about flowers is how ethereal they are...They are beautiful just the way they are because they don't last.”

“Hmm, true.” Humphrey says, “But, I think we should play it safe. Where can we find resin?”

The whale turns to Abbi. She smiles back, happy to help as always. “Here. There should be some in the sap of the tree just next to us,” she turns to the raven boy, “Dreamer, may I please borrow your knife?”

She takes Sunny's knife and stabs the trunk of the great tree. The wind howled as the tree's blood dripped out of the trunk where the knife stabbed it. Sunny held his hands against the trunk in a cup shape to catch the resin. It pools into his hand, and once there was enough he turned to Basil with a pool of sticky resin in his hand. They watch as Basil carefully coats the flower crown in it.

It dried quickly. This day would stay immortalized, or at least a part of it.

“The rain is getting bad. We should head in,” Abbi states, walking back indoors. The rest follow.

The two boys run down the rainbow steps in excitement.

But both are stopped at the foot of the stairs by Abbi. Humphrey was there too, but the cat was missing.

“Looks like this night is coming to an end. You two have school tomorrow,” Abbi chimed in.

“Oh.” Basil sighed, taking off his flower crown.

“I don't know~ Last I heard it's going to be a super stuffy humid day in Faraway,” Humphrey interjects. “I say we stay here a little longer and play some board games,” the whale gestures to the cupboard.

Humphrey was initially upset at the inclusion of yet another friend. But if things stayed on this one-on-one basis, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. They could spend a day with Kel one day and maybe Mari the next. It was a little fun to have guests over. Even if they are from the real world.

Sunny looked at the games, some indecision on his face. Abbi sighed.

“It's time to wake, you have school in the morning. You have so much to do in the real world.”

Sunny looks away, with a slump. Unsure. She continues. She uses her tentacle to turn his cheek back towards her. “the weather is nice, so take my advice and don't stay here.” Abbi said.

“Yes, yes! Very true, very true but~ nyak nyak!” Humphrey dismisses her, shoving Abbi aside, then leads Sunny away with his fin.

“...The time has come my little friend, to talk of other things!” the whale sings,

“Like shoes and tulips and pirate ships. Eat watermelon and sing!

And while the outside world is boiling hot, and whether it has no air-conditioning!

Here in Headspace, you can run away!~” The whale plops the flower crown back onto Basil's head.

Where you can be a king!~”

Humphrey bellowed the last line while shimmying his tail like a jazz hand. It sent little drops of water everywhere. Sunny wipes some off his face.

“Singing. Nice. I'm still not sure...” Sunny turns to Basil, “What do you think?”

“Yes, Basil what do you think?” Abbi added. Giving him an expectant look. Humphrey also signals for his attention, “Come on Basil, we can play for just a round or two!”

Both creatures leer over the frail flower boy expecting an answer, putting him on the spot. Basil was sweating and appeared to not be very good at quick high-pressure decisions.

That's when a familiar voice answered.

“Little brother, all of us have time to play one game but then that's it.”

Everyone looked.

It was Mari.

And all the others were standing behind her. Kel. Hero. Aubrey. All of the next-door neighbors were now standing in the clubhouse. Sunny and company were all shocked in equal measure.

“But how?” Humphrey gaped. At this, the Big Yellow Cat peeked its head over the wall.

“Wow, it looks like Yellow Cat found a way to invite all the neighbors into the room,” Abbi observed, “I wonder how you managed to do it? I could have sworn you could only do one at a time.”

Kel and Hero were now looking for the board games. Aubrey was up the staircase peeking her head out to see what was outside. All of this was obviously new to her.

The neighbors who Sunny, barely met a week ago were now running around freely in the world Humphrey and him made together. It was too much for the whale.

“I know let's play cards!” Kel shouted in his outdoor voice.

“I don't know Kel, it's only a 4-player game...”

“Oh, Mari and I don't have to play...” Basil added meekly. Mari nodded in agreement.

“Do I get to play?” the whale asked only slightly strained.

“Hmm. They're new here. So they get to play first,” Sunny decided, “you can play later.”

Humphrey desperately tries to get a foot in, “But what about me and Abbi- I mean, Yellow Cat? Do you want to play cards?” The whale looked at the big cat only to see it shake its head. Abbi also reminded him, “I didn't even want to play in the first place. But I'm glad you guys are playing together... So I guess I'm okay with you guys doing it now. Just don't stay up too late.”

The kids started dealing the cards.

The whale just presses out a grin and says between his teeth,

“More friends.... wonderful.”

In a stubborn huff, Humphrey

then noticed the flower crown abandoned on the floor. He then swallowed it while no one was looking.

He would have to keep it safe if no one else was going to.

Chapter Text

The light of the morning sun rolled over your face.

You wake up in a sweaty mess. You wondered if you had a fever. You looked around and saw heat waves in the morning light. You have no idea what's wrong.

The first thing you did was flick on the blinking phone on your desk hoping it's good news.

You have 2 new messages.

You decided to listen to them.

“Sunny! It's Mommy! Sorry about the AC! I already called the repair guy, and he said he would be there in a day or so. They're really busy right now, so they said it might take a while. Also, they said they need the AC unit's manual. It should be in my closet. There's a box with a lot of paperwork in it, it should be in there. Find it and leave it near the door for them. Call me right away if the heat is too much. Okay? Don't make mommy worry... I'll be back in a few days, I promise... “ bzzt.

The first message ends, and the second plays immediately after.

“... So where’s the money lady? It says on the file you're a single mother, I wouldn't expect anything less from you. You're probably living on welfare. I don't blame the guy. Walking out on you was probably the best decision of his life. Why don't you stop sitting on your couch all day long, roll out of bed and do something good for once? You have only one option: Grow up. Face the music. Pay your debts.” bzzt.

Your mother wants you to find the AC Manual. Should be in her wardrobe.

You look out the window and see a bright beating sun outside.

The next thing you did was walk over to the calendar and check the date.

It's six months left until Moving Day. It's also three days 'til Christmas.

You skipped brushing your teeth and decided to find the manual immediately. To get it out of the way. You walk over to your mother's room and open her closet. You pull out a box. It's filled with…

Mari's old music notes.

You remember how Mari's music books were always a mess... Your mother must have thrown them in here. You dig to the bottom of the box and find what you're looking for. You got the 'AC Manual'. A guide to staying cool indoors.

You put the box back into the closet and descend the staircase. You pause at the bottom of the steps, then take a moment to look at the piano room. But then you walk onward to the couch, making a quick pit stop at the door to drop off the 'AC Manual'.

Are you sure you're ready to watch TV?

You decide you are, taking a moment to settle onto your couch.

“Good morning! It's time for the daily report! Starting with the weather. Hows it lookin' Vane?”

“I'm afraid to say there is no end to this heat wave in sight Vee. This is quickly becoming a historic heat wave like nothing that's hit the region. How do I put this... give me a moment... just have to add the pincers annnnnd there. You see this little crab, right here?”

“Yes. That's a very nice looking crab ya got there.”

“Okay now look at this, as I pull in the warm front forward, watch what happens to the crab.”

“Oh. Oh wow...”

“Mhm.”

“That's one burnt crab! I think you've drawn the fire big enough... ya made your point.”

“Yup, it's getting hot! Better turn on the fans and turn up the ACs!”

“It's turn down the ACs! ”

“Oh, not this again. Okay so. If you had a radio, right? And it was too low, and you couldn't hear it. What would you say?”

“I don't know, I think my radio is broken. I only watch TV these days...”

“Ok, Your TV then. You'd say turn up the TV. Make it louder... Make it more powerful.”

“Yeah, but an AC isn't a TV or a radio. Ya want to turn the temperature down.”

“Speaking of radios. We got some bad news from the forest ranger line. A wildfire has started in the Samora County Area, just off to the right of Faraway Town. As you can see here. This whole area is being advised to take precautions, and watch out!”

You watch the rest of the local news. Then settle down, jumping from channel to channel for anything interesting on TV.

First, you watch a game show, it's the one where you guess the prices and hope you get it right.

Then, you watch a judge show for small claims. Guilty plaintiffs are sentenced for all to see.

Finally, you watch a show about a condescending psychologist. You wonder if he's licensed.

You turn it off. Rather than wait through the heat of the day, you decide to take a short nap, looking forward to the cool night ahead. You wake up just in time for your favorite cartoons.

It's now evening and much cooler. You have nothing to do, you walk up back to your bedroom. You spend a few hours playing poker until you get bored. Then decide to go to bed.

You observe your room as you try to go to sleep.

YOU ARE FIFTEEN YEARS OLD, YOU DRIFT OFF INTO A DREAM

Chapter Text

Everything is red. The sky, the grass. All blood red. Everything is fine, but everything is red.

“So today's the big day, huh? Just a few hours now… How are you feeling?” the tan boy slapped Sunny's back, or at least he tried, with the bags he has holding from Hobbez.

Sunny considered his answer carefully, he looked up at the massive oaks that lined the sidewalk searching for answers in the dancing autumn leaves, he wanted to be honest, but he also didn't want to create concern. He decided to show only a little of his overwhelming stress.

“I'm a bit nervous,” Sunny said.

“Well there's no need for that, you and Mari are going to be great! You both have been practicing so much,” Sunny unconsciously clenched his sore fingers. “so I'm sure you'll... do great!” Kel rubbed the back of his head, “Sorry I'm not really good at giving encouragement...”

Sunny didn't blame him. There was nothing Kel could do to save him. Even the best of pep talks wouldn't have soothed the horde of butterflies stuffing his stomach like a cloud of monarchs turning in for fall. They usually came through this time of year. Summer was dying, and the flowers were ending. Thus the poor monarchs were left scrambling for an escape. Sunny searched his periphery for any around him, scanning the orange trees for any fluttering wings. Shadows grew long as the Sun fell slowly towards the ground, forcing him to squint his eyes, but sure enough, he spotted one. Flapping along a few yards in front of him. To Kel's surprise, Sunny jogged forward.

“W-wait for me Sunny where are you going!” Kel halted himself, just moments after he started. He stopped in front of Sunny who was now hunched over, almost in defeat. The boy slowly stood up and turned to face Kel, his hands cherishing something between his fingers. Sunny inspected his catch. Its large wings breaching in his hands. It had been a while since he and his friends went bug hunting. Sunny found it hard to believe that the grass was filled with hungry little caterpillars just a few months ago, and now they had grown into something unrecognizable, anxiously fluttering about.

Sunny missed the summer months dearly. As the cold approached so did all his responsibilities, all the schoolwork, practice, and tutoring lessons. And now, not a month in, he was facing down the barrel of something abnormally stressful. An obligatory performance ruining what should have been a nice weekend of relaxation. He just wanted all of this to be over already.

Kel wordlessly asked what he was thinking, and Sunny answered by opening his hands.

A fluttering monarch soared out of his hands, high above them, like the flickering fire of a flying lantern, floating up and out of view into the purple darkness reaching across the sky. Sunny couldn't help but wonder why his bug friend couldn't take him away too. Sunny and his friend just stood there, looking upward, as all of Sunny's little friends fluttered away.

“I can't understand how you must feel, Sunny.” Kel added, not looking down, “I don't think I've ever had to prepare for anything that big. I tried playing different instruments and doing some practice with Mari, but I don't think I'm really good at anything. I mean, not at music at least... or anything really. I mean I'm good at basketball... I think.” Kel trailed off.

“Let's get home. It's getting late.”

The rest of the walk home was unusually quiet, while Kel just lazily threw his hands behind his neck, following not far behind him, trying to enjoy the autumn breeze.

Eventually Sunny arrived home, noticing that Kel made no motion to stop once he reached his own house, which meant he was going to say something. He turned around expectantly.

“Sunny.” Kel started, “Don't let this bother you. I know you and Mari are going to impress everyone as an amazing sibling duo. Everyone's going to love it. I know I will, and Hero got us some of the best seats in the house. So just- chill. Okay.” Kel put his hands on his shoulders, giving one a nice pat. Sunny just looked to the ground, not saying anything.

“I wish I could be there with you but me and Hero will be in our seats, given moral support.”

“So I guess this is goodbye until then,” Sunny muttered.

Kel skipped away and spun around, “Good luck Sunny, and in case I don't see you, good night!”

Sunny frowned, knowing he wouldn't be speaking to Kel again until after the recital.

Taking a breath, he turned on his heel and marched over to his imposing house standing before him, not at all excited about what was waiting for him inside. Sunny hesitated, then turned the knob.

“Sunny! You're back! Finally, your friend has been waiting for you,” his mother chided not even giving him a chance to put his bag down. Sunny looked around and saw her and Basil sitting on the couch in front of him. What was he doing here before him? The flower boy pulled his upper half over the couch to catch Sunny walking in, giving him the biggest smile at just his presence.

Sunny gave a small smile back.

Chapter Text

“And this vision, it ended there?” asked the good doctor, slumping back on his couch.

“Yeah, Basil opened the door, he was already waiting at Sunny's house.

“And then?” Dr. Humphrey asked, pulling out his clipboard and taking notes.

“The memory cut off,” the whale shrugged.

“And when did you say this flashback occurred?”

“Right after I spoke with the Stranger, who offered to show me the vision. I stepped into the red light in the middle of the cave, and that's when I had it.

“This was after your little experiment passed away- or rather, didn't come to be.” Dr. Humphrey drawled with his sophisticated antebellum accent.

Humphrey looked up at the ceiling to reminisce, “Yes, after that, I woke up from the flashback, went to bed, and woke up just in time for our appointment.”

Dr. Humphrey examined his notes, then looked up again, “And when was the last time Sunny spoke to this Kel?”

“That was it. After that... everything happened. I don't believe Sunny and Kel have ever spoken since, why do you ask?”

“Well I'm just looking over my notes, and I noticed that in your last dream, you had a memory of the two, Sunny and Kel, meeting each other for the first time, on the day they moved to Faraway Town.”

“Yes?”

“I'm just asking could there be some sort of significance? An unseen connection perhaps. Could these memories, dreams, and visions be happening for a reason?”

At that moment, muffled pop-rock music could be heard starting up through the wall.

“Hmm, that is a tricky one. I'm not sure what it could mean. I remember Kelsey, he was good fun.”

The muffled fast rock music is then drowned out by the sounds of punching noises, and the sound of a ball bouncing three times, followed by stabbing noises, then a girl giving a battle cry, then the reverbed twang of a frying pan, then the reeving of a chainsaw... It went on...

“What in the world is happening out there?” Dr. Humphrey sat up looking at the wall.

“Oh, that's just the girls. They're on chef duty. I'd say there's a 15% chance they win and an 85% chance I have to go down there and finish the job. But we still have a bit of time to wrap this up.”

“Of course,” Dr. Humphrey eyes the wall while slowly sitting down again, “Tell me, friend, what do you think this is all leading up to? What is the end game for all of this?”

“You mean the investigation?”

“Yes, but the whole situation in general, have you considered what you want?”

“Hmm not sure what will happen exactly, but I know how it ends,” Humphrey smiles at the ceiling, “it ends with me, taking my rightful place at the Dreamer's side in his most precious room.”

“So you don't like your current position here in Deeper Well?”

“No! Well, I like my cave but, I don't like this brutal task. This... messy business of having to- make my little friend become deceased. Though I do like it when he visits. At least this way I get to spend some time with him, to some capacity, I've seen him more this past three years than the three before that. “

The muffled music stops, followed by celebratory fanfare.

Humphrey looks at the wall, “Speaking of which... by the sounds of it, the girls just lost. It's been a pleasure speaking to you doctor.” Humphrey jumped up from his couch.

“Ah, no, the pleasure is all mine! Are you sure you want to leave early? We still have a few minutes on the clock,” the doctor follows the whale's bud to the office door.

“Sorry doc, but it's time to feast! Time to feast! Time for them to be deceased!”

“This time tomorrow then?”

“Whale of course! See you then!” Humphrey gave an imaginary tip of the hat to Dr. Humphrey and then disappeared into the floor of his stomach.

YOU KNOW THE KEYS TO THE OTHER REALM
THEY ARE DIFFERENT EVERY TIME

_H_ _ _ _ _ _ _ BE_ _ _ _ _E_ _

= THEY ENTER A BATTLE =
THE ENEMY APPEARS STRONGER.
FOUR FOES APPEAR
AUBREY 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

HUMPHREY SPEAKS:
“THE FINAL FIGHT HAS JUST BEGUN!
BUT OUR BATTLE IS FAR FROM DONE!”

10 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY CHOMPS AUBREY!
AUBREY loses 2 HEARTS
KEL attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 0 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

5 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY CHOMPS KEL!
KEL loses 2 HEARTS
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO revives AUBREY
AUBREY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 1 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 0 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

2 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts.

HUMPHREY HEALS HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY recovers all HEARTS
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
AUBREY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 3 HEARTS
HERO revives KEL
KEL gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 1 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 1 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 3 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

5 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts. (USED)

HUMPHREY SWALLOWS EVERYONE!
EVERYONE loses 1 HEART
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO heals SUNNY
SUNNY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 0 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 0 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

3 HEARTS. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts. (USED)

HUMPHREY CHOMPS SUNNY!
SUNNY loses 2 HEARTS
SUNNY DID NOT SUCCUMB
KEL is TOAST
SUNNY attacks HUMPHREY
HUMPHREY loses 2 HEARTS
AUBREY is TOAST
HERO revives AUBREY
AUBREY gains 1 HEART

FOUR FOES REMAIN
AUBREY 1 HEARTS, ATTACK 3, An 8-bit-looking faceless girl in a gown.
SUNNY 1 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking toddler boy in a blue sweater.
KEL 0 HEARTS, ATTACK 2, An 8-bit-looking faceless boy in a checkered shirt.
HERO 2 HEARTS, ATTACK 1, An 8-bit-looking faceless teenage boy in pajamas.

1 HEART. WHAT WILL HUMPHREY DO?
CHOMP Deals big damage to one foe.
SWALLOW Deals damage to all foes.
POISON Reduces enemy attack.
HEAL Eat a foe, recover lost hearts. (USED)

HUMPHREY CHOMPS SUNNY!
SUNNY loses 2 HEARTS
SUNNY IS DEFEATED!

HUMPHREY WINS!

HUMPHREY SPEAKS:
“YUM, YUM, YUM...! IT'S TIME FOR GRUB!”

= THE BATTLE ENDED =

Three pieces of toast floated on the ground.

“My word, you were right Humphrey. That was more difficult than we imagined. You think after all that training and fighting we did yesterday, we'd take out those kids no problem.” Molly whined.

Difficult was an understatement, he got cocky. That whole battle would have gone much quicker if he had dropped the poison early on, even if taking out Aubrey first seemed like the better move.

“Indeed, it seems that we are not all we used to be. If only we were 200 years younger.” Medusa said.

“Gotta give it to you Humphrey, you came in and decimated them!” Marina added.

“Oh please, don't flatter me, it's what I do.” Humphrey grinned, eating the three pieces of toast, “Mm Mm! Delicious! That should hold me over for a while. We have a long day ahead of us!”

“Yeah, why did we have to fight those guys again? The last time we fought it was over Sweetheart's unpaid tab, but this time they just attacked us. Demanding their money back. Like we have it!”

“And just how did they come back to life anyway, I swear you killed them last time?”

“Sometimes its better not to ask questions, they'll be back tomorrow too, and when they do we'll be ready for them” Humphrey stated only a half-truth.

Humphrey could still beat them easily for the time being, but this battle with Sunny had been more difficult than the last. It only made sense that Sunny would get stronger every time he came back. This meant the whale was working on borrowed time, he could only fend them off for a few more days at most. There was no way he'd actually beat him since he had an ace up his sleeve, but still, losing the battle made him look bad, and broke the immersion of the dream. They'd have to put an end to this cycle quickly before Sunny somehow overpowered him. No time to waste.

“Now girls, I believe we have an appointment in Lost Forest to get to...”

The cab took off to the city, the whale and girls inside, and the city skyline moved behind them.

“Humphrey, question, why don't you just take us to where you want to go yourself, you can swim anywhere you want underwater, and you can go pretty fast,” Marina asked.

“Yeah, the other day you could have just swam to Orange Oasis without the train,” Molly suggested.

“Would you like to swim there yourself? Nyak Nyak!” Humphrey retorted, “Girls girls, I'm a big whale, swimming above the seascape like that is exhausting. By the time we get to our location, I'd be beat. Best to conserve energy. I'll need all of it for our coming fight.”

“That makes sense...” Medusa agreed.

The taxi cab pulled up right in front of the park, just like last time.

“Woo hoo! Back in the city!” Marina yelled, then dropped her arms then quickly said, “I'm not as thrilled as I was last time, but still, woooo hoooo!”

“Whale I think I might have a reason for you to be thrilled. Guess where we're going?”

They all give him a questioning look.

“The mall! It should be just this way.”

“YES!” Marina yelled.

“Fufufufu! I like this mission already!

“But won't the train leave soon?” Medusa cuts in, “The train to Vast Forest leaves in ten minutes.”

“Oh, Medusa, we're not going to trek through the spider forest like a sucker. Everyone knows the fastest way to Sweeheart's Castle is by stagecoach. That dingy mine cart always breaks too, it was made to deliver books, not people. I'll show you, the mall is just east of here!”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls form a party.

They walked right over to the towering building sitting right across the street, the entrance to the building was incredibly opulent. They entered. The inside of the building was huge, putting Humphrey's belly to shame, and bustling with people.

“So why are we here?” Medusa asks.

“Clothes.”

Humphrey simply stated this with little explanation.

“Clothes?” Molly questioned.

“Clothes.” He reiterated.

“Clothes!” Marina pointed. Everyone followed her arm to where she was pointing.

In front of them was a large pizza arcade. Two escalators book ended on each side letting shoppers up to the second-floor pavilion above. Two corner shops stood out from the entrance. A wellness spa sat on the right, and across from it, sitting on the left corner...

“Oh, it's a fashion boutique. How lovely,” Molly says, “but why would we need to go there? If you girls needed gear you should have just asked. I can make you some threads in my workshop.”

Marina and Medusa look at each other uncomfortably. Then turn to their oldest sister.

Medusa tried to broach the topic as gently as possible, “Well... while I believe you create nice armor and equipment for Humphrey... which serves him well-”

“We're not wearing your scrap armor, Molly,” Marina drops all pleasantries.

“... Yeah... we need something a little gentler, Molly. To complement our quick fighting style.” Medusa finishes eloquently, leaving Molly in an indignant state.

“Well, I never!” Molly scoffed.

“I have a solution! Nyak, you can wear your own armor, and the other girls can buy from the store!”

Molly nervously looks both ways and thinks it over.

“On second thought, yeah, it'd be safer to go store-bought this time.”

“Indeed,” Medusa nods, “we can visit the boutique while in town, and get ourselves CHARMING dresses. “

“And maybe stop by the spa too! We could use some health and wellness improvements STAT!” Marina pipes in. Pointing to the Wellness Spa across from the bouquet.

Medusa turns to the whale, “But what did you want from here Humphrey?”

“Whale, what I want, is to go into that pizza place and eat everything they have in store, I don't even care if they assemble old pizzas in the back! Nyak! Nyak!” the girls look at the pizza arcade in front of them. But Humphrey changed the topic quickly.

“But!” the whale refocused, “we're here to take the express elevator to the stage coach station just ahead. It's at the end of the pavilions, it should take us all the way to the surface.”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls form a party.

They head up the escalators and stop by OWO's, Deep Well's premiere fashion retailer. They bought some new gear for the weird red and yellow cat creature, then decided to pass on the spa for the day.

They then proceeded to the two elevators, the main “coach” elevator was gold, and the VIP one was pink and had an elevator man guarding it with velvet ropes, “This way to Sweetheart's castle,” he said.

“Wow you're right Humphrey, this elevator goes all the way up doesn't it?” She looked up, noticing how it stretched all the way into the ocean sky.

“Yep, years ago, Sweetheart created a stagecoach line that connected directly to the shopping mall.”

“Of course,” Medusa deadpanned.

“But she lets the sprout moles use it too,“ the whale slaps the button on the golden elevator.

And then they waited...

And waited...

And waited...

“How long is it going to take for it to come back down?”

“Who knows!” Humphrey jested, “Maybe this lifetime?”

They then hear a crowd approach them.

“Wait,” Molly points, “is that? Sweetheart!”

She walked up to the pink elevator and was let right through by the guard. She then turns to the crowd.

“Attention peasants! To celebrate my new single-status I will be ending this day on the town with a masquerade at my place. Invitations have been sent, none of you are invited, but thanks for providing me with an entourage. Only those with the right amount of clams and prestige are invited! Tootleloo!~”

She steps on the elevator and leaves them behind.

Despite what she said they still crowded the gold elevator.

“Lucky we got here early! Nyak! Nyak!” Humphrey laughed.

The elevator finally opened, and the girls and the whale squeezed inside. The whale was clearly taking the space that could fit at least a dozen other people.

“Sorry, everyone! But there's only room for four! Nyak! Nyak! Nyak!”

Everyone in the crowd groans, the doors closing, shutting them out.

The elevator opens up onto a boardwalk. It was gloomy, fog emanated everywhere.

“We are now at the Northwest Coast, the top left corner of Headspace Island. If you look closely you can even see the Orange Oasis out in the distance. But you have to squint!”

The whale and girls walked right until the pier gave way to solid land. The forest of dead trees and massive flowers hugged the coast.

“Look girls, you can even see the train overpass.” Not far from the water, a tall elevated railway that was at least 50 feet off the ground. “It cut straight across, hugging the coast and then out the desert island. “

“I've been wondering, why doesn't Pyrefly have a train station? I mean all the sprout moles live there. After all, the train skips it entirely.”

Humphrey moves ahead to inspect the dark woods in front of him. Just that night, he had a dream about the first time he'd visited this place.

“It's a swamp,” he answered,” the area north of the river is too porous to hold the weight. You can't build a train under or over the wetland, so the train just goes around it. The only patch of solid ground is where the village was built. You should have seen what it looked like before the sprout moles were forced underground by Sweetheart’s castle. It was... interesting.

“Why do they put up with that tyrant anyway?” Marina questioned.

“Simple,” Humphrey answered, “she provides protection.”

“So what? Are they just going to hide under the castle forever?”

“Curious, the castle is oppressive, but they'd rather stay under her thumb than deal with the uncertainty of the outside world,” Medusa ponders, “that and I'm sure they love her too.”

“ALL ABOARD! ENROUTE TO SWEETHEART'S CASTLE!”

A stagecoach had pulled into a station just ahead.

“Looks like our rides here,” Humphrey noted.

“It looks like something taken out of a princess movie!” Molly was awed, she was the first to jump in.

Then Medusa pulled up her gown, majestically as she stepped on.

“Ah, this is gonna suck,” Marina said, “so much more cramped than the train.”

“Whale it's a medium-ishly long ride to Sweethearts, if you girls want I can tell you more of the story about how I first found this place!”

“I guess that works,” Marina shrugged. She and the whale entered the coach.

“Now where to start?” the whale began, “this was years ago, and my little boy had just made a new friend, who just showed up unannounced! Tell me, girls, have you ever heard about the lotus flower?”

Chapter Text

“And then we spent the rest of the night playing games. Sure, nobody wanted to play with me anymore, but I was happy everyone else was having fun!”

The stagecoach pulled up to its stop.

“Aww, that's so cute, do you still have the flower crown?” Medusa asked. They all stepped out of the coach and onto the wooden landing.

“Actually, I may have lost it, “ Humphrey said with a tinge of embarrassment, “I think it's lying around somewhere in Marina's sector. It's somewhere, I just have to find it.”

“What the heck, you went through all the effort to make it, then you just lost it!” Marina yelled.

“I still have it somewhere, and besides, I'm the only one it matters to anyway. It's no big deal.”

“If you say so...” she says skeptically.

“So the Lost Forest,” Medusa tried putting everyone on task, “the bandit said it's just across the bridge outside of Sproutmole village.”

“Actually, I think it should be near that Weeping Willow pond I was talking about in my story. There's no time to waste! See that tunnel over there, it's a tunnel that leads to Sprout Mole Village from here.

They walk through, but Humphrey had not planned for what was waiting in the village for him...

“Ladders.”

The whale uttered. “My mortal enemy!”

The girls were now staring up at a ladder leading up and out of Sprout Mole Village, and Humphrey had no way of getting up. Then suddenly a snake fell down next to them, and it wrapped around the ladder.

It said, “What a thrill! Reject the ladder, embrace the fall! Such is the way of the snake!”

“Well, what are we going to do now!” Molly complained.

“Easy, we go back and cut through Sweetheart's castle,” Marina answered.

“That's-” Medusa stopped, “actually not a bad idea. Yeah, let's do that.”

“At least we don't have to waid through that disgusting forest!” Molly barked.

They turned around and headed back to the Coach Station. They'd have to proceed into the princess's castle from the backyard. They noticed all the other guests arriving.

“Ah that's right, she's doing some Masquerade, that's right.”

“It should be okay, he just has to cut through and not get noticed,” Humphrey said.

The girls just said nothing at first.

“Humphrey, I think they're going to notice you. You're the size of... an elephant.”

“I take that as an insult, but also point taken, hmmm. Let's just head down to take a look.

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party

They proceeded downward over a drawbridge, past the castle's bailey.

Two sprout moles with spears, “Sorry, but you have to wear a mask to enter.” The two moles blocked entry into the tunnel that led through the wall and into the party.

“But we didn't bring any masks,” Marina whined.

“Then you may each take one mask from the fiesta bin.”

It directs their attention to a cardboard box with a pile of cheap uncomfortable animal masks inside. Humphrey moved over the the box and said, “So girls what's your favorite animal?”

Humphrey got a 'Fox Mask'. Made for mischief makers.

Humphrey got a 'Bunny Mask'. Made for hot heads with a soft side.

Humphrey got a 'Bull Mask'. Made for the responsible Taurus.

Humphrey got a 'Cat' Mask. Made for the sleepy and curious.

“There! Now we're all set up for the party!” Marina says in a bunny mask.

“They're not great, but I guess you can't complain when it's free,” Molly says, putting on her fox mask.

Medusa says clad in a bull mask, “They are sufficient, what do you think Humphrey.”

“Meow,” was all the whale said.

“I think we're ready,” Medusa states.

They approach the guards again, inspect their attire, and uncross their spears letting them through, “Alright right this way. Remember, the ballroom is for VIPs only.”

They walk in. The tunnel opens up into Sweetheart's back garden. It functioned more as a front lawn since it was the only land entrance into the castle. The masquerade was a bustling expanse of expense and decadence. Every guest wore a mask, covering both their faces and intentions.

Humphrey made a mental note. This was the “Keeper's Dwelling”, now called Sweetheart's Castle...

Longlegs could wait.

Finding the Keeper was the real reason they were here, but the girls couldn't know that. The whale felt bad keeping things from the girls, but The Truth was another matter entirely. The Stranger had offered him something most secret, and now he had to figure out what the red light was about, and that vision. Since he was in the area, he figured this was the prime opportunity to ask the Keeper to see if he knew anything. He used to work with Abbi. She knew the Truth. Perhaps he knows how she found it.

“What do you say, girls? It's about time we made our grand entrance!”

They walked down the steps and onto the garden festivities

“Wow this really is a proper masquerade, I'm glad we got dressed for the occasion,” Molly said.

“Girls, there's been a change of plans. We're looking so a guy some people call “the castle keeper.”

“Uuum why? We're starting to get really off track,” Marina said.

“Well, I just remembered. One of my lead suspects for my investigation lives here. If I kill LongLegs first he might go into hiding, and I might never find the third interloper!”

“Well, we're already here anyway, so might as well,” Medusa offered.

“But where would he be?” Marina asked.

“Easy, we just have to ask Sweetheart, she's the only one who knows, and then I'm not even sure if she's going to tell us. We may have to trick her.” Humphrey said. “Let's start by finding her.”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party... at the party.

Humphrey waddled up to a snobbish-looking sprout mole and asked him a question, “Hey do you know where Sweetheart is right now?”

“HMMM, Why would I answer a question from the likes of you? Are you even supposed to be here?”

“So rude!” Humphrey shook his head.

“Your existence is rude,” he retorted, “you're nothing but a big fat disgusting whale.”

“Whale then! I’ll take my leave!.”

“Is that Capt. Spaceboy?!” Marina shouted and pointed.

The whale looked over to a gate near the tower. It was Spaceboy alright, but he looked... different. He had gel in his hair and a striped polo shirt, and khaki pants.

“Oh him?” said the snobbish creature, ”that's not Spaceboy anymore. Everyone calls him 'Space Just Friends' now since the big break up.”

“He doesn't even look like himself.”

“Hey, Spaceboy! How are you handling the breakup?” Marina shouted.

This got his attention, “Actually it's Space Just-Friends now. And we haven't broken up. Ha ha!”

“But that's what she said. She made a big announcement about it,” Molly said.

“She's holding a whole party about it,” Marina added.

“You're attending that party right now,” Medusa deadpanned.

“Oh yeah, well, yeah we technically went both ways, but we never really split up, this is just a temporary, trial separation, on my end, well she thinks she's single but we still do everything together so I think she'll realize we're still together pretty soon, she said we should be just friends, and we are friends, so I'm okay with her giving me that title, but I think if we just spent a little more time with her, she'll see the light, she just gets upset sometimes and says rash things she doesn't mean I mean, I'd say we are in that 'it's complicated' territory where one party thinks we're not together, saying 'I'm seriously not dating you anymore' but that's just a complication, get it, that's why its called 'it's complicated', we haven't 'broken up,' that's what I'm getting at.” he turns to Marina, “and I'm doing fine.”

“Sorry to hear that, whale don't let it get you down. There's still plenty of tasty fish in the sea!”

Space Just-Friends looked like he disagreed, or wanted to clarify something but didn't have the courage to speak up, instead, he gave a weak smile, sipped at his sparkling water, and walked away.

“Sorry about the boss.” a space pirate said, taking a swig of grain juice, “he's not handling the break up well. He's still in the Denial and Bargaining stage, I'm sure he'll snap out of it soon, and once the truth hits him it’ll be... depression... and anger. This whole process can take months."

Humphrey nodded, “do you know where Sweetheart is right now?”

“Probably getting dressed in her tower, or somewhere in the ballroom.”

“Either way we need to head inside,” Medusa suggested.

Trying not to draw too much attention to themselves, they cut straight through the lawn and walked up to a fountain tunnel that served as the building's back entrance. After entering, they walked down a flight of stairs into an underground reception hall shaped like a heart.

Once again the path was blocked, ten guards lined the red carpet leading to the ballroom.

“Sorry ladies, but no one is allowed in the castle without a VIP invitation,” said the butler.

“And where would a whale get one of those?” Humphrey asks.

“Nowhere. Sweetheart keeps all invitations in a super secret place,” the guard answered.

“Hmm,” Humphrey thought, then asked, “and where would that be?”

“In her super secret safe, of course, it's under the bed. The code is 0143.”

“Alright, thanks for the help!”

“The pleasure is mine, sir,” the butler said.

Humphrey nodded then thought back to the tower Spaceboy came from earlier, “Hmm maybe there is a way up to her bedroom from here, if she's getting dressed she's bound to be there.”

They walked over through the gate and it came out to another garden, this one sat around the base of Sweetheart's tower. They entered the tower and it was some sort of elevator access room, there was a sprout mole with a polka-dot pink bow waiting next to it.

“Hey, the button won't work!” Humphrey pushes the button repeatedly only for nothing to happen.

“Of course, it's locked,” says the sprout mole, “this is Sweetheart's special entrance, it connects directly to her room from the garden entrance. Only those with the key card can access the lift from this door. I'm just waiting for her to come out!”

“So who has this key card?”

“I don't know... it's pretty exclusive, that dumb pirate guy came through earlier.”

“Ah, I see,” Humphrey gives a knowing look to the girls, “we'll leave you to it then.”

“She will be here any moment now, I just know it!” the mole returns to looking at the door.

Humphrey and the girls return to the garden in search of the pirate.

They find him standing awkwardly near the punch bowl.

“Hey Space Just-Friends,” Humphrey calls.

“He jolts at the sudden sound of his name, “y-yes, do you need anything, if you need something I can-”

“We need your key card to the tower, just for a minute or two, we'll give it back!”

“Oh no, I can't give you that,” he perks, “Sweetheart says I can't give it to anyone. I would need to ask permission from her first. If you want I can go ask her right now and come back!”

“Hmm, what if I gave you something,” Humphrey suggested.

Space Just-Friends looked on in interest.

“What if I told you I knew someone incredibly powerful who had Sweetheart's ear? Someone who might convince her to give you a second chance. If you give me the key card I'll make it happen.”

“I'm not sure I understand,” he says giving a dumb look.

“Alright, I'll elaborate, I am the Oldest, I'm on an important quest given by the Dreamer, the creator of this world, and I need that key card to speak to a magical fairy godmother-type creature who gave Sweetheart all that she has. If you help me I'll tell it to help you get back with Sweetheart.

“I still don't understand.”

The whale was getting aggravated. He tried one more time.

“Give. Me. Keycard… You. Date. Sweetheart.”

“I really don't get what you mean, me and Sweetheart are still together and are happily dating right now.”

“Alright, one moment” the whale turns to the girl, he whispers.

“Look girls, I know we're supposed to help this guy and everything but I think this guy is a lost cause, why don't you say we just beat him up, take the key card, and get out of here.”

They all nod in unison and turn to Spaceboy.

He stumbles, “Is s-something wrong?”

= They enter a battle =

The girls and whale surround and start beating up Space Just-Friends, kicking him on the ground as he enters a fetal position and starts crying pathetically.

“No! I can't let you take that, Sweetheart is going to be so mad!”

= The battle ended =

The pirate picked himself up and ran away, arms flailing.

“Sorry Spaceboy, but that's life!” Humphrey then says under his breath, “I can't believe I used to be jealous of that guy.” The whale just shakes his head.

They walk back towards the tower.

While walking back, they stumble across Lamb and Wolf. Humphrey overhears him, “I'm happy Lamb invited me here, but I'm also a bit scared. What if she sees a better guy? If I'm not careful, I may be the next one being dumped. Maybe if I was more impressive, that'd be enough to keep her attention.” Humphrey just shook his head. Some couples just can't see what's already perfect...

The whale heads back to the tower again and when they get to the elevator the sprout mole is missing.

“Guess she gave up?” Molly guessed.

They put in the key card and it takes them all the way up to the royal chamber.

“Oh, Sweetheart! I have a question for you!”

They looked around, the room was very gaudy and elegant, but no sweetheart to see, “damn we must have missed her! That's why the sprout mole was missing from earlier!” Marina seethes.

Don't worry girls, she's probably just in the ballroom, at the masquerade,” Humphrey said.

“Let's check Sweetheart's safe,” Molly suggested, her hands making a clawing motion.

They walked over to the bed and put in the code.

Humphrey got 10,000 clams.

Humphrey got Invitations. For making people feel included.

“That's the ticket,” Humphrey mused, “I'm sure she doesn't need these clams either.”

They took the elevator down to the bridge, to cut through the castle, but were stunned to find the floor to the whole bridge had been broken.

“What the heck happened here? Not even Humphrey Bridges could fix this! ” Marina said. One of the construction moles fixing the giant hole in the floor answered, “Let's just say, Sweetheart and Space Just-Friends' last argument got a bit... explosive.”

The whale sighed, “Looks like we have to get into the ball the long way...”

But getting into the ballroom didn't go well.

With the invitations, they got through the reception hall with no problem, but they still needed to get into the actual ballroom itself. There was yet another line, this one had a bouncer.

He gave the girls a look over and said, “You don't even meet the dress code.”

The butler mole pointed at a sign that showed all the inappropriate colors, and the correct pink.

“Wow girls, you came where wearing every example bad color.”

“Oh whatever,” Medusa states in frustration, “we can't go all the way back to the store now, it's not like we can just make new dresses...”

They then look at Molly.

Molly only says, “Whale, whale, whale. Look who's on their hands and knees now!”

“Looks like we're going to have to stop by Molly's workshop,” Marina pinches the bridge of her nose.

Medusa then asks the bouncer politely, “If we come back in the right dresses will you let us in!”

“Sure if ya did that, I'd let you girls in, but the whale still has to wait outside.”

“How come?” Marina said with an edge of indignation.

“Do I even have to explain? Look at him! He's far too big, loud, grotesque. You can't climb, you can't dance and you don't know karate. Face it, you're not wanted here,” the bouncer finishes.

“Whale then. Tough crowd. That's the second time today...”

“Don't worry Humphrey, if they won't let you in, we can fight our way in, Let’s get 'em!”

“No. Marina,” Humphrey sighed, “that won't be necessary, we don't want to fight a whole army.”

“Hmm,” Marina wondered looking at Medusa, “ is there any way we could change his appearance?”

“You mean to make me look more humanoid? Hmm. Ya know, sometimes I wonder if I would be more popular if I was a human-like Spaceboy or Sweetheart.”

Medusa clicked her tongue, “I've been working on a new potion that can give people pigtails, it's years in development, but besides that, no dice. I have potions that can make you smaller. That would deal with one of these complaints.”

Medusa pulls out a potion and throws it at a nearby statue.

The statue grows bigger, not smaller, so big it looks as big as Humphrey himself.

“Oh.. well it's still in development,” Medusa blushes.

“It's okay... No, no. I would need an entirely new look anyway. I'd need to be a whole new person,” He then gave a big huff, if only I was someone cooler...” It then hit him. “Wait girls, I just had an idea! It's a bit quirky, but might just work!..” the girls lift their brows, “I need to find Spaceboy!”

“I think he ran off...” Molly notes.

“Yeah, guess that's what we get for beating him up...” Marina shrugs.

“Whale maybe just of photo of him? Just a picture of his face. We also need three pieces of pink fabric for the dresses, I'm sure there's plenty of pink clothes lying around here. Let's get searching.”

They found one piece of pink clothe on a folding table in the garden, after that the whale found a statue of Spaceboy tucked away in the corner, “this should work!” He ate the whole statue for safekeeping. They kept looking and found other pink clothe forming a curtain around Sweetheart's bed. Then, finally, they got a last piece by taking down and stealing the pink banner in the castle bailey.

“Alright, we have everything we need! Nyak! Nyak! Everyone inside! I'll open the hatchet!”

The girls were now inside Humphrey, in Molly's workshop.

Humphrey got three 'Pink Dresses'. Sweetheart approved.

“That didn't take long at all, even if they are a bit itchy,” Marina states.

“Oh whatever, you'll take what I can give you!” Molly scoffed

Humphrey walks up to a big metal machine, “so this is a 3D printer, and you say it can make masks?”

“That's not a 3D printer, it's my new teleporter,” Molly slaps the machine, “it can take us from anywhere in the world, back to my lab.”

“That would be useful,” Medusa, says, “but Humphrey can take the whole lab anywhere so...”

“And I can teleport anywhere too!” Humphrey says, “Just watch!”

The girls are confused and watch his bud closely. With a pop sound, the bud disappears and reappears behind them simultaneously, he surprises them with a “boo!

The girls jump back. Marina gives out an “Aaaah!”

“You mean to tell us you've been able to teleport this whole time!” Molly stomps.

“Why didn't you use this ability on our mission yesterday?” Medusa asks pointedly.

“Whale, I didn't know if I wanted to flaunt this ability before, I wasn't sure how you girls would react. But now that I trust you a bit more, I figured it was time. It's more of a speed boost than a teleport.”

Humphrey could teleport short distances. He can only teleport to areas he can reach by walking normally. This creates a faster way of getting around. The power is a cooldown of ten seconds.

“Let me show you again.” Humphrey teleported once more for show. Almost like he was testing his ability. Once again, he disappears with a pop and reappears somewhere else.

Molly just rolls her eyes, “Well I'm not sure how you can do that, but for us girls, this teleportation machine is all we have, now this one...“She walks over to a different machine and slaps it, “This is my 3D printer, and it can make almost anything we need. What do you need to make Humphrey?”

“I need you to make a mask, Capt. Spaceboy. I'm going incognito!” Humphrey said.

The girls look at each other, “That's funny Humphrey, what are you actually going to make?”

“I am being serious! Serious as a beached whale!” Just then, the floor opened up and a statue of Spaceboy from earlier came out from the ground.

“Hmm, well I'm not sure about your plan, but it's a good chance to demonstrate my machine. Humphrey throws the statue onto the machine's scanner.”

Humphrey nodded and one of these buds popped out from under it sending it flying into the machine. Molly then turns to her laptop and starts typing away, “Alright just a moment, let me set it to region scan, now I'm positioning in front of the face, just adding the finishing touches ….a aaaaand there!”

The machine did a flash, and when the light parted, the machine was just as it was before. The statue looked untouched, “where is the mask?” Marina asked.

“The mask should be in the dispenser at the bottom.”

“Oh, of course.” Humphrey moved to the machine and grabbed the mask.

Humphrey got the Spaceboy mask. A mask that lets you do what you want 'cause a pirate is free!

“We're ready now girls! Meet you outside when you are all dressed!”

Before they could get a word in, his bud submerged into the floor.

“How do I look, girls!”

He looked like a whale wearing a comically small mask. It looked like Spaceboy with sharp ears and a stern face, it would have been very convincing if it wasn't worn by a one-ton whale.

“Humphrey no one's going to be fooled by that.”

Just then a spout mole bumps into the whale. He apologized profusely, “I'm so sorry Captain. I didn't see you there. My condolences, for the breakup.”

“It's alright little man! I'm just gonna get over it... and eat a snow cone!”

“That's the spirit! See you around, captain!”

The sprout mole walked away and the girls were stunned.

“How did that actually work?” Molly asked in bafflement.

“I'm not sure if that disguise will work on everyone though, you might want to keep a low profile.”

Just then, someone else bumps into Humphrey from behind, “Oh my bad! I wasn't watching where”

Humphrey turns around, it is Space Just-Friend.

Everyone freezes.

“Who are you?!” Space Just-Friends asks.

Humphrey shifts uncomfortably but just decides to run with it.

“Whale I'm Capt. Spaceboy of course! The entire universe is at my command!”

“No, you're not me! I'm me!” Space Just-Friend yelled.

“You're Capt. Spaceboy? A wimp like you! As if!” Humphrey taunted.

“Well, I used to be Capt. Spaceboy, I just go by a different name now-”

The whale and pirate size each other up, walking back and forth in a mirror-like motion.

“Hmmm, no. I'm pretty sure I'm the real space pirate.” his mask slips a bit, and Humphrey readjusts it, “Look I'll grant you, you've made a decent cosplay. But this is getting kinda weird, so why don't you get lost.”

“But I'm the real Spaceboy! There can't be two of us! There can only be one of us!”'

“Do you even look like Spaceboy?” Humphrey shoves him.

“This cannot stand, imposter! I'll be back!” Once again, Space Just-Friends runs away, tears brimming in his eyes, seeming to undergo some sort of personality crisis.

“Well, that could have gone over worse.” Medusa comments, “Let's just get into the ballroom before the lover boy decides to make his return.”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls form a party.

Humphrey moves about the party completely disguised, and no one seems to know it was him, everyone thinks he was really Spaceboy. He even talked to the space pirate from earlier who said, “Captain, you look a bit... different today. Did you put on some weight?”

“Why I never!” Humphrey scoffed in reaction.

The mask was able to fool everyone at the party save one.

“Aren't you the whale that just beat up my son?” Pinkbeard grilled.

“I am your son! Don't you recognize me, dad!” Humphrey lied through his teeth.

“You are not. You can't fool me. I know what you did!” with that the old pirate turns his back to Humphrey and doesn't say another word.

“Let's not bother him any further, “ Medusa suggests, “let's get into the party already.”

Humphrey agrees.

They return to the reception hall and are met with the line once again. Hey, this is a good chance to test out my teleportation technique. The girls jumped on his back, and he skipped through the snaking ropes saving them a bit of walking time. When faced with the bouncer again, he gives them an affirming nod of approval, “Glad you girls ditched the whale! You found someone cooler. Right this way Spaceboy...” He moves out of the way and lets them through.

They enter the next hallway, which leads to the ballroom, loud female opera singing can be heard from inside, and a set of ropes cut off the way to the main foyer. But they don't need to go that way. They are under the left doorway into the ballroom and are hit with the full force of the music and atmosphere.

It's dark, almost creepy. Sprout moles with masks and cloaks dance on the main floor. Humphrey looks up to the top of the stairs, to the place where the choir usually sits, but instead, there's a throne with Sweetheart in a red cloak and flamingo mask. To her side are two purple-cloaked sprout moles, they looked like they were guarding her closely.

“How are we going to get to sweetheart?” Marina questions quietly.

“Easily, I'm her boyfriend remember?” Humphrey says.

“But you're not though.” Medusa reminds him.

“Hmm, that's true, but maybe I can still pull her aside for a moment.”

“You could ask her out for a dance!” Marina suggests.

Humphrey pauses and frowns... “that makes sense... but... I actually don't know how to dance.”

The whale looked around. This whole situation was a bit out of hand. He didn't actually make a real plan of what to do once he got on the dance floor. What would he do?

“Oh come with me,” Molly grabs Humphrey by the fin and pulls him onto the dance floor.

“What are you doing? Molly?”

“I'm showing you how to dance, just follow my lead.”

Humphrey decided to go along with her play. Even if the prospect of him dancing made no logical sense. He had no feet, he could only move around with the motions.

The music swelled as they danced with the rest of the moles.

“One, two, three. One, two, three. Focus on your stance and your posture. Just carry yourself, and try to focus on the music.” Molly could be so demanding when she wasn't playing around.

“Thank you for helping me.”

“Oh it's no worry, I've done this before. As the oldest, I had to teach my little sisters how to dance.”

“Aw, whale that's sweet of you. You love your younger siblings very much don't you.”

“Don't get any ideas. Those two can be a pain, especially Marina.”

“How long have you sisters been on your own? Why didn't your parents teach them?”

“Now look who's over asking. That's personal. Remember, this investigation is just business, remember. How do you even know about this secret Kingmaker anyway?”

“Me and Sweetheart, go way back, though we're not on friendly terms now.”

“She doesn't seem friendly with anyone,” Molly snarks.

“Heh. Yeah... but she wasn't always like this. She used to be nicer.”

“I don't believe that.”

“It's true, she used to be nice and innocent back in the desert, but then she became a princess, since taking over the castle, she's devolved into a selfish monster. All she cares about is herself.”

“Do you think there's any getting through to her? Can she still come back?”

“Like you mean if I talked to her? No. She's beyond repair I'm afraid.”

“If the castle is what ruined her, maybe all she has to do is leave it?”

“I don't think that's the full story...” Humphrey sighed focusing on his movement, as he danced,” I think I'm getting the hang of this...”

“Yes, you're a fast learner!” Molly chuckled, doing a big spin, catching everyone's attention. The other moles on the sidelines do a small round of applause.

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!” someone shouts.

Suddenly the lights cut off for a moment.

When the light turns back on, Sweetheart and her throne are on the dance floor, and all the dancing moles from earlier have moved to the balcony watching them menacingly from above.

Sweetheart stands up, “who are you? And why are you dancing with MY BOYFRIEND!”

“Oh hey there, Sweetheart,” Humphrey tries to placate her, “My sweet jelly-filled-donut I just figured since we're not together anymore you wouldn't mind me bringing my friend to the ball instead-”

“Not a word out of you! I asked her! Who are you, WENCH?”

“Oh, me, why I'm no one important darling. Just a friend that he talks to from time to time that's all... I was just going actually, my allotted time with him is over... I think Spaceboy wanted to talk to you.“

Sweetheart raises her brow in a get-out-of-my-sight-before-I-kill-you look. Molly slinks away to the sidelines, and Sweetheart steps forward towards the disguised whale.

“Sweetheart,” Humphrey starts.

“You will not speak,” she cuts him off, “let me be perfectly clear. I am you're only friend. You are not allowed to hang out with anyone except me! You. Are. All. Mine. Alone. Now... Let us dance.”

She puts out her hand.

Humphrey chuckles, “Heh, whatever you say sweetie...”

Humphrey grabs her hand and pulls her close.

“Oh my!”

Humphrey and Sweetheart start a waltz, Humphrey taking the lead. She doesn't have the slightest inkling that Humphrey was in disguise. Despite his large size and slipping mask.

“You're so forward today,” she says, “so different from before, it's like you are a whole new you!”

“There's more to me than meets the eye. So many different versions of me... you've never seen before. But each and every one of them is devoted to you... my Sweetheart.”

“You- you were so weak and wimpy yesterday...”

“I can be friendly and soft, yes, but I can also be... dangerous. I can be your angel or your demon...”

“Oh, Spaceboy! This is not like you at all, but you’re sweeping me away!” Sweetheart swooned for the massive whale in front of her.

Humphrey leans closer to her, “Sweetie, I was wondering if we could have some time together in private, there's something I want to talk about alone...”

“Oh yes, my love! Whatever you wish for~”

“IMPOSTER!”

The doors slam open. Space Just-Friends walks onto the tile of the dance floor All the sprout moles dramatically gasp in unison, followed but hushed muttering.

“Who- who are you! Spaceboy? But...” Sweetheart looks between the two apparent pirates. “what sort of magical trickery is this!” She yells in indignation.

“I've remembered who I am. Remembered my love for you! I'm taking you back!” Spaceboy declares, pointing his space laser at Humphrey. Who only draws Sweetheart closer to himself.

“Sweetheart, don't believe this clown, he is the impostor I am your true love and protector.”

“Hmm, he does... look a bit sus.. picious...” Sweetheart nervously examines Spaceboy.

“Have at you vile fiend!” Spaceboy points his gun to blast Humphrey.

Before he has the chance, Humphrey jumps onto Spaceboy and they enter a scuffle for the laser, they drop it. The laser gun skids across the tile floor to Sweetheart. She picks it up and points it at them.

“I'm not joking around anymore! Who is the real Spaceboy!”

“He's a liar and a villainous deceiver,” says the big whale in the tiny alien mask, pointing his fin at him.

“Don't be fooled, my love!” Spaceboy puts his hand to his chest.

“Pick me!”

“No! Pick me!”

Suddenly a random sprout mole runs into the ballroom saying, “Pick me pick me pick me!”

Sweetheart blasts the mole, apparently killing it.

“Hmm,” she ponders, “tell me something about myself that only the real Spaceboy would know...”

Humphrey was in a bind now.

Spaceboy says, “I know you are the love of my life, and I know our favorite song. He doesn't!”

“Ah yes, that song, that symbolizes our eternal love... tell me what it is...”

Humphrey had to choose his guess carefully, it’s either:

I LOVE THE 50S
I WANT NOTHING MORE
HOW TRAGIC...
WHALE WHALE WHALE

I remember! It's “I LOVE THE 50S remember!” Humphrey guesses.

“Ah ha!” Spaceboy points, “He doesn't know-”

“Yes, I think I remember... that was our song, right!” Sweetheart swoons, “It is the real you!”

“Wait- no it's not! You mean to tell you forgot our special song!” Spaceboy cries.

“Take him away guards. Take him to the dungeon.”

“No, no!” he drops to his knees,” don't tell me he's taking you from me! I can't live without you! We can't break up! We can't! We've been together all this time, I want nothing more than...”

“Wait,” Sweetheart calls the guards to stop, “what did you say, about us being together all this time?”

“We can't break up. Not now, after years of us being inseparable!”

Sweetheart gets really quiet. “You really are Spaceboy...”

Humphrey grimaces, and Spaceboy stands up, jumps, and smiles like a kid on Christmas morning.

“...and you really are just as pathetic as I remember you...” the pirate's smile drops as she continues, “We! Broke! Up! You never accepted it.”

“What are you saying honey, we're still together! Sure we had one silly fight, but that's it! It doesn't mean you have to leave me forever. We're still a thing. Everything between us is still okay!”

Sweetheart shakes her head in silent disappointment.

She points the laser at his chest... and fires.

A loud ring resounds through the silent room.

Spaceboy drops to the floor again, clenching the wound in his heart. His face twists in heartbreak.

“It's over,” she throws the laser gun to the floor with a clang.

Spaceboy crumbles, hands hold over his broken heart, and his head bows in defeat.

Sweetheart walks past him and up to Humphrey, “Remove your mask.”

Humphrey does so without question.

“Humphrey,” she says with just an edge of surprise,” why are you here? And why the disguise?”

“Oh you know me, official Headspace stuff, I need to talk to your underground friend.”

Her lips press firmly. The sprout moles begin to mutter in confusion and gossip.

“Everyone silence! Return to the dance!”

She signals for the music to start again and turns to Humphrey.

“Very well,” she gave a huff, then straightening herself, “I will take you to him.”

“Thank you-”

“And after that, I never want to hear from you again. Got that?” she gave a stern look.

Humphrey gave a nod of unspoken agreement like they both knew something the other didn't.

She pulled out a flamingo mask, and put it on, “come, he's right his way”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party,

Sweetheart slipped out of the ball unnoticed in her pink mask. They followed her towards the reception hall, and when they met the stanchions again, Sweetheart simply jumped over the ropes with ease and grace. Like they didn't even exist or apply to her. Humphrey wormed his way through them again.

By the time he caught up to her again, she was standing next to a huge bookshelf near the big waiting room, “would you mind moving a bit faster? I have very important business to attend to.”

She pulls out a book, and it opens up to a secret passage, they walk inside, the sounds of the castle close behind him. She follows the torches and they walk quietly behind her.

“You've changed so much Sweetheart.”

“Excuse me?” She turned her head not talking.

“I remember you... when you used to live in the desert.”

She stopped.

“Don't you remember?”

“No,” she continued.

“I remember you, you used to be so nice.”

She stops and turns around.

“I'm this close to killing you whale! I don't know who the hell you think you are. Bringing up my past. Demanding an audience with my debtor. But I'm up to here with you.” She points her mace at him.

Humphrey is unphased.

“I have immense wealth and all the riches one could imagine. I am perfect now. I have no reason to reflect on my old life and that stupid desert. And the Sweetheart you knew, the 'nice' one, the 'lovely’ one, she's gone forever. The past is over, and I say good riddance. ”

Humphrey was moved by that.

“Well, I used to like the old you,” he gives out pathetically.

“Mhm, like that matters...” she moved forward once more.

They come up to a room with a hellish red grate on the floor.

“He's in here. Make it quick.”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls walk into a dark room.

The moment they do, a stone wall closes behind them.

“What the hell!” Marina yells.

“Sweetheart locked us in!” Medusa feels the wall looking for a switch.

“OHOHOHOHOHOHO!” they could hear her, muffled but clearly, “Originally, I was going to let you go! But then you brought up my past. And then I knew I couldn't let you leave here alive. And now you’ll stay locked in this cell, with him. You will rot in obscurity and the past will be forgotten with you.”

“You wretch! This is the second time that lady double-crossed us!” Molly seethed.

“She is a most raucous one...” a withered voice said.

Suddenly a torched light, the whale and girls turned to see a hunched black, masked creature. The whale readied himself, it had been so long since he'd seen this guy. When he and Abbi were still friends.

“Girls, this is the Keeper.”

“You know each other?” Marina question.

“I know who you are,” the creature says in a raspy voice, “you are the Oldest.”

“Mhm. I saw you from time to time, whenever I'd visit Abbi.”

“The Wisest, my former master, given the task of watching over the Dreamer's memories,” it said, “and you are the Oldest, given the task of gatekeeper to the dark realm.”

“Hmm, that's one way of putting it,” the whale nods approvingly.

“Is there a reason I've been granted an audience with such a great creature?”

“Whale yes there is” Humphrey shouted, “I only have a few questions for you.”

“I am honored. I will accommodate you to the best of my ability.”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

SWEETHEART
THE DWELLING
THE WISEST

Humphrey considered what question would he ask first.

THE WISEST

“Alright then, I'll just cut the the chase. You used to work with Abbi, right?”

“Yes... I used to be the Keeper of the Library, I would help her with menial tasks. So that the Dreamer may partake and indulge in his most precious memories at any time. Such is the role of the wisest. I served as her assistant until the day she was locked away.”

“Do you have any idea what she did, or found out?

“Found? I know... quite little. She had an argument with The Dreamer. That's all I'm aware of. Then she disappeared, and then all the names were stripped from the records and the library was left abandoned. But I could not maintain it on my own, not without her. I didn't have the special knowledge of the other “Real World” that she had. And so the archive of memories sunk into the dirt.”

“Do you know what the argument was about?”

“No, I left the chamber alone to them when the shouting started.”

“But there was shouting,” Humphrey pressed, “so you did hear something. What did you say? You wouldn't withhold information from me would you?”

“I wouldn't... I didn't linger or eavesdrop. I took away only a name: Mari. They were discussing Mari. She is the Dreamer's sister, as far as I'm aware.”

“Hmm, that sounds about right. I imagine that if you hadn't left the room... you would not be here. I guess I'm just going to check her study for clues myself.”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

SWEETHEART
THE DWELLING
THE WISEST

Humphrey readied himself to confront the creature, about a theory he needed to put to rest.

SWEETHEART

“Let's talk about Sweetheart, how long has she been the owner of the castle?”

“Around three years. She came begging me for wealth and power beyond her imagination. But wealth alone cannot bring happiness, nor does it make a home. She is an elaborate one.”

“An apparently a wanderer too, wouldn't you agree?” Humphrey said.

“I don't understand.”

“Think about it. Day One, she dumps her boyfriend living near the barn; come Day Two she holds a show at her place near the library; and on Day Three, she stumbles right into my place, in Deeper Well,“ Humphrey lifts his eyebrows, “it's almost like she's leading the kids around or something.”

“I still don't understand. She does what she will, I have no interest in controlling her.”

“The point is, she keeps stepping into inconvenient places. Meanwhile, you are the only person in Headspace with any influence over what she does.. and you used to work with Abbi, who, as you already know, was put away for undermining the Dreamer's will. It all looks, pretty suspicious.”

“That is quite a conspiracy. You seem to be an elaborate one as well.”

“Good one. But what do you make of it.”

“I support the dreamer and the dream. I have no interest in undermining Headspace. This Dwelling, and my maintenance of it, are a testament to that. Perhaps she is being drawn to these places by the same force that lures the Dreamer himself. I wouldn't know. Despite my work in the library, my knowledge is limited. A manipulator? No. I am but a humble servant, nothing more.”

Humphrey considered some topics that have been on his mind,

SWEETHEART
THE DWELLING
THE WISEST

Humphrey asked another question.

THE DWELLING

“This castle, this dwelling. What exactly is it? Clearly, the Dreamer didn't make it.”

“It a place to take the form of the host's deepest desires, a home.”

“But how does it function?”

“The fabrication of this dream world has a parallel power relationship with that of the Real. Since the Real provides materials. Like paints for a painting. The fabric of Headspace is based on the solidity of the memories that support it, and therefore, determines the malleability of Headspace. Ergo, given that the Library is the largest depository of memories, it only makes sense that the area just above it would prove incredibly malleable.”

“In English please.”

“The Library made the Dwelling. It pulls from the archives rich memories and power to make what the host wants it to be. And I have taken to become its Keeper so I may remain useful.”

I was going to ask, what do you get out of doing this?”

“There is nothing more rewarding than giving someone a place to call home.”

“I... agree.”

“I approve of your quest Oldest one. Better to remain ignorant. Partake in the past, and the dream.”

“Finally, someone that sees sense.”

“That's all the questions I have for now,” Humphery said.

“I have a question,” Molly asked breaking the girl's silence, “How exactly are we going to get out of this dingy little cell. She just locked us in here,” we should be looking for a way out.”

“That is not necessary,” the Keeper answered. I can open the door that ascends to the outside, but that's not the direction you will be heading. You will be heading downward, am I correct?”

“Very much so. Can you take us there?” Humphrey asked.

“Wait, take us where? Aren't we supposed to be heading to the Lost Forest?”

“Not yet, one last detour girls.”

“I will open the way...” the Keeper says, and just as he says, a tunnel's door magically appears behind it, “I created this passage so I may visit my old ward. Descend further, find the archive, and seek knowledge to your heart's desire.”

“That will be all, Keeper,” Humphrey says, giving a nod. You've been giving a big help.

“One last thing,” the Keeper says, “I have something for you to consider.”

Humphrey takes an interest.

“I couldn't help but notice your empty eyes whale. Should the master of this castle disappear, come to me, and I will let you take her place as host of the dwelling.”

“Oh friend, this whole big world is my dwelling! But thank you! It's not often anyone compliments my eyes. I am something of a heart-throb back in Deep Well!”

“Oh my god,” Molly rolls her eyes.

“In any case, we should get going, we'll keep in touch!” Humphrey dos a nod of goodbye.

“Farewell.”

They then entered the passage behind him, to find all the secrets the Library had to offer.

Chapter Text

They followed the stairs downward, and as they made their dark descent, the purple hue of Sweetheart's dungeon gave way to a deep dark blue and the sound of pattering rain.

“Is that rain?” Marina asked.

Eventually, they reached the Lost Laboratory.

The passage opened up to a massive atrium, it was multi-leveled and they were at the top. The walls were lined with messy bookshelves with haphazard notes shoved into all of them. A sound of thunder clapped and shook the building.

“How the heck is it raining underground? That doesn't even make sense!” Marina remarked.

“While I normally encourage questioning the nature of Headspace,” Humphrey started, “now is not the time. I would say this isn't the place, but it actually is! It's an old lecture hall! It's a private study and laboratory created for an old colleague of mine. It sits next to the library, the one with all the memories, the twin buildings connect on the bottom floor, so we should head down.

“Uh, I think that may be a problem darling, look,” Molly pointed.

It turns out a large mess of moving living vines had grown and blocked the main stairway down.

“Whale then looks like we have to go the long way through the laboratory. It's this way. But before we go, I have to warn you girls, this may be a lab, but Abbi didn't study Headspace the same way you did.”

“What do you mean by that, huh? Between the three of us, we study the world in every which way.”

“She studied the nature of Headspace itself, it's hard to explain. Just know some of it's going to be scary. So consider this a fair warning.”

Before Humphrey left the atrium he picked up a little book that looked like a journal entry, it was Abbi's. He could tell by the handwriting, that this one looked really old too.

Log #004 Black Space

The first three dissections have proven unsatisfactory. Thus I must explore and take samples from Black Space itself, though I must be safe not to descend too far as it has since become a dangerous place. Omori and Sunny are counting on me to find a way to silence the scratching at the back of his mind, but if Black Space is the cause, then I have no choice but to venture in and perform onsite testing.

“Looks like she was collecting samples from Black Space, this place might be dangerous.”

And on that note, he headed into the study hall on the right. It was some sort of containment room, with tanks and tanks of Something's being held in vats, including the standard fare, Nanci, Dorthi, Salli, etc. The girls were unnerved but it was nothing Humphrey hadn't seen before. They had swam through a giant pool of water that contained an “Angi”, a fish foe he was very familiar with which lives in Deeper Well. Humphrey wondered why it was here. They tried to sneak past it, but it attacked them.

= They entered a battle =

It was a weird creature with black oily skin and sharp fangs. Apparently, it was scary since all the girls froze up when attacked by it. Humphrey wasn't. He gobbled it up in a few attacks.

= The battle ended =

On the other side of the hall, they found another note on a desk next to the pool.

Log #129 Angi

Part of my duty as the Wisest is cataloging the various creatures of Headspace, but in my tenure, I've never come across anything like this. It's hard to describe. It's not Something, lacking the signature eye and clay-like form, but it has qualities of one, perhaps it's “Something adjacent”?

Humphrey then moved over to another nearby entry.

Log #133 Vinni

Made an accidental breakthrough today. While transporting materials I tripped on a vine and spilled some of the extracted bile taken from an angler bulb. I thought nothing of it at first, but when I came back hours later I found the vine had animated into a creature just like the angler fish. This raises so many questions and so many possibilities. Perhaps I should test contaminating other objects.

“Hmm. That would explain the living vines. Humphrey proceeded down the hall, and almost on cue a mess of vines moved towards them. They hug from the ceiling and tangle together like a mop of hair. On closer inspection, he noticed they were black and white, just like the Angi they just fought before.

Humphrey moved his way down the steps one floor lower.

This room looked like the main lab filled with all sorts of lab equipment and containers. To the north they saw an open room, it had a sign that said “Subject Holding Pin” but all it had inside it was a chest.

“Hmm, I wonder what's inside the chest, maybe a creature? Maybe something useful?” Humphrey moved closer to the container to figure out and that's when it leaped at him.

= They entered a battle =

The chest was a dark creature just like the vines and Angi before. Under its lid, it hid a row of razor-sharp teeth. Once again, Humphrey had to dispatch the creature on his own.

= The battle ended =

“Girls there's nothing to be worried about. And Marina, you create creepier monsters on a daily basis, what’s gotten into you three?”

“I don't know there's just something so creepy about this place and those creatures,“ Molly shivered.

“And that thing did get the drop on us,” Marina shivers too.

This is a strange place, perhaps when this is all done, we can come back here to collect information for our laboratory,” Medusa said, looking around, “this friend of yours were they a scientist too?”

“Whale of course they were, and ya know, I'm something of a scientist myself. Nyak! Nyak!”

“We know that Humphrey,” Marina rolls her eyes.

“Yeah...” Humphrey looks at the girls, landing his gaze on Molly, “You girls remind me of her... It's part of the reason I let you guys live with me. It's good to surround yourself with people curious about the world.”

“Honestly we could take some of this equipment right now.” Marina eyes up some of the beakers.

“We must remain on task,” Medusa reminds them.

“Yes, let's continue,” the whale says then immediately gets distracted by another journal entry.

Log #131 Chesti and Dori

My results with the extract have been limited thus far. I've tried containing hundreds of objects and even creatures, but rarely does it react. I tried pouring the extract into a chest of various objects, as sort of a scattershot approach, and was surprised to find it reacted with the chest itself. Later I tried putting it on the transport door, which also produced a specimen. It boggles the mind. An angler's bulb, a vine, a chest, and now a door. All items with little in common. What is the constant variable?

“Humphrey, what did I just say?” Medusa moaned.

“But these logs are so interesting!” They gave him a look into what Abbi was doing in the weeks before she left. Or rather, she was taken away. He didn't know what came over her, and part of the reason he came down here was to figure out why. “But yes, let's keep going!”

Humphrey snaked his way to one end of the room and back and fought another “Chesti”, and even picked up a few pieces of useful gear. He exited the main atrium for a bit, but it was no use, both the stairs going up and down were covered in vines. He did find an entry though.

Log #140 Mari

Mari went missing today. We were on Christmas holiday having a lovely stroll with the Dreamer and his friends. We found her near the lighthouse hours later but she was different, floating, cloaked in white. Was it an aberration? Was it the real Mari? But that's impossible, either way, I was happy to see her. But then she vanished, along with Basil and the Dreamer too. And then there was a great shaking. What happened? If I’m supposed to be The Wisest, why am I so out of the loop?

“Oh Mari… I'm sorry we had to push you away...” Humphrey said to himself.

With no other choice, Humphrey went back into the storage room and maneuvered his way through the maze of stuff to the only door he hadn't checked, behind it was the stairs down to the ground floor, that led to what used to be the main office. The hallway in front of them was full of doors lining each side.

“I don't remember there being that many doors the last time I came here... hmmm.” Humphrey just gunned it to the other end of the hall to the door that read 'Abbi's Office'. It was locked. “Looks like we need to find the key. It's somewhere in one of these doors...”

Humphrey picked a door. And just as expected it attacked him.

= They entered a battle =

The foe was a partially opened door on its frame, several hands poked out the door, and it used some of them to walk and others to attack. Humphrey made quick work of it.

= The battle ended =

“Whale then, do you girls have any idea what door we should try next?”

“Watch the doors closely, see which ones move,“ Molly said.

Humphrey moved up and down the hallway and spotted a door that was completely still. It wasn't an enemy but nothing in it was that useful either, just a bunch of filing cabinets and some gear. He repeated this process until he found a real door that led to a storage room. It was filled with broken furniture as if it was taken from an old house. He spotted an entry, and it read,

Log #141 Lighthouse

The Lighthouse has become haunted and Basil is still nowhere to be found. The Dreamer, in a most infuriating manner, refuses to give me any details about the events of his and Basil's disappearance. When I asked about looking into Mari's appearance, I was ordered to cease all studies on that topic and Black Space. So is this really the end? Am I really just going to let this go?

Humphrey found the key to her office next to the entry and proceeded to her room.

“Wow this place is a mess,” Marina states. It was a small little place with books, notes, and files thrown everywhere. Normally anything she managed would be organized, every memory in the library just over in their other building was neatly put away, but not her own office. It was her most private chambers so her real chaotic personality showed through. He read the entires.

Log #142 Exhibition

Tomorrow under the cover of darkness, I will be exploring Black Space. And this time I'm not going to stop. I will dive to the very bottom, go as far as I can, as deep as I can. I don't care what Omori thinks, I will find the answers, the truth. The source of Sunny’s pain is down there, where the black gives to way red... If Basil is really down there, somebody has to save him. I must be brave.

This little exhibition of hers cost her everything, “Abbi, what did you find…”

“Hey Humphrey, look over here, I think I found something!” he turned to see Marina holding Abbi's diary, “is this what you’re looking for?”

“Yes, bring it here.” Humphrey waddled his way to the diary, but then Marina pulled it away, “Better yet, how about I read it out loud!”

“Hmm, that really won't be necessary Marina, that's private!” Humphrey protested.

“Ooh! Read it, I want all the details.”

“Dear Diary,” Marina read, “that whale will be the death of me. He just crushed the monkey bars, and now all the playground creatures are upset. This is normal Humphrey fare, but why now? How can he be this unserious at a time like this? But it's always been this way. I've always had to be the adult in the room. Since a young age, the dreamer has lacked guidance and I've had to step in to fill the void. Just another day, in the exquisitely difficult life of being the wisest..”

Marina did a double take, “This next bit is scratched out... it says, 'MY NAME IS ABBI AND I'M A BIG OCOTO-SOUR-PUS. I'M ALSO A BIG KILLJOY WHO DOESN'T GET WHAT SUNNY NEEDS RIGHT NOW. You shouldn't leave your diary lying around NYAK! NYAK! NYAK!- signed yours truly the whale.'

The three girls looked over at him, “You wrote in her diary,” they ridiculed.

“And you girls are reading it...”

“Fair enough, let's continue,” Medusa took the book into her hands and read another page.

“Both the Dreamer and Headspace are in danger. And I'm useless. No matter how hard I study or try, no matter what I do nothing alleviates the discomfort the Dreamer is feeling. It's destroying him, scratching at the back of his skull and I can't help him...”

Medusa took a pause and continued, “I've always been someone to push myself very hard. But now I have to try even harder. I need to be perfect, not for myself but for those around me. I have to be my best. For the Dreamer, for everyone.”

Medusa lowered the book, “Sounds like someone who tried to be her best at everything.”

“Not just herself, she was driving me nuts at the time.” Humphrey scoffed, and then his bitterness mellowed into sadness, “But it didn't matter in the end. All her knowledge was useless, and I think that destroyed her...”

“So all of this was to help someone? This “Dreamer”, was he sick? Like some sort of hospital patient? “ Medusa inquired.

“Something like that...” Humphrey answered but didn't elaborate.

Molly snatched the book out of Medusa's hands, “I want to read! It's my turn.”

She opened to a random page.

“I can't describe my frustration. I visited my old friends in Black Space, Uni seemed nice enough, but Meido was upset. Why can't they see how much this means to me, to be working with The Dreamer, running a big library, and exploring Headspace? I feel bad having left them behind, but this meant the world to me, but they didn't care... Meido said I 'wasn't her Tako' anymore.' It was heartbreaking. Luckily I still have the Castle Keeper and Cat to hang out with.”

The girls frowned, clearly awkward having read someone's raw sorrow out loud, “I think we should stop reading..” Medusa said. Molly dropped the book.

At first, Humphrey felt the sting of not being mentioned as a friend, but then he noticed something, “Wait, it just said the castle keeper and the Big Yellow Cat would hang out together. I didn't know those two even knew each other... that is... an interesting development. If the Cat knew the Keeper personally, maybe he's involved... we may have to pay him a visit.”

Humphrey signaled for them to go, he left the door leading out to the bottom floor of the main atrium. He looked up to the top where they started. Then trailed down to the bottom. That's when he noticed it. There, lying at the foot of the bottom steps laid one final entry.

Log #143 Omori

It wasn't an accident. I can't bring myself to write it down. I can't do this any longer. Now that I know the truth. His actions are so insulting in hindsight. And not at all what Mari wants. It's blood boiling. I love him, and I want to give him my help... and love, being with him, doing this. But if that's love, then it comes at much too high a cost! Next time the Dreamer visits the library, I'm confronting him.

Humphrey had nothing to say. “The annex to the library is just ahead, everything that’s happened, all of the Dreamer's memories should be in that library.” And then he'll find in there what she found.

They proceeded to the library.

Chapter Text

The whale and girls walk into a huge room that looks like a main entrance hall.

Caved-in windows line the wall next to them, “the library should be just up here..” the whale says showing the grand staircase, just under it are watermelons filled with emotion-changing potions. Once the girls tuck them away, they walk up the grand staircase that leads up to the main floor. When they reach the top they are surprised to see what looks like a large candlelight vigil across the entire wall. In darkness, about a hundred candles float suspended in the air. At the very center is a picture, a picture of someone familiar.

Humphrey brushes it off, trying to stay on task, while the right side of the room is totally dark, the left side leads to where they are supposed to go. Humphrey nods and says to himself, “Sunny's memories are just behind this door.”

“You shouldn't address him that way...” a raspy voice says, the whale turns around, and on the other side of the dark room, sitting in the darkness. On his small throne he wore a small ranger hat that was tipped downward and kept a large lantern next to his right foot. The whale knew who it was, “it's only proper for you to refer to him as the 'Dreamer'. It's not your place. Only creatures from, or based on, Real World friends are allowed to refer to him by his given name.”

“I can call Sunny whatever I want! Me and him go way back! I'm his friend too.”

“But you are only a creature of Headspace. You're not his real friend.”

Humphrey grits his teeth, LongLegs knows just how to get under his skin, “Sunny, is my friend.”

Daddy LongLegs looks to the side and just shakes his head at the whale's delusions.

“Call him what you like then. I supposed the evil form is just going to change the words in his head anyway. Others say 'Sunny' but he only hears 'Omori'. I'm not sure if anyone in this realm is powerful enough to address him by his real name and have him actually hear it.”

“Humphrey, I'm guessing this is the guy right?” Marina asks quietly, “You didn't say he'd be here.”

Humphrey turns back to his adversary, “LongLegs... If we had known you'd come to us, we wouldn't have gone through all the effort of finding the Lost Forest, we had to chase this guy onto a train and everything. Are you excited to see me or something?”

“You know why... You kept me waiting. Which is rude, but I expect nothing less from you.”

“Well,” Humphrey smiles menacingly, “I'm here now.”

“I know why you're here,” the dark figure says informatively, “the real reason you’re here, whale. You're here to find the Truth...”

Humphrey frowns, apparently LongLegs was one step ahead, as usual.

“...and I would rather throw myself into a fire, immolate myself, before I let you become privy to it.”

Humphrey bit his lip, considering what to say next, but honestly, he had no reason to say anything, “You know, the Stranger showed part of the Truth to me...”

“I am aware of the Stranger's mistake, and I don't agree with him. I did not consent to sharing the Truth with you... I don't know what the Truth is, but I know you. I don't trust it in your hands.”

“Good thing I don't have hands,” the whale flaps his fins in jest.

“Yes, but you push people around all the same, don't you? Are you forgetting something, Humphrey?”

“You don't know me,” Humphrey sinks into a deep-seated rage, “You don't know him.”

“Oh, but I do. I know you. I know how selfish you are. How you've taken advantage of the Dreamer's tragedy to create a world where he can spend more time with you...”

“That's not how it is at all!” Humphrey shakes his head aggressively.

The man speaks on, “...how despite your sabotage, he chooses to spend his time with other people-”

“I said that's not how it is!” the whale yells suddenly.

A silence overtakes the room.

Medusa breaks it, “Humphrey… what exactly is in this library?”

LongLegs answers, “Behind that door is a fragment of the Truth, left festering after the Wisest's heroic transgression. Perhaps one day the Dreamer will return to partake in his memories and reconsider his choices but that room was not made for you. You're not welcome. And though you may bang at its doors, you will never enter, none of you will. Your journey ends here.”

LongLegs stands, picks up his lantern, and takes a step forward.

“Leave this place. Leave the whale and me alone to settle our differences. This matter doesn't concern you. I'm giving you one chance to abandon your foolish quest.”

“It's our job to help Humphrey,” Medusa answers.

“I am aware of your mission,” the ranger cuts in. Medusa's eyebrows lift, “and I'm telling you it's a waste of time. The whale is a lost cause, there is no saving him.”

“I'll be the judge of that,” Medusa says firmly, the other girls back her up.

“Yes, we took down the cowboy, you should reconsider our strength, darling,” Molly adds.

“Yeah, we're going to snap you in half twig man!” Marina threatens.

“Outback was indeed very old and powerful... but he was not a creature of darkness...”

The lights go out for a moment, and when they turn back on, LongLegs is no longer standing in front of his chair. They look around and spot him standing in front of the candlelight vigil.

“...I have set foot in the deepest darkest recesses of his mind, and have returned unscathed and unchanged. Whatever, tricks and gadgets you think might subdue me will not work. But I suppose it doesn't matter, this world will all come to an end in good time. Whether you die now or then is irrelevant. There is no need to struggle, once it happens you will be at ease...”

The dark figure splays out red claws from his left hand, he stands tall as long spider legs emerge from his back, lifting him up, “ Yes...” the spider monster says with new crazed enthusiasm, “This world. This never-ending cycle of blissful ignorance. Perhaps it all ends here!”

Humphrey smiles too, “I hate to break it to you, but this cycle cannot break or bend! And I'm afraid our little dance together will never end!”

The lights go out again for a split second, and LongLegs is in front of Humphrey ready to strike him. His hand swipes but hits nothing. Anticipating his attack, Humphrey has already teleported to the lanky monster's side. The whale lunges to take a bite while his back is turned, but before his bite lands, the lights flicker again. Both are gone.

They then suddenly appear in the upper left corner of the atrium, and for a second Humphrey slaps LongLegs with his tail, then the lights flicker again.

LongLegs swipes at Humphrey once more at the bottom of the steps this time, they disappear.

Again and again, they teleport all over the room, and the girls can't keep up.

Eventually, the two monsters appear and stop in the middle of the room. Both are trapped in place in some sort of Sumo wrestling position. Right next to where the girls are standing. Humphrey's jaws are splayed out, opened wide, ready to swallow LongLegs whole. Humphrey lets out a disturbing squelching sound, and a puff of wet breath as the rows and rows of teeth pulsate behind his first set of jaws.

Meanwhile, LongLegs looks unphased, determined as ever, holding the monster in place with his front spider legs, they hold the whale's mouth at bay, inches away from his face. His back legs scrape against the ground behind him, as the whale pushes forward.

They both hold here, trapped in this position, both shaking with rage, neither giving a single inch. Everyone is unmoving until one of the faces in Humphrey's mouth politely asks, “Hey girls, you think you can help me slow this guy down?”

= They enter a battle. =

Daddy LongLegs stood tall on his spider legs. Hundreds of candles floated behind him in the darkness, giving him a demonic glow. His human body slumped, one arm holding his dark lantern, the other splaying sharp claws, his head tilted in anger.

“The Dreamer's wickedness will die with you!”

Humphrey, Marina, and Molly jumped forward, as Medusa dropped a strength potion on the ground.

Humphrey missed.

Marina missed.

Molly missed.

LongLegs effortlessly dodged each attack.

LongLegs appeared everywhere! He struck three times with his claws, slashing Marina, throwing her off her feet, then swiped at Humphrey. Then finished by taking Medusa by surprise, she screamed as his claws struck her back, leaving a large gash. He teleported to his first spot and said,

“For the record. I never believed in you. I knew from the moment you ate those lotuses that you would ultimately become a bad influence on him.”

Humphrey has become ANGRY. He can no longer become HAPPY or SAD for the rest of the battle.

This pest! Humphrey couldn't stand this guy. Honestly, a fight between them had been a long time coming, in the past LongLegs just took care of himself, but now he had a chance to really sock it to this guy and let this pesky warden learn what happens when he gets between the whale and his baby boy.

Humphrey made a large swing at the pest. But the girls just threw half-hearted strikes, it appeared like they were afraid to waste their juice on an attack that'd only miss.

Humphrey missed.

Marina missed.

Molly missed.

Medusa hit Daddy LongLegs. Despite it being a dull attack, it did a number on the spider's crunchy exoskeleton. While the spider's loose armor made him very fast, it also made him weak.

“Girls, we need to put our full weight into every attack, even if we don't hit him most of the time when we do hit him, we have to make it count...” Humphrey pressed his teeth in a seething grimace. “He can't keep dodging forever, keep attacking!”

Daddy LongLegs strikes Humphrey three times in quick succession, leaving him at half his health.

Marina and Molly attack and miss. Medusa draws a potion, “Humphrey let me heal you!”

“No, keep attacking!” Humphrey said, they exchanged a tense look, and she nodded, she put her potion away and pulled out an explosive instead, flinging it right at LongLegs he flashed away, just before it exploded, sending shrapnel everywhere, the spider pulling his arm to cover his face from the blast, when the smoke clears, the spider brushes it off.

“Damn! He can even dodge attacks that hit everywhere!” Medusa yells her deduction.

“Like I said, just keep attacking!!”

“Why all this fuss whale? Can't you see you never mattered that much to him?” LongLeg taunted, goading the whale into a frenzy where he let his guard down.

Humphrey appeared everywhere. He teleported around and tried to attack the spider three times.

He missed each time and wasted all his juice in the process.

In turn, LongLegs appears everywhere. Twice!

Striking Medusa two times, then Humphrey, then Molly, then Marina, then Molly again.

It leaves Medusa TOAST and Molly almost down as well.

“Damn, how much juice does this guy have?” Marina yelled, reviving Medusa, and picking her up off the ground in her arms, Medusa was panting heavily in exhaustion.

Humphrey didn't even notice, too focused on his overwhelming desire to land a hit on LongLegs.

In retaliation for her sister, Molly swung her sledgehammer with all her might, and it landed! Sending LongLegs flying, he disappeared before he hit the ground. Appearing behind her, he stabbed his sharp claws through her abdomen. Molly spat out slime and became TOAST.

Humphrey ordered Marina and Medusa to attack again. He had to kill him, had to swat this pest out of the air. Which he did, he made a large hit, depleting the spider's health bar. Humphrey sneered “Neither of us is making any real progress like this. How about you say we finish this?”

“For once,” LongLegs stilled, “I agree with you.”

Suddenly all the candles go out, the room becomes super dark.

Daddy LongLegs picked up his dead lantern in front of him. His most powerful weapon. He waved his other hand. LongLegs levitates the lantern high in the air so it presides over everything.

And then it turned on, a bright white light emanated from the lantern through its cage. As light shined through the cage holes, their tiny light spots danced on the walls of the atrium like a disco ball.

His right hand, now free, flicks out both of his claws.

= The battle enters a second phase. =

Medusa revived Molly, “Humphrey you need to get control of yourself!”

Humphrey agrees, “Yes... I need to stay focused.” He swallowed rage, using it to empower him,“ he would try to exact his wrath in a careful way.”

LongLegs spoke, “Let the fire burn bright and reveal your sins! Let it burn with your wrath! Those who are consumed by hatred are doomed for ruin!”

The lantern and all the spinning inscriptions on the wall turned a deep red.

And for some unexplained reason, Marina, Molly, and Medusa became permanently FURIOUS.

DaddyLongLegs appears HAPPY.

Medusa tries to throw and potion of misery at Daddy LongLegs but it doesn't work. His emotions cannot be changed, while under the lantern's influence.

Humphrey takes inventory of the situation.

He knew he couldn't change what anyone felt around him. So he would simply need to play into their strengths and weaknesses. He knew angry people had strong attacks and no defense. So Humphrey took all the blows, using Volley and Protect. Minimizing their damage together, while letting the girls lay into LongLegs.

After taking heavy damage LongLegs spoke, “Let the fire burn bright and reveal your sins! Let it burn with your gluttony! Those who indulge their every desire are doomed for ruin!”

This time the lantern turns yellow. Marina, Molly, and Medusa became permanently MANIC.

DaddyLongLegs appears SAD.

It seems LongLegs is using his full knowledge of Headspace to his advantage. He knows how these battle mechanics work. What a nuisance! Humphrey threw down the last of his potions of accuracy, and had Medusa do the same. If he didn't, it would be impossible to hit the already fast, LongLegs.

After taking even more damage, LongLegs spoke again, “Let the fire burn bright and reveal your sins! Let it burn with your sloth! Those who stew in helplessness are doomed for ruin!”

The lantern turns blue. Marina, Molly, and Medusa became permanently MISERABLE.

DaddyLongLegs appears ANGRY.

Humphrey drops a strength potion, as a way to pick up their attack power. Then as a team, the girls just kept attacking non-stop. Eventually, LongLegs had it.

Daddy LongLegs becomes FURIOUS! Burning with a blue flame consuming him.

The lantern shatters!

Everything becomes dark. Marina, Molly, and Medusa became AFRAID.

“Enough of this, madness! I will smite you right here, right now! May all traces of you disappear! Like the pain of any tragedy should. Now let the purifying fire, burn you to cinder!”

He strikes Humphrey with an ultra-powerful attack 'Lash Out', reducing him to near death.

Humphrey becomes FURIOUS!

Blinded by rage. Everything starts to fade out. Everything starts fading to white.

= The battle paused. =

Humphrey woke up in a forest.

A black forest. He immediately recognized it as Black Space. The one he had gotten lost in, the first time Sunny and him explored Vast Forest. He looked around.

Standing just in front of him was Sunny.

The little three-year-old in a blue sweater, standing just in front of him, just out of reach... The whale moved up to talk to the little boy, but he faded away to the sound of children's playful laughter. He reappeared just off in the distance, but this time he was older, 7 years old. He tried to talk to him again, “Sunny please! I just want to talk to you!” but Sunny disappeared once more, this time appearing 11. This happened over and over again, Sunny didn't change after age 12, but this didn't stop him. The whale couldn't teleport to him either, he was helpless. No matter what he did, the boy just kept slipping through his fins.

A blur suddenly moved by the whale. This caught his attention. It zoomed by again. But this time the whale caught a glimpse of it, or rather 'him'. It was Kelsey!

Humphrey turned away from Sunny's mirage and tried to catch Kel twice as he zoomed by, on the third time he caught Kel, who completely stopped and turned to him.

“Hey, Humphrey. It's been forever... I don't know about you, but we've been running in circles for a long time now. Haven't we?” Kel looked around, “What do you say we leave this place?”

A white door appeared. And Kel walked into it, “Come on! Let's go, Humphrey!”

Humphrey turned to Sunny's mirage with a worried face, not wanting to leave him behind.

The whale moved away from the door and approached the mirage one last time, only this time it didn't disappear. Instead, it said, “Don't worry Humphrey, I'll always be here.”

“Yes, of course.”

Sunny simply faded away, this time for good, and with a determined expression, Humphrey made his way back to the door. He had unfinished business.

= The battle resumed. =

LongLegs stood leering over the whale, ready for another attack to come. Humphrey spoke “I have nothing to worry about. You are just wrong. I'm not going to let you bother me anymore...”

Humphrey's was no longer FURIOUS, he felt NEUTRAL. He felt nothing.

“.. And I have to do what I have to do.”

Humphrey learns a new skill 'Protect Yourself'.

It lets Humphrey attack while letting someone else take the blow for him.

Daddy LongLegs was charging another powerful attack.

His health was very low, and Humphrey had no choice but to use his new ability.

Humphrey protects himself. He dashes forward and takes a big chomp out of the unmoving LongLegs. This leaves LongLegs low on health.

The spider retaliates by throwing out another huge slash, but something happens! Red hands appear out of nowhere and pick up the terrified Medusa, she struggles in fear but they quickly move her in the way to take the oncoming blow. Leaving her with only one health point.

Medusa silently curls into herself in pain.

Relentless, and focused, Humphrey ‘protects himself’ again. Humphrey chomps him again. Daddy LongLegs still didn't give up, almost dead, but still kicking with fury. He lashes out again, and this time Marina is moved in the way of the blow. She is devastated but Humphrey is saved.

Marina falls to the floor in tears.

Humphrey feels terrible, but he has to finish this. He has to finish this. He ‘protects himself’ one last time. Humphrey slams into LongLegs and sinks his teeth into his legs, in one motion the whale rips off half of LongLegs's spider legs, immobilizing him.

Molly is hurt but mostly spared. Daddy LongLegs is defeated.

= The battle ended. =

LongLegs seethes on the floor, not breaking eye contact with the whale.

“So this is it then... the Dreamer is to succumb to his own selfishness. At the expense of everyone else. All to your benefit of course...”

Humphrey moves even closer to the spider's face and says, “Let me make only one thing clear, I'm not doing this for me. All of this is for Sunny. I am loyal. Since the very beginning of this tragedy, I ALONE have stood by his side, following his will, actually doing what he wanted me to do. If you think all of this is bad, I haven't even started... I will follow him to Hell if he asks me to…”

LongLegs looks away, breaking eye contact. “So I was wrong... You're not selfish. Do you really think you're being loyal? Virtuous even? You actually think this cycle is good for him... how foolish.. you've given him what he wants, but not what he needs. By keeping him alive, you've let him become older.. but not wiser... can't you see how much damage you're doing by protecting him?”

“Yes! Now you get it! You finally get it!” Humphrey crushes more of him, LongLegs seethes in pain, “Sunny will always be in my safekeeping!”

LongLegs suddenly glares into him, “Ah, I see... Now I will die... knowing in my heart... that he is doomed.”

Humphrey's face twists into a rage once more, and he yells in rage. He takes his tail and slams it down onto the broken creature, then again, and again, and again. Over and over, he slams his large tail crushing the bug. By the time Molly pulls the whale away, LongLegs is reduced to a splatter on the ground. His black remains stained on the floor, they do not fade into bread.

Humphrey stands over the splattered remains, as Marina and Medusa stand to their feet.

“I'm sorry,” Humphrey simply states, eyes not looking away.

“That really hurt Humphrey!” Marina shouts, but Medusa cuts her off, “he had to do it. Besides, the spider is the one who really did it. And he's gone. Let's just... let's just finish our mission already,” she said with an exhausted slump. Marina swallows her pride, and steps in line.

= Humphrey and the Slime Girls formed a party. =

They find a key to the Lost Library on his chair. They proceed left and finally enter the archive. The one that supposedly held all of the boy's closest memories and the Truth.

The next room was much calmer, cooling, and relaxing compared to the stuffy room before. A gentle rain could be heard pattering as they walked in, and Humphrey could almost hear the sound of the piano. The library was large, reaching all the way up four floors.

“Well there's no time to waste, let's start looking,” he says.

Humphrey read a story about Sunny's violin tutoring.

“Oh yes! I remember that! The best part of every week! Nothing like watching cartoons! But Sunny had to play that dumb violin... on a weekend too! I always told him to be honest and give up that thing.”

Humphrey read a story about Kel making a spill.

“Oh, Kelsey... Don't let Mari get you down. Furniture, and all things, are made to be broken.”

Humphrey read a story about Sunny making a treehouse with friends.

“Oh boy, I remember that horrible day. It was so hot and stuffy outside. I told Sunny to let his friend do all the hard work, and just relax in the air conditioning. But Abbi won out in the end, so he helped.”

Humphrey read a story about how Sunny nearly drowned.

“Yes, that was a most scary day. I was never more scared for Sunny's life. But why did it happen? Why did Sunny freak out when he saw the spider? What's this about him 'losing all sense'?...”

“...” Humphrey becomes very still and quiet thinking this over, “I think I've read enough.”

The whole room goes red. Another scarlet spotlight appears, this time at the top of the library. Humphrey makes his way up, and when he reaches the top he finds a shadowy figure.

The whale tried to focus, squinting his eyes, and then it clicked, “Abbi?!”

“Dreamer...” the figure said.

“No, Abbi it's me, Humphrey!”

“Dreamer, I've been meaning to talk to you...”

Humphrey stops, something isn't quite right. Was this a one-sided conversation? It appeared this was a past recording of Abbi talking to someone else. Was she talking to Sunny?

“It's about Mari. About what happened that day...

...

Yes, I know you don't want to talk about it but... we're going to! Right now!

...

What you did wasn't right Dreamer! Mari was my friend, your sister. We loved her, and I don't like how you shut her out like that! How could you do that Sunny? That's mean!

...

She's not the real Mari. The real one who appeared at the lighthouse was the real Mari! I know it!...

...

Don't you dare lie to me...

…

I think I know more than you may guess...

…

But it is my place. I'm supposed to advise you, and I'm advising you right now. You should...

…

Like that matters. She's your sister. And I want to talk to her...

…

Not now Basil, me, and the Dreamer are speaking…

…

I'm not going anywhere...

…

Yes, I can!...

...

Well Dreamer, in that case, I'm through. I'm not going to go along with this anymore! Mari would hate this! If she were here, she would hate ALL of this! It's time you faced what you did and forgave yourself.

…

Well, it's time you thought about it. Isn't that my job? To maintain your memories? Well, remember this! You pushed her. You pushed her before and now you're pushing her away again! You-

…

Dreamer? Basil? Where'd you go?

…

Wait.

…

Wait, let go of me! Let me go! I'm sorry Dreamer! Please! AH! AaaaaaagggHH---”

The shadowy figure of Abbi faded away. A red key appears in her place.

“Abbi... Why'd you do it?” Humphrey frowned with remorse.

Why couldn’t she keep her temper in check for once, and not fly off the handle? She didn't just betray the dreamer that day, she betrayed him. With everyone playing in the Neighbor Room all the time, she was the only one keeping her company through the worst of his tasks.

Humphrey took a deep breath, and turned around, “Girls. When I take this key something might happen to me. Be prepared for that. It's time I faced more of The Truth.”

“Wait, Humphrey! Maybe we-”

Before Medusa got another word out, the whale had already taken the key, moving into the spotlight. Everything soon faded to red immediately after.

Chapter Text

Everything is red. The walls, the windows. All blood red. Everything is fine, but everything is red.

“Look Sunny! Your friend has been here this whole time, waiting for you.”

Sunny gave a curt nod to his mother, taking a moment to throw his jacket onto the hat rack standing near the door, and met his friend waiting on the couch.

“We were just talking about the flower classes Mari and I have been attending. But I'm starting to think we don't need them though, not with this little darling around.”

“Please, I'm not that good. Certainly not ready to be a teacher.” Basil blushed.

“I love it when you come over Basil, you have a nice 'stop and smell the roses' mentality. You have good taste. Maybe we could go knickknack shopping together sometime.”

Basil was going to put himself down again, but he was interrupted by a call from the kitchen, “Honey, get in here.” He sounded haggard and upset.

“I'm sorry. My husband needs me-” Before she could get out another word, Sunny's father popped into the room, holding an envelope.

“Honey, what is this.” He spat out quickly, expecting a quick response.

“It's a letter from Mari's doctor,” she answered like it was the most obvious thing in the world. She threw out her arms as if to say, 'I'm with company right now, this can wait.'

“Yes, but what does it say.”

“It's a note asking her coach to have her reinstated to the softball team.”

“And when was I going to have a say in this? Honey, we talked about this. She already has one foot out the door, this is not the time for her to be engaging in any more... distractions.”

Sunny’s mother flicked her hair and stood up, “Oh is that what you’re calling it,” she strides right to where he was standing and walks straight past him. His dad gives a grimace and follows her into the kitchen, leaving the two boys alone to their own devices.

“So...” Basil starts awkwardly, “you want to hang out in your room?”

“No. Mari's in there studying, better to not disturb her.” Sunny replied.

“Alright, well, maybe we can play outside? While the sun is still up? Before you have to get ready.” Basil suggests. Sunny turned to hear heated voices coming from the kitchen and nodded in concurrence.

Basil got up and bounced over to the sliding door. Sunny couldn't help but smile looking over at him, even during his most stressing moments, Basil found a way to make him feel at peace.

“Come on Sunny let's go!” he waved over and disappeared outside.

Sunny spent a few extra moments to collect himself. He could have walked out immediately, but he was curious what his parents were saying. He listened near the archway.

“You're the one who wanted her to play sports in the first place.”

“That was then, this is now. College is around the corner. And you could at least pretend to be more concerned about her future. And I have done my best, to ensure that this family has a roof over our heads. And all you have to do is make sure the kids are on the right track.”

“Oh? And I don't work? I can't have a life? Mari can't have a life. She does way too much!”

“Oh please, she's doing all of this because she wants to.”

“But you! You're the one pressuring her. The whole reason she sprained her leg on the field in the first place is because she pushes herself too hard. You push her too hard.”

“I haven't pushed anyone.”

Sunny decided not to listen any further and moved to rendezvous with Basil.

As he stepped outside he had to cover his eyes as they adjusted to the evening sun. It was setting fast, and they clearly didn't have much time left to play. If this was the case Basil didn't seem to notice, he was busy playing with the jump rope in the shadow of the old tree, skipping up and down in a fun rhythm, smiling, oblivious to Sunny's stressful situation.

Sunny himself just slumped down against the bark of his favorite tree, trying to find a comfortable spot to watch Basil, after a moment, he then extended his arms over to drag the nearby toy box closer to him, taking a moment to rummage through its contents.

After giving everything a look over he decides to play with blocks, tossing them out piece by piece. They came in all shapes and sizes, some square, some rectangular, and some that formed an arch shape. All of them were smooth and painted a variety of desaturated colors, some purple, some green, and so on. At first Sunny wasn't fond of the blocks when Mari and Hero first bought them for him, finding more interest in the box it came in than the blocks themselves, but since then they've grown on him. He found them to be extremely versatile. Wherever Kel and him play together, he'd use the toys to create raceways for his race cars, or even make-believe video game levels. Sunny wanted to make ones just like the levels on his Gametoy Color. But lacking a proper development team and quality assurance, Sunny settled for making levels out of toy blocks and using Kel's action figures as the enemies. Kel himself would control the hero and Sunny control the world he created. Recently, he even started making some at school with pen and paper. But for this afternoon, he wasn't playing with Kel, he was playing with Basil, who had just grown tired of the jump rope, finding a seat next to Sunny to join him in play. Whenever playing blocks with Basil, Sunny would just make normal buildings like a city, in contrast to Basil who would use them to build strange art pieces with no exact purpose, abstract designs, and symmetrical geometrical structures.

Right now, his blonde friend was in the process of making a flower shape on the ground out of triangle blocks. It was becoming an issue since it meant Sunny didn't have any triangles left over for the roofs in his little city. But the raven didn't push the issue, content to see what Basil was making.

The two just sat in silence, listening to the branches of the large oak rustle against the wind, feeling the world get colder and darker with each passing moment.

“Pretty soon, we're going to be too old to play with blocks anymore.” Basil pondered, using his finger to slide the triangles over the grass.

“We're already too old,” Sunny answered, pulling his knees to his chin.

“Hmm. We can't stay kids forever Sunny. It's something I've been thinking about a lot myself.”

“Hm?” Sunny prodded.

“Well, it's like how I take photos all the time. I think I take photos of what I'm afraid of losing most. You see for you Sunny, you've always just... Well. You're barely realizing it's going away, but for me, I've always been afraid of losing it all at a moments' notice.” Basil moved the piece around trying to parse out the picture, trying to get the design just right.

“Before grandma, and all of you, I didn't have anyone...” Basil frowned, putting his hands on his knees, as Sunny just listened wordlessly, “And I know Mari doesn't have time for you anymore, and you're going to miss her when she heads off to college. What I'm trying to say is... I know how hard it is to be alone...” Basil turns to Sunny for the first time, “so I've been trying to spend more time with you.” His art piece was now complete. A gorgeous flower mosaic wasted in the dying light.

“Mhm,” Sunny nodded, “will you... be here tomorrow?”

Basil turned to comfort his best friend, “You don't need to be worried about tomorrow Sunny. You have nothing to lose, we're all here for you, and we'll love you no matter what happens today.”

“But I'm afraid...” Sunny confessed. “I'm going to mess up and ruin everything.”

At this Basil reached his hand towards Sunny's and held it tight. “You have nothing to be afraid of. I'll be with you every step of the way.”

“You mean that?”

“Of course, I'll even try to get back here before you two leave for the recital.”

“... Thanks, Basil.” Sunny stood up.

His friend followed suit. And to his surprise, Sunny suddenly hugged Basil. Which made the latter nearly jump. But once he got used to it he hugged Sunny back.

“We should probably clean up here,” Basil stated looking at his art piece in the grass.

“No don't worry about it, it's too dark, we can worry about it tomorrow.” Sunny shrugged.

And with that, both boys slowly made their way back to the sliding door, hand in hand, ready to take on whatever came next. They were together and everything would be okay.

Chapter Text

“Humphrey... Humphrey? Humphrey!”

The whale opened his eyes. He saw the faces of three women. His eyes were blurry at first but then they cleared and focused. It was the Slime Girls. He looked around, he was still in the Lost Library. The sound of the gentle rain could still be heard pattering. He was just dreaming about Basil and Sunny playing blocks, and now he was back here…

He asks, “How long was I out for?”

“Like a minute,” Marina answers.

Humphrey takes a breath and then looks over the mangled mess that used to be LongLegs.

“Girls. I think it's time we headed home...”

The elevator opens up to Deep Well Mall. Each girl steps out of the back second-floor pavilion. This time they used the Sweetheart Key card to use the pink elevator, and it made for a faster trip.

“So,” Marina said, throwing her hands behind her head. I think this was a pretty productive day, but it's not over yet. What do you say we hit the mall again? I know maybe we can take a relaxing stop at the spa to unwind after a long day. We found lots of cash to spend...”

“We can. I'm in no rush to return home,” Humphrey wasn't he wanted to get his mind off LongLegs, and the incited feeling of rage that the lanky plank put him into. Any distraction was appreciated.

“Well, I supposed we can go back to the shops, but then what?”

The whale's belly rumbled, answering her question, “Hmm, I am getting a bit hungry... “

“I know... we can go and get some pizza!” Molly suggests, “From that place just downstairs.”

The girls shake their heads in agreement, “Works for us, sound good Humphrey?”

A pizza arcade? Humphrey considered this. We weren't sure how he felt about going to an arcade and being in a room with a bunch of older kids and teenagers. And it would make him a bit self-conscious. What if he lost at the games and they laughed at him? In the park, Humphrey didn't have to worry about a bunch of little kids, no room for judgment there, but with teenagers... he just didn't feel comfortable..”

“Oh, I don't know. Is it really a nice place?”

“Humphrey, Weegee''s is a place where a kid can be a kid! It has tons of great games, and did I mention an all-you-can-eat buffet?” Marina almost recited this like she was in a commercial.

“All you can eat... hmm,” it did sound like fun... and he was hungry... he gave in, “I'll lead the way!”

Humphrey and the Slime Girls enter a party.

They stop at the spa and get some relaxing treatments after a long day.

Molly got a muscle massage and she felt permanently stronger and enduring afterward.

Marina got a stretching treatment and felt permanently more flexible and agile afterward.

Medusa got a meditation session and felt permanently more focused and energized afterward.

After that, they went down to the first floor and Humphrey directed them to the arcade, “That's the place! I'm starving!”

“Welcome to Weegee's. Is this a party of four? Would you like a booth or a table?”

“Yes, and we'll have a table... “ Medusa answered.

“We'll also be having the all 'you can eat' pizza and drinks!” Humphrey added.

“Very good. Here are your trays, I'll take you to your seats and the buffet is right over there way.”

“Will you be paying with cash or check?”

Just then a snake slithered from a basket sitting on the counter, “I will be paying for all expessssessss. I'll be paying with a 'Starsssss and Stripesssss Expresssss Card'”

“Oh~ we have a high roller in the house...” Molly cooed.

“Sounds great! Let's eat! Time to feast! Time to feast!” Humphrey chanted.

Just then a middle-aged man with a mustache, green chef hat and overalls came out of the kitchen, he spoke in a broken Italian accent, “Attention mi-patrons! I Chef Weegee, a-made this next a-pizzas, especially for mi-mama! Please help yourself to her most special birthday banquet!”

“Alright sounds great!” Marina yelled, she grabbed a plate and Stark's placing samples from all over the buffet, unsure of what to get. It was almost like she wasn't used to having such a variety of food.

Humphrey waited patiently.

Molly just started pilling pizza onto her plate without any clear thought. She must have been hungry.

Humphrey kept waiting for the girls to get their plates. Shaking. Tail wagging.

Medusa only builds herself one plate. Two pizza slices, a salad and a drink.

In silence, Humphrey looked each way scanning the long heated buffet table. Then he struck.

He then jumped to the end of the table and laid his tongue out onto it with an audible slam, he then dragged it across the length of the table and scooped up all the food available. Finished, he then rolled his tongue back into his mouth with all the food. He munched, he crunched. And burped.

“DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELICIOUS!~~~~”

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOHOHOHO!!!” Chef Weegee fell to the floor in tears.

“Mi mama! You've a-ruined it! How a-dare you a-eat mi mama's food! After all, she's a-sacrificed!”

“A whale's gotta eat!” Humphrey chanted, “You wouldn't happen to have any more would you~~”

The chef sobbed, now a broken man, crying over his mother's plight and her now empty dinner table. He got up, “no! No more pizza for you! You a-play in the arcade, but no more pizza for you!”

“But- but it's all you can eat...” Humphrey coiled in anger.

“No! You a-no eat here a-no more!”

“But I'm still hungggggrrrrryyyyy! What a rip-off! 'All you can eat' my fiddle sticks!” Humphrey turned to the girls who were eating quietly all this time, completely unphased by the antics on display.

“So.. you girls up to some arcade games!”

“No thanks,” Medusa simply replied, sipping her beverage, “I'll stay here at the table.”

“I, for one, would love to play darling! I love playing games!” Molly stood up, leaving a clean plate.

Marina also joined in, “I bet if we get enough tickets we can afford a cool stuffed animal!”

Humphrey and the girls scanned the arcade for fun games they could play.

“Oh look at this one! Basketball!” Molly walked up to a basketball net game and put coins inside, “Watch and see how it's done, Marina!” Molly proceeds to effortlessly place 4 of 5 balls into the net, making the machine make a small fanfare sound large sums of tickets start spitting out.

“Oh yeah? You think that's impressive? Watch this.”

Marina walks over to a big mallet game. It was the kind where you want to hit the anvil really hard to send the ball up to a bell up near the ceiling. Marine put some coins in and grabbed her mallet.

She took the hammer into her hand, raised it up, and brought it down with great might.

Nothing happened. She missed.

“Oops! Better try again!” Humphrey cheered her on. Marina, taking her swing more seriously raised the mallet again, and this time took the effort to aim it.

She hit the anvil with a 'bang'!

...but nothing happened. The ball only went up halfway and fell down with a 'plunk'.

“Fufufu! What were you expecting to do with those noodle arms darling?”'

“Ugh. I knew I should have gotten that muscle massage... Oh, you just wait! One day I'm going to get big and strong, and I'll make quick work of this pathetic machine.”

Humphrey looked up at the prizes near the ceiling and saw a blue watermelon, “Looks like there's a cool prize for winning this thing too...”

Humphrey moved around to check out the games for himself.

Humphrey slammed the anvil with his tail, but again, it didn't reach.

Humphrey then went up to the basketball machine and started a game. Aiming was pretty hard, it was like he could only throw in three directions and every time he threw a ball the pressure mounted and the arrows got faster and faster. He only got 3 of the 5 balls in. Looks like he wasn't getting the prize for that game either. He'd have to come back and try later.

While looking around one game caught his eye. “Wow look, a two-player game!”

Molly took an interest. She walked over to what looked like a blaster shooting game. The logo on screen just said “ZOMBIE” It was a rail shooting game where two players sat together and used cabled laser pointer guns to blast the zombies that would approach the screen.

“How 'bout we give it a try Molly? It takes two to tango?”

“And hear I thought you had enough dancing for the day...” her face twisted into a grin, “let's do it!”

Molly puts some clams into the machine. Both the whale and octopus take their places and hold the gun at the screen. Waiting for the game to start, they stare at the black screen,

Molly jumps as a zombie hand pops off of the ground, on screen.

“THEY'RE ALIVE!!!

Zombies stand menacingly in the black darkness with shining yellow eyes.

“BUT NOT THE SAME AS THEY ONCE WERE!!!”

The hoard of zombies reaches their hands out towards the screen to digitize scary music.

“SHOOT THEM BEFORE THEY EAT YOU!”

Humphrey and Molly were a natural pair at this.

Humphrey was a quick learner but Molly took out every zombie with excellent precision. Molly was taking only headshots, decapitating each zombie in calculated rapid shots and carefully placed plasma bullets. It was like the heads were exploding in a musical rhythm.

Meanwhile, Humphrey took on a more continuous approach. He had a laser beam that grew and waned in its striking power. It would cut through the zombie like a string through cheese when fully charged making Humphrey choose when to let the laser rest and regain strength. Soon a crowd of teenagers was building around them, and Humphrey was getting a bit self-conscious about having so many people watching them, but he pressed on and tried to not let the crowd bother him.

Eventually, however, the two were overrun. But they didn't care. Molly threw her gun down in excitement. She didn't even have to look, she already knew they won the high score. Sure enough, she was right. The arcade machine was saying,

“CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU WON!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU WON!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU WON!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU WON!!!

NEW HIGHSCORE!!! Please enter your names!”

Humphrey put in this favorite pseudonym, “WHALEY”

Molly put in hers, “MAD DOCTOR”

“That was great Humphrey!” Molly said.

“Yeah, it was...” he bristled, “We did great!”

“But I think we can do even better...”

Humphrey lifted an eyebrow, “but how can we do better? We already did great.”

“You kidding, me and you made tons of mistakes. If we wanted to, we could leave a high score that would be legendary...” Molly rubbed her hands together.

“Yeah..” Humphrey looked up, “We could do that... or we could play other games...”

“Oh don't be like that Humphrey! I need you for this... Just remember, the key to making great progress is a routine and keeping to it. We may even need to come here regularly to get even better.”

Humphrey didn't like the sound of this at all. But didn't want to tell her, and ruin the mood, “Hmm, well I guess I can think about it.”

“Let's play another game!” she said.

Just then, someone they didn't know added in some unsolicited advice, “You know there are better ways to hold the gun that won't hurt your hands as much. Here's some advice. Hold the blaster into your shoulder blade, it should steady your aim.”

Molly and Humphrey turned around.

Standing behind them, watching them, were three rough-looking biker bullies.

One was big and orange with scales and sunglasses. The second was small and had a leather jacket and slicked-back hair. The last one was an older man in a walker.

“Umm, did we ask for your advice?” Humphrey cut back at the bullies.

“Ooooooooo~” the crowd let out.

“We were just trying to help,” said the one with the walker, “I like helping others where I can.”

“Whale we don't need any help thank you, now if you don't mind, we’re still playing. So you'll just have to wait your turn, like everyone else, while me and my friend finish up here.”

The bikers didn't move. They just stood in place... menacingly!

“No problem. We can wait our turn as long as we have to,” said the orange one.

“Ooooooooo~,” the crowd of teenagers said again.

“Wow, you guys are super persistent, you want to play the game that bad?” Humphrey was becoming infuriated by these troublemakers.

“Yeah,” the orange biker added, “if you want we can stick around and show you some tips.”

“Yeah, thanks but no thanks. We were doing just fine before you guys came along,” Molly added.

“You're welcome,” he responded,

“'You're welcome'? No need to get snippy, you guys just need to back off!” Marina was getting ticked.

“Don't worry about it,” the biker with the slicked gel hair said nonchalantly, “it's a big arcade, there's more than enough room here for all of you, for all of us!”

“Oh wow,” Humphrey was taken aback in deep offense, “now you're making fat jokes!”

“Woah, not cool dude!” Marina got mad, edging closer to the bullies.

“I don't think you understand...” the biker tried to explain.

“We understand enough.” Molly flipped her hair.

Humphrey moved aggressively towards the bikers and grilled them, “You guys think you're pretty tough huh? Where did you go and get this hero's valor anyway!”

“You mean Hero? We love Hero! He's great! He helps me run a soup kitchen on the weekends..”

The orange one piped up, “he also helped me save a cat from a tree!”

“And he helped me do 'XY and Z'... It's a special dance routine,” said the older biker.

“Ah, I see how it is.” Humphrey grimaced, “You think Hero's better than me... we get it, he's the best thing put on Spaceboy's green Earth. Are you trying to rub that in my face?”

The three bikers look at each other in confusion.

“No... No that's not what we meant at all... How did you even come to that conclusion, friend?”

“Get a load of this 'friend'. I think me and Molly can mop the floor with the three of you.”

“Yes,” Molly adds, “I concur. We can hold a contest to see who is truly the best zombie slayer.”

“Is that a challenge?!” A fourth voice is heard. From behind the three bikers appears a taller one. He has spiked shoulders and looked the most intimidating of the bunch. He walks out in front.

Humphrey didn't move, waiting for the biker leader to say his piece, “So what do you say? You in?”

“Alright. We'll accept your challenge, “ the gang leader then got really close to Humphrey's face, the whale was smiling all the while, “Want to know why?” he paused for dramatic effect, “because you asked us nicely.” The gang leader backed off and rallied his men to his side. He then said, “We'll see you in 10 or so minutes. The crew's gonna eat pizza first.” They then walked off in a single file line.

“Well it looks like we only have minutes to prepare Humphrey,” Molly said, not letting her eyes off them, “we need to be on our best performance if we want to trounce our adversary.”

This was getting out of hand. Humphrey really didn't want to do this. It was fun at first but now this game was just becoming stressful. For the next few minutes, Molly and Humphrey played the game again and again. Each time, Molly pointed out her own mistakes and sometimes even his. By the end of the third game, the whale's shoulder was getting sore from having the gun jammed into it.

Meanwhile, Marina wasn't catching onto how tired Humphrey was getting, “WOO! GO, Humphrey! GO, Molly! You guys are gonna mop the floor with those losers!”

“I think we've practiced enough,” Humphrey states.

“And just in time too!” Marina shouts, ”They've returned!”

The biker leader walks up with his gang behind him, “It's time we played a game in good faith, may there be sportsmanship and goodwill between the both of us!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever! You clowns are about to get smoked!” Marina taunts.

“Alright, this is it, Humphrey! Let's go!” Molly steps up with a laser rifle in hand and determination in her eyes, meanwhile Humphrey just feels despondent.

And it showed in his performance.

“Come on, Humphrey! You're better than this! What happened!” Molly yelled at him.

Humphrey beginning to feel over-whale-md. He panicked as the zombies pushed forward giving the whole a sense of being surrounded.

“We're gonna lose! Please Humphrey! Try harder!” Molly cried.

He had had enough.

Out of nowhere, Humphrey steps away from the game halfway through. Everyone looks at him, wondering what happened. He then eats his plastic laser gun without a second thought. This ruins their game, for them and anyone else who wants to play it.

“Yum! I think I'm done for the day! Good game everyone!” he said. The room fell into a silent state. The only sound coming from a digitized scream and GAME OVER screen.

Molly was seething...“Humphrey! You dumb fat whale! How could you do that!”

“Meh, I was getting bored.” the whale shrugged it off.

“I thought... we were a team, I thought we were having fun!”

“We were having fun, then you had to go and ruin it.”

“Oh, me! I ruined it! You're the one who just went psycho and ate the damn gun!”

“It's alright ma'am.” the biker leader said, “we weren't that invested in the game anyway...”

That was the biggest tragedy. Marina, the bikers, and all the other spectators gathered around them didn't even really care about the quality of their performance.

“I guess this means you win by no contest,” the whale says to him, ”or more accurately, we lost.”

“We didn't win anything. Farewell, big friend. May we meet again someday.”

Humphrey looked down in some feeling of disappointment as they walked away. But before they did, the gang leader turned around and called, “Hey whale!”

Humphrey didn't say anything, not in the mood to give a proper response.

“If you really want to be as cool as Hero. Have you ever considered just going around town and doing nice things for people, like he does? Food for thought, man.”

And just like that the biker gang walked out leaving the girls along with their bitterness. They walked back to their table to find a very confused Medusa reading a book.

“What's the matter? Why the sour faces?” she asked.

“Humphrey ruined everything!” Molly threw her teleporter pad on the ground.

“It was just a game, Molly,” Humphrey reminded her as she walked past him.

“Huff! I'm afraid there's no helping you!” She walks onto the pad and disappears presumably back to her workshop. Leaving the girls with nothing but a stack of cold pizza.

“She'll get over it..” he says.

“I'll talk to her later,” Medusa says “Molly just really hates losing. She really pushes herself to be the best at any game she plays, so I'm not surprised she had a meltdown.”

Humphrey frowned, then shook his head, “it didn't have to be this way. We could have just had fun...”

“Molly, we need to talk,” Medusa stepped into the metal workshop, the loud sound of a chainsaw scratching metal muffled her words, “Molly, I'm talking to you!”

The octopus had her goggles on and was putting her undivided attention to sawing through metal, “sorry! I can’t hear you! You may have to come back later!”

The green jellyfish unplugged the chainsaw. Its wurring stopped with a sad whimper.

“Oh my god, WHAT Medusa?”

“What the hell was that earlier.”

“What did it look like Humphrey was his normal selfish self, and threw the game.”

“We're supposed to be helping Humphrey. We're on a mission, remember?” Medusa said.

“Yeah, I know,” Molly said cuttingly.

“Molly. That was a prime opportunity for you to have a moment with Humphrey but instead, you blew up at him. What exactly was your strategy?”

“Look!” Molly threw her hands in the air. “I got distracted okay! At least I didn't end up killing his pet like Marina did!”

Medusa's face was completely humorless, giving an enthralled intense stare.

“Okay- that... was a bit harsh. I didn't mean that...”

“Well you need to address this at some point...” before she could go on, Medusa was interrupted by a big envelope the size of an ox falling from the ceiling, it sent the girls flying in each direction.

The girls brush themselves off to inspect the letter, “Looks like you got mail... what in the world could that possibly be?” Medusa looked it over.

“Probably an eviction notice...” Molly sighed.

They worked together to open the letter, and most of the letter had a big 'SORRY' the word was almost as large as the big blue whale himself. At the bottom it read in smaller ink: “Here's a big sorry from a big whale- from your friend, Whaley”

“Awww,” Molly said, “I didn't think he even cared.”

“Humphrey is not always the best at showing his emotions,” Medusa surmised, “you've obviously affected him. Perhaps in a round-a-bout, unintentional way. I think the issue is that you two just have too much in common. But like in all the bad ways. You keep stepping on each other's toes...”

“Yeah, I guess... now I feel bad about how it all played out...” Molly grabbed her shoulder.

“I'll just apologize to him the next time I get the chance.”

“Apology accepted!” Humphrey said, popping out of the floor.

“Humphrey, you were listening the whole time?”

“Nah, just since I dropped the envelope...”

“Good.” Medusa says to herself.

“I'm sorry about the arcade game Humphrey, I was just- I don't know. I wasn't thinking clearly.”

“Whale I guess that's just how anger works. It numbs the senses and makes us do things we don't normally do.”

“Maybe I can make it up to you somehow, surely there has to be something I can make?”

“No, no, I don't want an object. How about a dance!”

“Another dance?” Molly

“That sounds like a fair trade,” Medusa laughed, she walked over to Molly's computer and started messing with it. This agitated the octopus, “Wait what are you doing with my computer!”

Suddenly the lights turned off. Low disco lights scattered across the room. Schmaltzy slow dance music began to play, a song about how 'birds suddenly appear'. It sounded like Middle School dance music.

“Lady, shall I have this dance?” Humphrey's bud gave out a tiny fin.

Molly takes his hand and they start another waltz.

“Remember Humphrey, it all begins with your stance, your posture. One-two-three.”

“I'm sorry Molly, but I don't think I'll ever be perfect at it. Ya know, given I'm at best a whale and a blob at worst.”

“It's alright Humphrey, it doesn't matter. None of it matters,” Molly smiles, “ this moment is perfect enough as it is.”

And the two dance without a care.

Chapter Text

“Today’s the big day!” Kel yells giving his father a jolt.

“What big day?” his dad responds, not taking his eyes off the tree. Adjusting his ladder for the best spot.

“THE RELEASE OF THE NEW CAPT SPACEBOY GAME!” he yells again, this time louder.

“Kel, inside voice.” Mari says.

“But we’re outside…” he whines. “I can’t use my outside voice anywhere…”

Hero looks to his father. “Kel’s been excited about this videogame for months,” he supplies.

“Well I think you kids should be playing outside more… Simpler games. Like Treehouse… Well, when I'm done building it anyway.” Kels dad stomps his foot on the boot rung of the ladder, setting it in place.

“But it’s so hot out here…” Aubrey complained. Sunny internally agreed.

“Hey Sunny, is it getting stuffy out here?” Humphrey inquired.

Sunny gave a sad look of confirmation to the whale who peered around the trunk of the old tree. Sunny's backyard had become a humid sauna and his friends enjoyed it just a little too much. And the shade of his favorite tree wasn't helping. He secretly cursed his mother for giving him such an ironic name. The raven was an indoor cat and found no pleasure in spending too much time in the Summer heat. Sunny guessed they were too wrapped up in their card game to notice it.

“Oh-no Reverse!” Kel slaps his card down.

“No! Not again!” Aubrey huffs.

Kel proceeds to slam card after card onto the pile until he only had two cards left. A small amount compared to the handful that Sunny currently held. He was losing again. He looked over at Hero who was also trying to hide the pain, while carrying a deck of cards. Sunny did better in visual-based, memory-driven games, but it was either this or PicturePicks. Sunny would have rather played the latter but he went along with Oh-no because it was what his friends wanted. This is usually how Sunny would function. He'd be led along by the rest of the group never taking the lead.

“Oooh look! Kel won again! What a blast! Imagine playing a game where you didn't get dead last!” the whale rhymed, commenting on the raven boys losing streak.

The raven gave a sarcastic smile for only himself and his big blue friend. The whale jokes grew darker and harsher with time to match Sunny's changing tastes. Humphrey would always be there to say the things Sunny shouldn't but thought anyway. Well, maybe he wouldn't always be there. He was getting a bit old for his old friends. Sunny was now at an age where he knew his imaginary friends weren't real. But even now and then he would still conjure them. Or rather they would appear on their own. The friend that appeared changed based on the mood he was in. They had become delegated to spectators of his life rather than real friends. Sunny had enough real friends now.

More than he ever thought he would, and all of them love to spend alone time with him. Basil and Aubrey the most. They loved to just vent all their issues to him. Aubrey would expound on her issues with her dad and how there was never enough money. Said it would lead to arguments with her mom.

And then there was Basil. Aubrey had just brought him into the group recently. He was quiet, just like himself. The first time they were alone together Basil didn't say anything, but after Sunny pulled out his book Basil perked up and blurted out a question. After that Basil had become his quiet confidant. He had the opposite problems to Aubrey, his mom and dad were never around. It was just him and his grandmother, who functioned more as a caretaker than her actual mother. He said he didn't mind it, but Sunny had the impression Basil was not telling the truth. Honestly, Sunny couldn't really relate. His parents were all over him. They watched him closely. His mother always leaves notes around the house and gives him last-minute chores over the phone. That and his father's overbearing expectations left Sunny at a loss to understand his friend's plight.

“Ah-ha! Oh-no!” Kel grinned ear to ear. This match was basically over.

“These new games are just so complicated…” the old man said, climbing the ladder. “When I was little we played simple games, no fancy packaging or shiny boxes.”

“Do you need any help up there dad?” Hero said, almost getting up.

:”No, no, I’m fine.”

“Maybe my dad can help?” Mari adds. “He’s a builder too. He makes shelves and all sorts of things.”

“Now he’s the real ladder climber… But no, I’m fine. I got this. Good of your dad to let us build this thing. It’s just… you kids need to enjoy the simpler things in life…”

“I want to play Spaceboy32, Dad. I’m not a little kid anymore.” Kel retorts.

“You know what I think is a great game?” the man says, climbing up the ladder. “It’s an old one. One of the oldest in the world. Snakes and ladders.”

“That game’s boring.” Kel shrugs.

“I think its meaningful. Its the game most like real-life. In life, sometimes you find big opportunities, and small ones. The climb can be scary but it's worth it… But sometimes… you fall down. You hit a snake… When I came to this country. We had nothing. Not even a dollar in our pockets. It’s hard starting over…”

Kel and his friends got real quiet.

“You can’t stop it. Trust me son, one day, you're going to hit a big snake, and its going to take you all the way to the bottom. And you’ll come to appreciate the simple things you had a lot more. Life can be cruel…But you have to keep going. All you can do is role the dice and keep moving forward.”

“Right.” Hero agrees.

Kel’s dad climbs down the ladder and walks over to his youngest son. He reaches into his pocket to pick out his wallet. He gives his son 60 dollars. “Here son, go get that game.” He says gently.

“THANKS DAD!” He jumps up and down.Kel was a ball of orange lightning. For as long as Sunny could remember, every Saturday like clockwork Kel would be knocking. And he wouldn't stop until Sunny opened it. Every time, he would open the door to a goofy bright smile and the same question:

“Hey, Sunny! Want to go to Hobbez!”

It had become a routine. Sunny's dad gives him an allowance out the door. Then the two boys, and sometimes Hero, would stroll down to the curb and down the street to the park. There Kel would stop by at the vending machine and buy himself an Orange Joe. From there it was a short trek to hobbies. Where they would spend approximately 15-30 minutes reading the comic books or playing the Capt. Spaceboy machine. This is when Aubrey and Mari would usually show up. After a while, Shopkeep would signal them to leave with a loud sigh giving a que for the crew to head to the park where they would spend most of the rest of the day.

At that thought, the whale was shoved out of the way by a big yellow mass. Sunny looked over to the big cat. His favorite. The cat poked its head out from around the trunk and then bobbled its head, giving Sunny parallel hand signals in a certain direction.

Sunny knew exactly what it meant.

“Hey. Guys, let's go to the park.”

“What! But I'm winning! Maybe after the next round.”

“That sounds like a great idea Sunny!” Aubrey beamed.

“Ah, man! But it feels like we just started!” Kel crossed his arms distraught. A moment of exasperation hits the other kids as they look at Hero for help.

“It's okay Kel, we can stop by Hobbez first!”

“You're just saying that cause you're losing!” Kel shoves his head down. His hair covered his face. But after a brief pause, he peeks a look at Sunny. “If we stop at Hobbez? Will Sunny get me a toy?”

Hero rolls his eyes. “Kel, that's not a way to treat Sunny.”

“It's okay. I'll get you something. Let's go.”

With that Yellow Cat gives an arm pump. Everyone starts picking up the cards and throwing them in the toy box. It was time to pack up and head out. As they pass through the house, Sunny tries to soak in as much of the cool air as he can, flopping onto the sofa near the door, and taking a few seconds to sit in the living room that felt darker than usual. Kel and Aubrey run to the kitchen to raid the fridge as Hero calls to Mari telling her the game plan. She calls back from the piano room.

“Sounds like fun! I'll meet you at the park!”

Kel strolls back into the living room sporting an orange fruity juice in a barrel-shaped disposable bottle. Aubrey followed soon after, skipping in after with a pink juice in tow. Kel peeled the aluminum lid back and chugged the whole plastic container, crushing it in the process. The boy then grinned at Sunny, who was still vegetating on the sofa, and gave a huge grin!

“Alright, I'm all ready to go!”

Sunny didn't understand Kel. How could he just keep going? It's not that Sunny didn't like to play with his friends. He just found the process to be draining. He needed breaks. Kel didn't.

The trip to Hobbez was shorter than usual, but the arrival was much more explosive.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN IT'S SOLD OUT!”

We sold the last copy of Spaceboy32 this morning. Sorry kid.” the vendor said.

Hero nodded solemnly, “I guess we should have been quicker. Everyone wants this game.”

“Well what do I get now? I don’t even know what I want, now.”

“Calm Kel. Just find something else to play.” Hero moaned.

“This isn’t what I wanted. I can’t just find something!”

“You’re being dramatic.” Hero scolded dismissively. .

“I hope one day you lose what you were looking forward to,” Kel spits.

Mari jumps in. “Now you two need to calm down! Surely we can buy something small now, and just buy the game later when it restocks.”

‘I guess so… but what should I get? A CD? A movie? Something groovy?” Kel took his time. He was never good at making decisions. Hero was losing his patience. Hands pressed together in a prayer shape over his lips.

“Okay. Kel. Can you narrow it down to just three toys you would like?”

“Ooo~ But it's so hard!”

At that moment, Kel took notice of a sci-fi shooter game sitting on one of the shelves, “Oh I know! I've been wanting that one for some time now... It's made by the same guys who made Mr. Outback Safari!”

“Oh well that sounds wonderful...” Hero picks it up to take a look at it, expecting wholesome fun. He then starts reading the back, “Damnation II: Rise from Hell, the universe is on the brink of destruction as demons are escaping hell, the only weapon humanity has to fight back are the halos of dead gods...”

Hero looks up at Kel, giving him an unimpressed flat look, “Kel I don't think this is for kids.”

“What! Come on Hero!” Kel bawks. “I'll be old enough pretty soon, though.”

Kel had a point. Both Kel and Sunny were getting much older, and Sunny could tell his taste was changing. Kitty games like Mr. Outback just weren't interesting to Kel anymore, and Sunny noticed... He felt a bit left behind. Sunny still liked all his old toys.

“It's too expensive anyway. What else do you want Kel!” Aubrey grills him.

“What about these!” Kel turned around, and he was now wearing the goofiest of 80's sunshades, with horizontal lines running down the frames making them impossible to see through.

“Kel, you are so stupid, you can't even see from those!” Aubrey yelled, losing her patience.

“Oh, I don't know! I don't know what I want...” Kel shrugs.

They took inventory of all the toys he didn't want:

1) Sports items were off the table. All sports gear Kel either already owned or knew he didn't need. 2) Orb machine toys. Too bland. 3) Transforming Morphers Mobile Command. Too expensive. 4) No books. Obviously. 5) Hot-Cars and Hot-Cars City Play Set. Maybe later. 6) Dinosaurs. Been there, done that. 7) Toy army men. Hero didn't like them. 8) Sprout-mole warriors. Hero approved. Kel didn't like them. 8) Cool-Gator and Cool-Shark water toys, which were nice for a pool party but not something Kel was looking for right now. With that out of the way, Kel chose a few items. All of them not surprisingly based on the new Capt. Spaceboy game he was currently crazy about. In hindsight, they probably should have just started there. Kel now struggled between three items:

1) A Capt. Spaceboy Action Figure

2) A Capt. Spaceboy laser super soaker

3) A Life-sized Capt. Spaceboy light-beam cutlass.

The cutlass idea was quickly dismissed once Kel realized that a sword toy would only invite Mikheal's attention. Thus it was not worth the risk. And so there were two. Both these toys were great. He'd buy both if they weren't around $20 each. It was basically a short-term choice versus a long-term one. Kel would like the figurine more over time, but the super soaker would be fun to play at the park right now.

He gave a dumb look and then turned to Sunny.

“What do you think Sunny?”

Sunny looked between the two and made a quick decision.

“This one. It'll last for a long time. Maybe forever.”

At that, Kel gave Sunny a steady tender look. “Thanks, Sunny.”

Sunny likes to buy nice things for his friends. It makes him feel less like a parasite.

It was a perfect day in terms of the weather.

The wind was gentle. The sky was a crisp blue against the bright green of Faraway Park.

When they arrived, Kel dragged Sunny by the hand over to the sandlot, while Mari and the rest set up the picnic. Apparently, Kel was ready to play with his new toy.

“It's time for Capt. Spaceboy!”

“What's our first order of business?” Sunny asked.

“I don't know...” Kel gave a dumb look. “Hmm. I guess we have to pick who's going to be Spaceboy.”

“Hey!” Aubrey yelled. “I want to be Spaceboy!”

“Hey, me and Sunny were playing... alone.” Kel grilled her. “You don't have to buy into everything... besides, Capt. Spaceboy is a boy. Duh. You obviously can't play Spaceboy!”

“Who's playing what?” Hero approached Mari not far behind.

“No! It's just me and Sunny today!” Kel screamed in frustration. “Ugh!”

“We're playing Spaceboy and we need to pick who gets to be captain,” Aubrey informed him.

“Hmm.” Mari put her finger to her lips. “I think you should put it to a vote just like the pirates did!”

“That sounds fair.” Hero agreed.

Kel makes the first move. “Sunny should be captain.”

Aubrey puts her hands on her hips. “Jokes on you Kel, I also want Sunny to be captain.”

“Fine. Sounds great.”

“Fine.” Kel and Aubrey were virtually locking horns.

“I- I can't be captain. At least not Spaceboy...”

“Then you can play yourself,” Mari added. “Now you just have to pick roles for your crew. For example, Hero can be the ship's medic and watch them very closely...” She gives an implying stare.

Hero nods. “Yeah, that works for me.”

“Hmm.” Sunny looked over the sandlot: Cat play set. A slide. Monkey bars. Swings. Basil was already on the swings. Looking down at his feet.

“I can see it now.” The quiet boy spoke. “This sandlot is our ship.”

He points to the slide. “Kel, I want you in the crow's nest.”

“Aye-aye Captain!” Kel runs over to it quickly climbing the ladder. “I'll keep a lookout!”

He then points to the monkey bars. “Someone needs to run the engine.” He looks at Aubrey.

She pouts. “I wanted to be your first mate... But I'll do it!” She yells.

“Okay and now it's just a matter of steering the ship.” Sunny walks up to the swing set. Plopping right next to Basil. “Alright Basil, you're the navigator. Where to?”

Basil looks over to him, completely out of the loop. “Wha-”

“The engines are ready to go, captain!” Aubrey yells giving a cranking motion on top of the monkey bars. “Mankey, climb across to the boiler and start shoveling space-ore!” Mikheal had joined her at some point and she was now having a fun time ordering him around.

“Where to Basil,” Sunny asked again. Giving Basil a serious dead stare.

“I-I- Uh. Well. I'm hearing a distress signal. From a nearby planet.”

“Kel! Do you see a planet!” Kel looked around with his hands to shade his eyes.

“I see it! It's a watery planet that way.” Kel points over to the lake. Sunny understood.

“It's time!” Sunny gave a slight smirk.

At this, Sunny and Basil swung in unison, flying through the stretches of space.

Eventually, after a few days of travel, they reached their destination.

“Alright, everyone! Into the landing pod! Spaceboy is waiting on the planet's surface.”

Sunny points to the cat. All the kids pile into it. Aubrey looks back.

“Not you Mankey! You stay behind and watch the ship. Make sure the engine is running when I get back or I swear!” Aubrey grills him.

“Aye-aye, ma'am!” Mikhael gives a sudden salute. And with that, Sunny entered the pod giving one last inspection to make sure everyone was strapped in safely. Everyone's backs were against the walls of the plastic. Hero had to crook his neck, but he still fit. Sunny stepped in, ready to explore.

...

The adventure started with them landing near a lake.

As soon as they landed Capt. Spaceboy and his Big Yellow Cat monster greeted them and 'brought them to the leader' of the planet. It was Queen Abbi, she was complaining about a monster creating an earthquake under the space docks. There they found Humphrey. There Kel started splashing Aubrey claiming it was Humphrey's doing. This was not true, Kel splashed her at first but then the whale quickly joined in once Kel started, the two giggling all the while. Aubrey was furious, while Sunny and Basil kept both feet planted firmly on shore. This fight continued, but before they could beat the whale into submission, a cowboy rode up to them informing them that the whale was not the true source of the earthquakes. Instead, it was a statue at the center of the lake. It had been disturbed in a recent tomb raiding and now was unleashing energy bursts. Sunny found the statue crystal under the docks and ordered Kel to toss it back to the statue. Right before the capital city could collapse. Kel threw the crystal back onto the statue. Saving the day just in time. Captain Spaceboy nodded with approval. Everyone gave Kel a high-five, and even Aubrey had to reluctantly give praise. Queen Abbi gave them all medals, and Humphrey vowed to protect the statue. It was now time to head back.

…

Everyone was now walking back to the sandlot, pairing off in little groups.

Kel and Aubrey were running back, Aubrey was chasing Kel who had stolen some hair clips from her making her very upset in the process. Basil was tailing them, deep in thought. Meanwhile, Hero and Mari were walking back together, very close. Sunny was also close enough to overhear them.

“...a short summary. So the idea behind Shoirgenger's Cat is that scientifically postulates that there are two realities.” Hero gushed to Mari, “See there are in fact two realities, one where the cat stays in the box and dies, and one where the cat leaves the box and lives. It's the bare basics of multiverse theory.”

Hero gave a dorky smile. Mari nodded. “You know I think I read something about that in...”

That reminded Sunny of his birthday where he curled into the box with Mewo. He had never felt more safe and comfortable than in that moment. Sunny looked at the Big Yellow Cat nearby.

Yellow Cat was pointing at Mari and Hero. He whispered into Abbi's ear making a show of it.

“Well if you must ask, I can explain the concept in detail. You see when two humans...”

Yellow Cat and Abbi skipped along, her chatting away and the Cat nodding every so often in turn.

They bounced past a slightly disgruntled space pirate.

“So you're the new toy?” Mr. Outback suddenly clapped Spaceboy on the shoulder.

The space pirate brushed the sheriff off, clearly not impressed.

“Hardly! I consider myself the new broom. There's going to be some changes around here. The entire universe is at my command and this 'Faraway' is no exception.” The spaceman crossed his arms.

“Sure thing, buckaroo.” The cowboy chuckled. “Let me show you the ropes.”

Sunny would have listened further. Finding this interaction particularly interesting. But then a deep bellow called his attention. “Whale hello Sunny! Looks like it's just me and you!”

Humphrey. Of course. The massive mammal dragged itself with its fins.

“I'm sorry we don't have time for each other that we used to.” The whale interjected.

“Hmm. Yeah. Things are getting way busier. And soon I'll be starting middle school.”

“So you'll be spending more time with Abbi then? She's good at that sort of thing.”

“Not really, she would help me with homework in the past, but now I can mostly do it on my own.”

“I see,” the big whale sighed, “and Yellow Cat, will he be following you to middle school?”

“Hmm. Maybe. I think I'm always going to find a place for him... somewhere.”

The whale stopped. “And where am I going to fit in? Sunny.”

Sunny kept walking. “I'm not sure.”

“Well, that's-” the whale choked. “Well, I hope-”

Humphrey was then cut short. Sunny attention was instead given to Mari who was calling to the rest of the group, carrying her picnic basket in hand, already waiting near the sandlot.

“I think it's time for you guys to return to Earth,” Mari stated, signaling to her purple watch.

The sun was now sinking towards the ground as a slight orange hue enveloped the once lively park.

Hero nodded. “It's time to go.”

At that, everyone started packing into the “landing pod” to make the vertical trip back up.

“Come on Sunny let’s go!” Kel screamed running into the pod.

But Sunny was busy looking back. He saw Humphrey, Abbi, and Yellow Cat crowded together watching them pack it in for the day. Spaceboy was standing off still chatting with the cowboy.

“Wait,” Sunny spoke. The other kids stopped.

“What is it Sunny?” Aubrey asked. Kel poking his head out of the play set.

“Let's wave goodbye to the Great Creatures.”

“Oh, okay.” Aubrey turn on a dime.“Bye, Abbi! Bye Yellow Cat! Goodbye~!” The girl exclaimed, waving her hands wildly.

“Bye Spaceboy! Bye, Humphrey! See you all next time!” Kel grinned giving a thumbs up.

Hero gave a half-hearted embarrassed wave in their direction. Basil followed suit.

“Have a safe voyage, everyone!” Abbi chimed back brimming with approval. She was then thrown off balance by the Big Yellow Cat who pulled Abbi and Humphrey together from behind, forcing the three into a group hug of sorts. Humphrey gave just a tiny chuckle and then turned to Sunny.

The whale forced a smile, his classic smile, holding back tears. He waved his tale goodbye.

This was the last time Sunny and his friends would ever play with the Great Creatures.

Sunny gave his own wave back, and then he and his friends packed into the play set.

And that was it.

…

“Hey, Kel!”

Sunny and Kel were walking away from the park, but a jock from the field came jogging up to them.

“Oh hi, Jay! What's happening? What are you doing here.”

“You know, just messing around. I was wondering. Are you going to join the basketball team next year? I heard rumors you weren't going to do it.” Sunny looks between the two athletes, clearly out of his element. Sometimes Sunny forgot that Kel had other friends.

“Those rumors are true! Truth is Jay... I don't want to join a team. It's not my thing,” Kel throws his arms behind his head, “that’s waaaay too much work. I'd rather hang out with Sunny here.”

Kel gestures to the boy next to him.

“Oh, that sucks. I was going to try to get ya' to join the football team, but if you don't want to play...” Jay's attention trails off to the other raven boy standing quietly. “Ah, nice to meet you, Sunny,” the jock moved to give Sunny a complex fist bump. It fails miserably.

Jay backs off and asks, “You know I saw you a bit earlier, I saw you talking to yourself. Are you okay? Something on your mind, or...”

“I was talking to Humphrey.”

“Oh. Gotcha. Who's that?” Jay responded earnestly, not understanding.

“Um Sunny,” Kel interjected, nervously, “have you ever thought about joining a sports team?”

That was an odd question for Kel to ask. He already knew that Sunny didn't like sports.

“No. I don't like sports. And Humphrey is my friend. You can't see him.”

“Oh...” Jay gave a blank look. “That's weird.” He then turns his attention back to Kel, “Well Kel, if you ever have any second thoughts, just get back to me. We need as many good players as we can get.”

He gave Kel a knuckle bump like the one he tried to give Sunny but this time it was executed flawlessly. It was clear that he and Kel were on a different wavelength.

Sunny bit his lip. And what did he mean by “weird”? Hadn't he heard of imaginary friends before? Sunny could only stew in his uncertainty. He watched as Kel waved.

“Hmm. We should probably get going. Catch up to the gang, they're way ahead of us right now.”

“We're going to be in Middle School next year,” Sunny stated.

Kel is taken by this, but then gives a bright smile, “I know right, are you ready?”

Sunny's walk home was short enough, Kel chirping at this side. Mari and Hero are close behind them.

“Today was really fun...” Kel smiled. “I can't wait until we can play the real Capt. Spaceboy game when it comes out on the console. And that Damnation game too, when I'm old enough to play it”

“Yeah. Sounds like fun.”

“I'll be sure to invite you over the moment I get it.” Of course, he would.

The sun was now tucking in for the night. Orange light stretched against the large houses and picket fences signaling the end of a perfect Summer day. It was fun, but also exhausting for Sunny.

Kel and Sunny were now standing in front of Sunny's large house. This was his stop.

“Hey, Sunny. Uh. I want you to have this.”

Kel then pushed the Spaceboy Action Figure into his hands.

“Kel, I bought this for you. You keep it.” Sunny tried to give it back, but Kel lifted his hands in the air.

“I can't take it. You know me. I'll lose it. But you never lose anything, Sunny.”

Kel abruptly suddenly pulls Sunny into a tight hug. Sunny is stiff, unsure how to respond. Eventually, he just accepted it. Mari and Hero had seen the embarrassing display of platonic affection, and Mari was giggling as Hero looked away shyly with his hand behind his head.

“You can get me back later for it later, Sunny.”

In response, Sunny rolled his eyes. He had bought it for Kel first... why would he have to get him back? Sunny shook his head.

Sunny and Mari finally reentered their home after a long day. Sunny labored back to his room, throwing the door back with a satisfying smack. In a matter of moments, the boy had changed into his nightwear. As nice as it was to have friends, being around them is exhausting. In contrast, everything feels so nice and quiet here. The pleasant smell of laundry is in the air. Sunny flops onto his bed. The cool crisp air blessed the sheets making them so silky and inviting. His bed sucked all the tension away as deep tiredness set into his bones. Sunny melts.

“I freaking love air conditioning.”

Sunny is 11 years old.

He falls asleep after a long Summer day playing with his friends and drifts into a dream.

Chapter Text

The whale gives a muted sigh through his nose, as the children run and scream around him.

Humphrey went from being the center of Sunny's world to being a glorified babysitter.

Basil and Aubrey skip just past him. Looks like they were playing tag or something.

The whale returned to the playground to keep playing with the other imaginary friends. Burly, Vance, Manky, among others, and so many purely fictional friends as well; an ever-growing cast of characters that was sometimes too much for Humphrey to handle. He noticed that Yellow Cat was busy playing with the kids and Abbi was talking to Mari about music. They were preparing to do some piano performances later today.

Sunny's fake friends, or as Abbi called them, his “Dream Friends” had become the new center of gravity.

Sometimes it felt like the entire universe just revolved around them and the Cat.

Perhaps then, outer space would make for a fitting setting for their new set of dreams. Then again, it could also reflect how The Dreamer was running out of ideas. After all, space was the final frontier of the desperate writer. Like that stupid chainsaw-wielding Slasher movie that just went to space for its double-digit franchise installment. He liked those movies though. He admired the monster's persistence. No matter how many times the desperate youths killed the monster it just kept coming-

“Hellooo! Humphrey!”

This broke Humphrey out of his thoughts and he looked around and couldn't see anyone.

“I'm right here!”

The whale looked down and was happily surprised to see none other than Kelsey.

The boy was smiling looking up at him in his colorful checkered shirt.

It seems like Kelsey was the only good thing to come out of this new development. Of all the new friends that had invaded their lives, Kelsey seemed to have his priorities straight. He was a bit dim at times, forcing the whale to use less complex words around him, but he was good fun.

“Yellow Cat wants to play a game of detective and we need more players.”

Humphrey noticed the Cat. It was wearing a massive British detective hat and had a bubble pipe. He was sitting behind a comparatively small detective's desk. The Cat blew bubbles from its pipe while lifting its eyebrows giving an inquisitive “You in?” look.

Humphrey gives the Cat an affirming glance. Then looks back down to the boy.

“A mystery? Hmm. I dare say that Kelsey here is a certified gentleman. Take a seat.”

The Big Yellow Cat blows bubbles from his pipe again while giving a sideways nod of concurrence.

Kel laughs. “Okay. What are you going to be Humphrey?”

“Let's see. Let's see. Am I going to be the investigator or the killer...maybe even a victim?”

“Oooo~ Did someone say 'Mystery' “ It was Abbi of course. “Perhaps I can play the role of the Mastermind, manipulating events from the shadows...”

The octopus then turns to the Cat at his desk, “What are you going to do Yellow Cat?”

Humphrey, Kel, and Abbi watch as he takes the pipe out of his mouth. They lean in just a bit.

The cat adjusts himself at his desk and picks something out of the drawer.

The cat places a revolver on his desk and gives a solemn nod.

“My god! Yellow Cat!” Abbi yells. “You know how Sunny feels about guns!”

Humphrey and Kel burst into laughter.

The Cat rolls its eyes and then tosses the gun back into the drawer.

“What are you guys playing?” The Dreamer asks.

Kel and Humphrey stop their laughter in the presence of The Dreamer.

“Oh, it's Sunny. I see you awakened from your nap” Abbi notes. “We were just about to play a game of detective. Would you like to join us?” The octopus offers.

Sunny just looks down, a bit self-conscious. Almost like he was preparing himself to say something. He turns to Abbi and says, “That sounds like a lot of fun but...”

Everyone gathers around The Dreamer in curiosity.

Sunny speaks up at last, “It's time to create another world.” The Dreamer ponders out loud to his Dream friends, “Something new.”

“Oh.” Abbi thinks, “That sounds lovely, what did you have in mind.”

Before Sunny could answer Kel jumped in.

“Let's go back to space! Maybe we'll find Capt. Spaceboy!”

“What about that one time when Yellow Cat took us to space!” Aubrey suggests that, just then, Kel takes this moment of distraction to snatch away her Mr. Eggplant.

“Give it back Kel!!!” Aubrey yells, chasing after Kel.

The Dreamer ignores their antics, “I just want to make something cooler. This forest isn't cool.”

“But you used to love this forest...” Hero says.

“Well, whatever it's going to be, it has to be PG-13.” Mari preempts.

The boy gives a grunt. He turns to Basil who had been playing with a flower this whole time.

“What do you think Basil? Have any ideas?” The Dreamer asks. Basil appears uncertain.

“Maybe we can just make it up as we go along.” Basil offers then gives a messy smile.

The Dreamer gives an unimpressed frown in return. He then says “Maybe the Great Creatures could help us decide.

“Hmm this is quite the pickle,” Humphrey says.

“Gross, I hate pickles,” Kel adds, having lost the stuffed toy to Aubrey again.

“I have an idea!” Abbi jumps to give her an idea. “What about robots and aliens... but at school!”

“No. School is boring.” The Dreamer states.

“But I was thinking the contrast would make it interesting.” Abbi tries.

The Dreamer just shakes his head and crosses his arms.

He then turns to Humphrey.

“Have any fun ideas?” This was said without a smile.

He never smiled anymore. Humphrey didn't know why, but it made it difficult for the whale to figure out what pleased him. The whale knew Capt. Spaceboy was clearly on Sunny's mind after the day at the lake just before. But still, Humphrey didn't want to go for this idea instead attempting to misdirect him.

“Oh, you know me. I just want to retread old ground. Maybe get a bite to eat.”

“If you had your way, Humphrey, we'd never do anything new.” The Dreamer states dryly.

“Whale... there's always the Abyss.” Humphrey adds, “We can do something more adventurous.”

Abbi gives a shocked expression. Clearly not up for the idea. “Humphrey, I swear to-”

“I like the 'danger' part, but that would be too scary. Anything else?”

At this, the Big Yellow Cat whispers into the Dreamer's ear.

“Outer space?”

Kel scoffs, “Oh no! We tried an outer space area before. It was boring. There was nothing to do.”

Indeed, the last time they tried visiting a Mars rover, it was just a dull, flat desert landscape. Sunny wanted to go to the moon but everyone voted to go to Mars first. After 30 minutes of wandering a dusty void, they decided not to return.

The Cat whispers again.

“You mean the space above Vast Forest? That's... Doable. I never really considered that as a part of outer space, just an extension of the night sky here. But you did make it fun last time...”

The Dreamer contemplates and deliberates a decision for a split second. Then nods.

“That'll work.”

Before he could even say another word, a loud shot rang through the air like thunder. It was loud but quick and sounded like a mix between a taser and a gun.

“Excuse me, Earthly scum. But I am in need of assistance!”

“Captain Spaceboy!” Kel yells.

The Dreamer didn't yell like he would have when he was younger, but Humphrey could still see the look of wonder in his eyes. He loved Spaceboy. Not in any fuzzy emotional way. Not even in a particularly respectful sort of way either.

Capt. Spaceboy threw his cape and pointed his laser gun in the air.

Spaceboy was the newest: the most agile, attractive, and incredibly serious.

The Dreamer looked at Capt. Spaceboy like he was the coolest thing in the entire world.

Humphrey just didn't get the appeal.

“We haven't seen you since our adventure at the lake-” Humphrey stumbles, “I mean, distant planet.”

“Hmm. I am surprised to see the queen and space monster here...” The pirate captain gives a glare of slight confusion, “I have come again seeking your assistance.”

“How can we help?” The Dreamer asks.

“I was shot down while I was in hyperspace. My ship's warp drive fell off and supposedly landed on this planet. The planet above us.”

Only then did they notice the massive planet sitting just above them.

“WOW!” Everyone in the playground looked up in awe and pointed at the other world.

“Come back to my ship.” Spaceboy tipped his chin with a come-hither look, “I'll show you around~”

The group waves farewell to Basil and the other playground friends.

Basil was staying behind. Vance and Burly demanded to see how he made his candy bouquets. The florist had been meaning to show them for a while now but kept pushing off. He was also going to set up some more things for Mari's music show.

The Dreamer, the rest of his real-world friends, and Great Creatures followed the space pirate.

“My ship crashed on this satellite planet. We can climb up the scaffold I used to get down.”

After a while, they find a clearing near the pinwheel forest, and just as they were told, there was a ladder stretching all the way up to the new planet. One by one, the boys and girls started climbing the ladder.

There was only one problem.

Humphrey had no way of getting up.

Abbi was human-sized. Big Yellow Cat could fly. But the big whale was at a loss.

“Humphrey, are you coming with us?” Abbi asks, about to start climbing the ladder herself.

Humphrey looks up to see The Dreamer and his friend climbing up. Leaving him behind.

The whale freezes. He felt strange. Like he wanted to run away but didn't.

“Humphrey?” Abbi asks, very worried.

The whale had never felt like this before... Was he scared? Scared of what?

“Humphrey!” The Dreamer yelled. This breaks him out of his stupor.

The great creature looks up to see the whole gang stopped to look down at him. Waiting on him.

Some looked less patient than others.

“Don't worry about me.” He says quietly, “I'll find my own way up... somehow...”

“Well if you can't, you can always go back and help Basil make candy flowers,” Abbi suggests.

“You know me too well Abbi.” He shakes his head, “But not this time. I'll find a way up.”

“What's going on? What's the hold up?! Let's keep going!” Aubrey yells.

The octopus gave him a small pat, then motioned the rest of the group to continue.

As they continue up without him. The whale could only sit there and stew in his disability.

Almost by instinct, the whale tunnels his way back to Deep Well. He had no idea how he was going to get up. Perhaps this was a challenge he couldn't overcome.

Humphrey was upset and jealous in equal measure, with a double helping of depression.

The whale began to sink to the floor of the ocean. This might be the wall.

He had become a burden.

Eventually, he hit the floor, beaching himself on his side.

He was at a loss.

He guessed this was why Big Yellow Cat was The Favorite.

.

It was not fair. How could a cat fly, but not a whale?

There are fishes that get more airtime than cats ever do. Like carp jumping upstream...

Then an idea hit him like a brick.

Humphrey perked up and swam back to the surface.

He eyed the area where the ladder touched the planet. He'd have to get his aim just right.

Humphrey swam all the way down again and turned quickly to save his momentum.

Waving his tail with all his might, he sped up toward the surface.

The light of the Sun was blinding him, but he kept peddling.

He broke out with a splash and was now hurling through the air at a breakneck speed.

But then he began to slow down.

Humphrey closed his eyes.

Just as he thought he was about to fall back into the ocean, he noticed he was now in orbit.

He was in outer space! A group of shark planes flew past him. He took inventory of the space junk flying around him, including a bench and some toys.

Humphrey took a moment to take in the view from above. He looked down on the vast forest.

Onto the world, they had treasured so much.

He wanted to stay there longer, but he had to be somewhere.

He waved his tail and peddled his way down to the surface of the alien planet. Humphrey landed on the ground of Other World with a big flop. He was near the ladder, and now in some sort of town. He looked around the town then he spotted what he had been looking for. A giant hook house just in the distance.

Hopefully, he didn't miss too much.

When Humphrey finally arrives he sees Capt. Spaceboy leading the group around talking to the kids. He seems to be showing The Dreamer and his friends his bedroom.

He struggles to push his way up the stairs.

“So what did I miss?” Humphrey bellows to the group. Everyone looks down at him for a moment, then returns to listening to what Spaceboy is talking about.

They did not seem surprised to see him.

Forgetting the challenge that would come with him getting here?

Did they forget he was even missing?

The whale deflated. The octopus came down to meet him Abbi whoops down to lean in and whisper, “You made it! We already started the house tour, after this, we're going to look at Spaceboy's ship.”

“Ah. That sounds fun.” The whale flops behind the group as they are brought to the planetarium. It's a stunning long room with all the planets captured by the pirate. The kids talk to some of them and while the others are busy talking to Earth and Pluto, the whale inspects the Sun.

Humphrey pokes the Sun with his tongue.

“Ouch!” It's scorching hot. Not surprising. Humphrey then calls to The Dreamer.

“Hey, Sunny! Turns out the Sun's not edible after all, at least, not until it cools down.”

“What?” The Dreamer yells back, straining to hear him.

“Oh, you probably don't remember...” Humphrey says more to himself.

“What?” The boy yells again. The others look at Humphrey in concern.

“Never mind!” The whale yells back and then gives a huff.

“I can assume that was some type of inside joke.” Abbi infers, grabbing the whale's attention.

“Yeah, from a long time ago...” The whale sighs. “When we visited Orange Oasis for the first time, he asked if we could eat the Sun among other things... It feels like so long ago.”

“I see. I'm sure he would understand the joke if you explained it to him.”

Humphrey looks at The Dreamer and his friends.

All of them laugh as Kel holds onto Pluto's bicep. The planet lifted him effortlessly.

“No, I wouldn't want to interrupt them.” Humphrey shrugs.

Both Humphrey and Abbi stroll down the walkaway taking in the surrounding diorama of space.

“The universe looks so big.” The whale states. “And that's coming from me.”

“It is very immense,” Abbi adds.

“Or maybe it's just Sunny. A whole new world is opening up to him.” Humphrey mumbles. “So many new friends, so many new opportunities. It's just like when I came to Headspace.”

The whale is quiet. Abbi can tell he wants to say something.

“I just wish he had more time for us like he used to...” Tthe whale sighs in remiss.

“Aren't you happy he's found new friends? Real friends?”

“Real friends? Hmm. Real friends aren't always the most reliable thing.” Humphrey levels.

Abbi is taken aback by his frankness.

He goes on, “You, Yellow Cat, and I. We will always be here for Sunny. By definition. We can't abandon him. Nor would we want to. I cannot say the same for his real friends. One day, if he slights them bad enough, they could leave him... But Headspace. It's a sure thing. Why give it up for something as fickle as the real world.”

Abbi stops. She turns and looks concerned. Then tells Humphrey,

“This world is a nest. Sunny is not supposed to stay here.”

Abbi looks over her shoulder to make sure The Dreamer can't hear them.

“He has to leave it to move on, so he can start a real life in the real world.”

“But what does that mean for us? Even you? Aren't you afraid of what's to come?”

“It's not like you to be afraid.” Abbi puts a tentacle on the whale. She continues, “This is our purpose, Humphrey. I'll do anything to make sure Sunny grows into the person he is meant to be. Even if it means letting go of this place. Even if it destroys me.”

“I would like to believe there's more to life than just one's mission.” Humphrey rebukes.

“But what are we without a purpose? Without it, everything becomes abstract... meaningless.”

“He doesn't need a purpose. He just needs to be happy! I just want him to be happy.”

“Then let him go.” She seethes.

The whale says nothing. Abbi says nothing. They notice the silence.

“We can talk about this more later...” Humphrey whispers.

Abbi gives a nod.

Both move back to the bedroom to find the group of kids standing around awkwardly. Sunny looked embarrassed. Mari and Hero were also in the room and very uncomfortable.

Apparently, Humphrey and Abbi were not as quiet as they thought they were.

The mood in the room could cut ice...

At that moment, the Big Yellow Cat began to play a jaunty tune on the electronic keyboard.

This took Mari and Hero's attention. The cat stops suddenly and looks over at them with a hint of mischief.

“What song even is that?” Hero mused.

“Hey guys!” Kel jumps into the room and yells. “Are you coming? The spaceship is ready.”

The tour continues as it was before.

The kids “ooo” and “ahh” at the colorful control panel of the ship.

As the tour came to a close, it didn't take long for Capt. Spaceboy to start giving orders.

“Leaving is our first order of business.” The captain starts,” But if we want to return to hyperspace we need to find the warp drive that fell somewhere on this planet.”

The kids and Great Creatures listen closely.

“We will create multiple search parties. Your leader and favorite confidant will accompany me.”

At this, everyone points at Sunny. The Big Yellow Cat jumps over the group to sit right next to him.

“No! Sunny come with me!” Aubrey is pulling at The Dreamer's arm.

“Oh. I see...” Spaceboy walks up to Sunny and whispers in his ear. “I have a thing for the girls too.”

Sunny's face lights up a deep red.

The captain does an about-face and says, “She can come with us too.”

“Yah!” The girl pulls Sunny towards the captain and the Big Yellow Cat.

“Now we need one team to search the crop fields, and one to search the junkyard.”

“Hero and I can search the fields and lake.” Mari volunteers. “How does that sound Hero?”

Mari gives a leer at him taking his hand in hers. He backs away just a bit nervously.

Abbi suddenly pushes between the two. “I will accompany you both! A very platonic walk indeed!”

“Alright.” Spaceboy recounts,

“So 'Team A' is me, the bowl-cut kid, his girl, and the cat.”

Sunny looks down, blushing again.

“'Team B' is the older kids with the squid.”

“I'm actually an octopus!” Abbi says, ignored.

“And that leaves the whale and bundle of excitement. You two will search the dump.”

Humphrey's heart drops. Could he even survive an hour alone with Kelsey?

“All right!” Kel yells then crawls up onto Humphrey's back, then gives the whale's blubber two slaps.

“Come on Humphrey, let's go!”

…

Garbage.

Humphrey was sifting through garbage and felt like garbage.

He had been abandoned. Left alone, with Kelsey.

He liked the boy better than the rest, but he would have rather been with Sunny. He barely talked to the boy and tried to focus more on the task at hand. To get back to Sunny as fast as possible.

They had searched for at least 30 minutes and Humphrey was certain the warpdrive wasn't here.

Moreover, it was depressing for the whale to look through all this junk.

To think all the toys in this dump were once the newest best thing, and then the kids either lost them or got bored of them. It was strange to think that all the stuff in “Othermart” ended up in a dump.

He had had enough. It was time for a break.

“Let's settle down here, Kelsey.”

Kel was startled, surprised by Humphrey saying something to him. “Okay.”

The boy got situated as the whale dug his belly into the trash beneath him like a mattress.

Just then, Kel noticed just under his feet was a box of donuts. His belly grumbled at the sight of them.

The donuts looked like they were still good, untouched by the rest of the garbage, protected by the box. When Kel thought Humphrey wasn't looking he slipped donuts out of the box and into his mouth.

“Kelsey!” Humphrey scolded.

Kel blushes beat red. “Look, a boy's gotta eat!”

“Don't be rude! … It's polite to offer me some.”

Kel pauses, “You mean you don't mind me eating it out of the trash?”

“Of course not. I'm hungry. I wonder if we can find some more around here...”

At this, Humphrey spotted an unopened box of pizza.

“This is from Gino's. It's barely been eaten. Outrageous! You see Kelsey. By devouring uneaten food in the trash we are undoing the inherent rudeness of throwing away food.”

“Hmm. Never thought of it that way.” The boy sits down, legs crossed, and starts popping donuts.

Humphrey watched him as he ate. Kel wiped jelly off his lips and sucked it off his finger.

It was a bit fun to be around him, he was so loud and filled with expression, and he reminded Humphrey of how Sunny used to be. Well, that's not entirely true. Even in some of Sunny's baby photos, he didn't smile, he had always been kind of reserved, but now he was an outright statue. Since turning 11, Sunny had sealed off all emotion, for reasons unknown to the whale.

Perhaps he thought it wasn't “cool” to show emotions. That was Abbi's theory anyway. But she basically has a theory for everything. So that should be taken with a grain of salt.

“Kelsey, do you think I'm cool?”

“Yeah, you're a cool dude I guess.”

“No, but am I actually cool though? No not as a friend, but like...” 'Popular' wasn't the right word either. The more he thought about it the more the word 'cool' made no sense.

“What do you mean Humphrey?”

“I don't know... Do you think I'm... badass?”

Kel nearly spit out his donut. Humphrey accidentally choked the poor boy with laughter.

The whale rolled his eyes. Maybe that was not the best word either. He backpedals,

“I mean like Spaceboy! Don't you think Spaceboy is cool?”

“So you're asking me if I think Spaceboy is...” He giggles, “Badass?” then laughs more. Sending him rolling around on the floor for good measure. He had clearly struck a funny bone.

The whale found it cute. Humphrey shook his head, smiling. This is why he was not The Wisest.

Kel eventually caught his breath. “But yeah, I think Capt. Spaceboy is cool! Me, Sunny, and Aubrey all find him very cool. Especially Aubrey. She must be going insane. Caught between Sunny and him.”

Humphrey concurs, “Hey, can I tell you a secret.”

“Sure thing.”

“Oooo~ Okay but you can't tell anyone~” The whale sings.

“Go for it,” Kel says with a happy disposition.

“I think ~~~~” The whale moves his mouth closer to Kel, “SunnyhasacrushonAubrey!”

Kel shakes his head.

“That's not a secret Humphrey. Even I know that.” Kel says with a bit of annoyance. “Sunny and Aubrey have been very close. He spends all his time with her.”

“Aren't you Sunny's best friend?”

“Of course I am. Obviously.” Said with a stuffed mouth.

“Then what is Basil?”

“He's... Also his best friend.” Kel thinks to himself and swallows, “I'm not sure how that works. Or maybe I am his 'Best of Friends.'”

“What does that mean?”

“Like, of Sunny's ordinary friends, I am the best. But I don't have the weird magical connection he has with Basil. It's like those two enter into their own world, that I can't.”

Humphrey had to consider where this was all coming from. Whether these were real Kel's given thoughts or Sunny's internal thoughts of Kel. Curious, Humphrey prodded for more information.

“Your brother and Mari seem to be the best of friends.”

“Yeah. He and Mari have been learning piano. When I first heard, I was certain it would take him a long time to get a hang of it, but that wasn't the case. He learned how to play the piano almost scarily fast. Sometimes I just don't get how he does it.” Kel took a donut from his mouth and then gave an indignant huff. Something was bothering him.

“My brother talks a big game about being older and having responsibility. But I guess that's easy to say when you're naturally good at everything. Like homework, for example, it's responsible to do it on time sure. It also just so happens to be easy for Hero to do, and hard for me to do.”

Kel levels the empty box on his lap, giving just a hint of a frown

“It's all so boring. He might want to grow up, but not me. I never want to grow up!” Kel finishes the last donut and tosses the box to the side, “I think it's better to be a kid.”

“Yeah...” Humphrey throws aside the pizza box.

“Are you full Humphrey?”

That was a joke. Humphrey was never full, but still...

“I don't think I'm hungry anymore.”

“Is something bothering you.” Kel readjusts nervously on his rear.

Humphrey inspected him. He questioned whether to tell the boy the truth, or if would mean anything. He could easily lie and let the boy off easy but decided to humor him. Not like it mattered.

“It's just you kids are going so fast. I can't believe it...”

“I wish I could grow faster. I want to be taller than Hero!”

This boy is dense.

“That's... not what I mean.”

“I mean like aging. Sunny is getting older, and you are too.”

“Well, what's the problem with that?”

“I don't want him to go.” Humphrey gave a sad hum then chuckled. “I feel like he's going to have to move on and there is nothing I can do about it.”

Kel looked confused. “What do you mean? Sunny isn't going anywhere.” He took a step towards Humphrey. The boy was closer to the whale, and it became striking how much he looked like his real-world counterpart he was splashing water with just the afternoon before. The boy was smiling dumbly now blissfully unaware of what Humphrey was really talking about.

“That's not what I mean exactly.”

“Oh.” Kel peeps out, “I'm being dumb again, aren't I?”

“Not at all. It's a hard concept to comprehend... Even for me. While I do not believe Sunny is actually going to go away anytime soon, I think it's going to reach a point where he's going to stay around but no longer talk to me. Where he might as well have disappeared.”

“Ah.” Kel puts his hand under his chin. “I think I get it now.”

“You know there's a chance he might leave you behind too, right?”

Kel's hands fall to his sides. Thinking for only the briefest of moments.

“Maybe... But then I can just make more friends.” Kel smiled just a bit, “I mean, if I wasn't separated from Sunny on this mission I never would have had the chance to really meet you. “

That was sweet of him to say, but the whale had to make his point clear.

“Yes. That may be true. But even if I made more friends, what's to stop them from leaving too? Perhaps it's a cycle that might never end.” Humphrey said the last part with bitter spit.

“But- but Sunny still loves you. Even if you don't talk as much, right?”

He looks again at the boy who seems to be getting just a bit more desperate. Humphrey ponders whether he should say what's on his mind. In the end, Humphrey just decided to let it out.

“I can't help but feel like you guys are getting all his love now.”

“Oh.” Kel gives a double take, unable to grasp the sense of accusation. He then tries to apologize for it, “I didn't even think about that. I'm sorry we made you feel that way. We didn't want to.”

Humphrey let out a big sigh and looked up at the stars. “Don't worry about it. It's not you. It's not even Sunny. There's- I- This might be beyond any of our control.”

Kel crosses his arms, closes his eyes, pulls into himself. Possibly about to cry.

Now Humphrey felt bad. Perhaps this was too much to unload onto the boy.

“I think I-” Kel stops. Humphrey takes an interest. Kel cries, “I think- I kinda get what you mean. Sometimes I feel that way with my mom and dad. They spend so much time with Hero, that it feels like they don't have much time left over for me. And I really like my brother, so it's not his fault. But it still hurts. And now Sunny is spending all his time with Aubrey. She always gets what she wants.”

Kel looks up to the big blue animal with glassy eyes, “Even if I go first, somehow I'm always the one left behind.”

This was a sad sight. Humphrey considered how this fake Kel had these complex feelings. Perhaps the real Kel confessed them to Sunny at some point in the real world. Humphrey takes his tail and starts rubbing the back of the crying boy. “There, there little buddy. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm here for you.”

The boy stops croaking and then gives a pathetic puppy look to the whale, looking for reassurance. Kel wipes away the last of his tears. “You really mean it?”

“I mean it.” Humphrey gives his grin. Then pulls the precious boy into an intense hug. Humphrey's instinct took over, pushing him to protect the boy and make him feel happy again.

“What about you Humphrey, are you afraid of anything?” Kel looked up at him from his wet cheeks pressed against the whale's rubbery hide.

“Hmm,” Humphrey decided to tell him the truth, he owned the boy that much, “I guess I'm afraid of being left behind.”

“Do you think you'll overcome your fear of loneliness, Humphrey?”

“I'm not sure. Time can only tell. Whale just have to see...”

The two embrace. It was a feeling Humphrey had long forgotten. To be hugged by someone so innocent and pure. He thought he'd never have this again. And that's when it dawned on him. Humphrey was still loved. He could still be loved, even if he was left behind, maybe he could still make it work.

Then, as quickly as it happened, Humphrey cut it short. He put his tail between the two of them and firmly but gently pushed Kel away from him.

Kel was very confused, baffled even. “Wait. What happened? Why'd you push me away?”

“I belong to Sunny. I can't let myself enjoy your company too much. I'm Sunny's friend. ”

Kel stills with some understanding, not entirely getting what the whale meant but grasping the sentiment of it. He looks over to Humphrey and surprisingly presses the issue.

“But you don't have to choose right?”

“Choose between what?”

“People. Friends. You can have all you want, you just have to share.”

This made Humphrey very perplexed. What an odd thing to say,

“And what do you mean by that.”

Abruptly, the ground shook.

Otherworld felt like it was being shaken like a snow globe, sending Kel off his feet.

Entering an emergency mindset, Humphrey pulls the boy closer to him, giving him cover with his tail as the garbage starts to fall around them. Humphrey and Kel are close again, but this time under more stressful circumstances. Eventually, the tremors stop and after a few extra seconds, the two break away from each other and begin to look around to see the damage.

Humphrey looks around their immediate surroundings. Some of the garbage fell over, but nothing was too out of place, and lucky there were no large containers nearby. The whale then thinks of Kel, he moves to inspect the boy to make sure he is unharmed.

When he did, he saw the boy with wide eyes, staring up at the sky.

Humphrey followed his gaze, turning to see what had taken the boy's attention.

Just a mile or so away was a massive alien ship floating in the air. It was metallic and cubic. Shaped like a giant cross with a tower in the center, wires, and jet turbines sticking out the bottom.

But as he examined it more closely, Humphrey noticed it all at once.

It was a school building.

“Abbi, I swear to god.”

It looked like a futuristic metal version of the stereotypical redbrick boarding school. The metal cross was lined with extended classroom windows on each side, and the tower in the middle had a green flag flying with a magenta-bitten apple at its center.

“Woah! What is that!” Kel gasps finally.

“I don't know but I think whale have to regroup.”

“Humphrey look! I think Mari is running over to us!” Kel points out.

Humphrey checks this for himself and indeed. There was a girl running in their direction.

But it wasn't Mari. Humphrey could tell.

She looked vaguely like Mari with black hair in a school outfit, but the hair was too short. She was running with a piece of toast in her mouth towards the alien mothership. However, she didn't look like anyone Sunny knew in the real world, perhaps she was just an impression of a schoolgirl? In any case, Humphrey put two and two together, School girl. School in the sky. She probably had answers.

“Excuse me, little girl, if we could have just a moment of your time...” Humphrey tried to ask. “You wouldn't happen to know what is going on here. And what that ship is-”

“I'm late. I'm late. I'm late. I don't have time for you. I'm late!”

Humphrey tries to stop her.

= They enter a battle. =

The girl continued talking a mile a minute.

“There's so much to do! So many things to do and so many friends to talk to! And I am only going to get more responsibility put on my plate from here! I swear! I'm going to have so many clubs to attend! Find time to find a boyfriend. Dear god! How Am I going to get a boyfriend?

Humphrey gives her a quick slap with his tail. Even this doesn't seem to stop her.

And then after this, I have to start planning for college. And on top of this, I might even have to learn to play an instrument! Oh no. Oh no. Sorry, I have to go!”

She gives a scream of anxiety and runs away.

= The battle ends. =

Humphrey and Kel watch her trip comically, then pick herself up again to continue her sprint.

“Well. That was rude of her.” The whale grunted tersely. “I say we follow her back to their ship.”

Humphrey gestured for Kel to jump on him, and the boy wordlessly agreed.

He climbed on, and the Whale made his way to the large mothership looming overhead.

“Wait. But how are we going to get up there? Is it a flying saucer?”

“Oh, I'll show you. But you're gonna have to hang on tight.”

Humphrey smashes through a wall of what looks like a school hallway.

“Yeah~!” Kel shouts from his back. “That was so cool Humphrey! Where'd you learn to do that!”

The boy jumps off the whale's back clearly not shaken by the whale's flight.

“I learned it just today actually.” Humphrey beamed. “I'm calling it the “Lotus Flight Maneuver” 'cause I just swim to the very bottom and shoot to the top! Just like a lotus flower.”

“Well, it was fun!” Kel jumps. “We should do that again sometime after this.”

Humphrey was unsure how to respond. For the same reasons, as before, he didn't want to get close.

“Oh God! I'm late!” they hear, “I hope they didn't start the routine without me!”

Luckily he didn't have to respond as the Late Student ran past them and into a set of double doors.

“I think I hear something in here let's check it out!” Kel says, running ahead.

Humphrey and Kel enter a large room that looks sort of like a school gymnasium.

They hear a decadent voice repeating,“Hup, Two, Cha-cha-cha, Three, Four, Cha-cha-cha, Hup, Two, Cha-cha-cha, Three, Four, Cha-cha-cha.”

“Sorry, I'm late!” The Late Girl runs into the gym and joins a group of dancing students who seem to be dancing to the march of the beat.

“Look it's Hero!” Kel points to Hero on the dance floor, “And the rest! What are they doing?”

The little brother runs over to him, “Hero! What's going on?”

= Hero has been renamed to “Preppy Boy” =

“Hey dude, I'm sorry but I'm kind of in the middle of something.” He doesn't stop dancing.

“What are you doing what's going on?” He spots Mari dancing next to him, “Mari what's gotten into Hero? Why are all of you dancing?”

= Mari has been renamed to“'A' Student” =

“Please don't distract me, little one. This class is an easy '100', and I don't want to miss out on it.”

Suddenly Aubrey pushes Kel aside who is in the way of her dance, he falls to the ground.

= Aubrey has been renamed to “Weird Girl” =

“Move out of the way dork.” She demeans him.

Kel gets up and rubs his backside, “Glad to see some things haven't changed...”

Humphrey looks through the crowd of dancing kids and spots Abbi trying desperately to get the kid's attention but failing miserably. Looks like she might know what's going on.

Humphrey scoots over to her.

“Hey, nerd.” He mocks playfully.

“Humphrey, not you too!”

“No. I'm fine. That was just me greeting you.”

“This is not-” She whispers, “This is not a time to be messing around.”

“Why not? This school space thing was your idea wasn't it?”

Abbi grabs Humphrey by what could pass as his shoulders.

“Listen to me. Mari, Hero, and I were walking through the field when suddenly we were abducted and taken here. Dream Mari and Hero have lost their senses, they're acting out of character.”

He looks at the kids dancing and that seems to be the case. All of them are ignoring Kel. Or at least they were ignoring him more than usual. Humphrey eyed Aubrey.

“And why is she here?”

“I have no clue!”

Almost on cue, Spaceboy slams open the gym doors making a big scene.

“It's you! I should have known it was you all along!” Spaceboy yells in fury.

Sunny and Yellow Cat run in just behind him.

“Ah. I see it's about time you arrived! I was getting impatient!” The decadent voice says.

All the children stop dancing and stand still.

Sitting on some elevated platform is the Alien's Leader watching the children dance. The fleet commander is wearing pink pants and a magenta captain's coat, with green war decorations. His most striking feature was his rainbow-dyed long hair that hung down across his feminine face. A large spiderweb-shaped window with a mat of cosmic space sits behind him as he sits in his pointy swivel chair, eating from a silver tray of crisp cookies while sipping a martini.

“Yes.” He presses his fingers together devilishly. “It was I that struck your ship from the air.”

He stands dramatically, throwing his red cape behind him and sauntering forward, bringing his martini.

“And good thing too! Otherwise, you never would have led me to this unconquered planet.”

Kel rushes forward and yells.“Who are you? What did you do to my friends!”

“Oh look what we have here. This one is feisty. I see lots of potential.” He then turns to a robot standing beside him, “Oh android, please hit this one with the hypnotic device.”

“YES MASTER.” Says the smarter-looking robot.

Smarter Robot then hits Kel with a magenta colored fuzzy beam.

= Kel has been renamed to “Dumb Jock” =

“Oh no! Not Kelsey too!” The whale rushes up to Kel, “Snap out of it.”

“Huh-Huh. Yeah, do I even, like, know you?” Dumb Jock asks, confused.

Looks like Kel has left Humphrey. This was just too despicable.

“MASTER, THERE IS ANOTHER BOY. SHOULD I CONVERT HIM?”

The Alien Leader peeks over at The Dreamer. “I didn't even see him there.” He gives a short grimace, looking unimpressed. “Oh, I mean, I guess. Sure why not.”

The beam fires again this time at The Dreamer before anyone can react.

It hits the boy with a fizzle.

“Oh no, Dreamer how are you feeling? Tell me you feel like yourself!” Abbi begs.

“I feel- normal?” The boy is confused as the laser seems to have had no effect on him.

“Oh no. This is just what I feared.” The Alien Leader shakes his head derisively, “Just look at that geeky schoolboy outfit and bowl-cut. I could smell you're dorky quality all the way over here.”

“Hey! Our Dreamer is just smart! And sophisticated! He can be an A student!” Abbi retorts.

“Nonsense. He doesn't have the poise and grace that the girl over there has.” He gestures to Mari. ”Everything about him feels awkward, half-baked and clumsy.”

Humphrey moves next to The Dreamer and says, “Do you believe this guy Sunny? What a jerk. He doesn't know what you are.” The whale gives a curious hum. “How would you describe yourself?”

Spaceboy, Big Yellow Cat, Abbi, Humphrey, and even the Alien Leader all wait for an answer.

“I- I don't know what I'm good at. I like games but so does everyone. I kinda like music, but I never jumped into it the way Mari did. I've always had a sketchbook though. So I guess I can be...

… An artist?”

“Loser. It is.” The Leader claps his hands.

(The Dreamer is not renamed, but has been given the role of “Loser”)

“I don't even know why we bothered firing the laser. There was no hope for you.” He jeered.

Spaceboy has clearly lost his patience. He moves to the front of the podium.

“Enough talk! It's time we battle.”

“Yes. It's time. I will challenge you... toooo~ A singing competition at the school talent show!”

Spaceboy looks stunned, then gives a confident smirk. Then points at his adversary.

“You fool! Little did you know that I am a skilled singer myself. You stand no chance against me.”

“We'll then what are you waiting for hot shot. We must commence at the make-up room behind the auditorium to prep. We have hours of touch-ups to do before we can perform.”

At this Capt. Spaceboy and Alien Leader leave together side by side off-screen.

Abbi looks distraught, “What are we going to do? All of The Dreamer's friends have been hypnotized.”

Humphrey gives a shrug. “Hey, at least we're back to the old crew again.”

(The Dreamer, Big Yellow Cat, Abbi, and Humphrey form a party.)

The group leaves the others where they are and fights its way through the alien mothership. It's filled with wacky robots and goofy-looking aliens that don't look nearly as slender as their Alien Leader overlord.

Eventually, the gang reaches the auditorium outside, and there is over-the-top fanfare for the occasion.

Spotlights wave in the sky and an endless stream of confetti sprinkles down.

After taking stock and preparing they enter the building.

By the time they arrive, Capt. Space Boy is finishing up his performance.

He is kneeling on the ground belting into his microphone.

“AND IIIIII~~~ WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOUUU~~~”

The Alien Leader is standing with his arms crossed tapping his foot.

The theater was silent but in an awkward sort of way. Spaceboy was not as good at singing as he thought he was. Humphrey could only shake his head. He was doing the vocals all wrong. He had passion but there was no skill. Humphrey examines the audience, which seems to be a crowd of abducted sprout moles taken to be a group of impartial judges. They did not look impressed.

Spaceboy finishes.

Everyone boos.

“Do I even have to follow that up? Such a disappointment.”

Capt. Spaceboy shakes and falls to his knees. He seems to not be able to control his emotions.

“Oh my gosh. He's crying. What a baby. I think his name should be “Spacebaby” now.”

= Capt. Spaceboy has been renamed to “Spacebaby” =

“And so now it's official.” The emperor smirks down at him, “Now that you've become Spacebaby I am officially the coolest person in the galaxy! Isn't that right android?!”

“YES MASTER. RECENT POLLS INDICATE THAT YOU ARE THE COOLEST OF THEM ALL AND WITH A 5PT MARGIN OF ERROR.”

“And Spacebaby?” He asks the Smarter Robot with delight in his voice.

“SPACEBABY'S APPROVAL POLLS HAVE TANKED, HIS CAREER IS OVER, HE WILL NEVER RECOVER FROM THIS DISGRACEFUL EMBARRASSMENT”

“No...” Spacebaby curls into a ball on the floor and cries.

“Now.” The Alien Leader speaks, stepping forward, “If I can have everyone's attention.”

A spotlight shines on him center stage.

All the hypnotized Dream Friends line up behind him.

“I have to make a confession. I may be a dictator. Very true.” He waves his hand, “But I want to be more. It was once said by a cunning wise man that it is better to be feared than loved. I have lived by that philosophy and it has granted me a small empire. But I garner no admiration. What's the point of being a king if no one knows how awesome you are? You see kids. Children at home...“

He gestures a hand to a nearby crane camera.

“I have a dream.”

He throws his arms dramatically to each side. Majestically.

“A dream that all the boys and girls across the galaxy will hear my words, feel my laser beam, and know what it means to be cool. And that dream starts with this planet. This 'Headspace'.”

“Dream on, loser!”

There is a sudden inhale of shock heard in the audience, a sound of completely unexpected indigence.

The Alien Leader snarls. Furious.

“What- I- Who would dare be dumb enough to mock me in my moment of triumph!”

“I would.”

Humphrey beams his typical mischievous grin.

“Well, well, well, if it isn't the loser and his motley crew of baby characters.

“Headspace belongs to Sunny. And you never won the talent show.” Humphrey states.

Big Yellow Cat and Abbi nod in agreement.

“Does this whale know no fear? No sense of self-preservation?!” The leader seethes,

“I see your appeal to a technicality. Alright then, what will it be? A singing contest? Or a fight to the death? For some reason, I feel like I want to do both. Oh, and you don't get a say in the matter.”

“Whale that works out because I was going to suggest the same.” Humphrey chuckles with threatening glee, “You see, I also have a bad habit of singing to my prey. Now start the beat so I can eat!”

“Enough talk! Have at you!”

= They enter a battle. =

= A panning shot of the Alien Leader is shown. A bottom left description reads:

Alien Leader (ft. Humphrey)
“Old Ways Gotta Go”
The New Wave
Outta Our World Records

The alien leader stands center stage. Two aliens to his left and right act as his backup dancers and help him fight with dance moves. The Alien Leader himself attacks using solid laser lights.

Alien Leader sings,

“I look in the reflection of the window, what do I find?
I realize I've let them slowly put me in a bind.
The clergy, the Jones, Ma, and Pa, why can't they see?
At some point, you gotta ask: 'Is this best for me?'
A new era is on the rise, what do you even know?
It's time to move on,
The old ways gotta go! The old ways gotta go! ”

The Dreamer and friends dispatch the backup dancers easily and pummel the tyrant.

“Huff!” The Alien Leader flips his hair, “These hecklers are the worst. We're just going to have to drown them out. Android! Activate my “Auto-tuning” and crack up the volume!”

“YES SIR! MAXIMUM AUTO-TUNING ACTIVATED, THEIR EARS WILL BLEED!”

= The battle enters a second phase. =

The Smarter Robot enters the battle. Giving a status effect that increases all the Alien Leader stats.

The singing continues,

Alien Leader:

“You have to be a rebel to fit in. Be a person they'll want to attack!
You have to let go of the baggage; the people holding you back!
Even if you love them, they can still hurt to keep.
Find the strength to yell this, even if it makes them weep:
'You can't stop what's coming. Or even make it slow!'
Tell them to face it,
'The old ways gotta go! The old ways gotta go!'”

The Dreamer and friends smash the Smarter Robot and then deal more blows to the tyrant.

“That is enough! That android was my only close companion! How dare you!”

“IT'S OKAY SIR! YOU WILL ALWAYS BE THE COOLEST IN MY SURVEY SUBMISSION.”

“Android. Activate directive “Breakdown.”

= The battle enters a third phase. =

Everything goes pitch black.

Light reemerges and the Alien Leader is squatting, his arms crossed in front of him giving peace signs, he is wearing a baggy pink outfit of an 80's hip hop star and is wearing white 80's shutter glasses.

The laser attack intensifies as he sings. Humphrey decides to join in.

B-B-BREAK DOWN

Wouldn't it be better if everyone was awesome like me?
I'm helping these pitiful children, to be perfect, can't you see?
Just look at their shabby state: their hair, their look, their clothes
How do they survive the new normal? God only knows.

Humphrey:

WHALE – WHALE- WHALE
Now listen here punk, I've been here longer, it's true.
So step aside, and listen closely, I think some respect is due.
Sunny's great the way he is, he doesn't need to be anything new
And he certainly doesn't need to take advice from a loser poser like you!

Alien Leader:

And how would you know what the kids need? Do you really have nothing to concede?
They just want to party and dance. You're future with them stands no chance.
Sorry, but whales aren't the scene, to look cool and outdo it.
If your blowhole didn't say enough, your big mouth just blew it.

Humphrey:

Don't let your eyes deceive you. I can be a certified sinner.
This whale will eat your lunch and have you for dinner.

The Dreamer runs up to the Alien Leader and stabs him one last time.

= The Alien leader receives a defeating blow. =

Alien Leader:

That's fine.~ The haters just don't understand, they can throw a fit and seethe.

But time marches onward, and if they don't like it they can-

GO! The old ways gotta go! The old ways gotta go!

You and the old days simply have to go…

Defeated, the Alien Leader speaks normally,

“Unbelievable. I can't believe I lost to a basket of baby characters...”

The Alien Leader flips his hair in a huff.

= The battle ends. =

The tyrant falls to his knees.

“It's over villain.”

Spacebaby blasts the hypnotic device with his gun. “Another crisis has been averted!”

All the Dream Friends come back to their senses.

= Everyone's names are reverted =

“Wait what happened?” Hero rubs his head.

“I don't know. I don't remember anything.” Kel responds.

Gripping his chest dramatically with one hand and shaking his fist with the other. He then yells and whines, “Curse you Spaceboy! And curse your motley crew! You just wait. There's going to be a lot of changes around here. The Dreamer will be starting an ordinary school life soon enough!”

“Oh my goodness! Look at the time! We're going to be late for the festival.” Mari exclaims.

“Hey! I was in the middle of giving a monologue. ” The villain states.

“Oh. I'm sorry.” Mari apologizes, “You can be finished. But are you going to be done soon?”

“Ugh! If I can't have Dream World, then you can't have it either!”

Alarms and lights start going off.

“I think that is a self-destruct sequence,” Abbi says.

“We don't know that for certain. It could be a drill or something else.” Humphrey dismisses

Then over the loudspeaker a mechanical voice blares:

“THIS IS A SELF DESTRUCT SEQUENCE. THIS IS CERTAINLY HAPPENING AND THIS IS NOT A DRILL, AND IT IS NOT SOMETHING ELSE!!!”

“Yeah, but that could be part of the drill too.” the whale adds.

“THIS IS NOT PART OF A DRILL. THIS SHIP AND THE ENTIRE FLEET WILL BE IMPLODING IN T-MINUS FIVE MINUTES. PLEASE EXIT IN AN ORDERLY MANNER!!!”

Abbi alerts everyone, “I think school is out for the day. It's time for us to be heading home.”

“My ship is held in the shuttle bay. Let's go.” Spaceboy leads the way.

The group makes a mad dash for the ship bay and Spaceboy's ship, it flies out just in time to get a good view of the Academic Armada exploding behind them.

The kids “Ooo~” and “Ah” at the view like it was a fireworks show, but the whale was not having as great of a time. “Blurf.” Humphrey keels over with a bit of pain.

“What's wrong Humphrey?” Kel rushes to his side, clearly worried.

“Oh... I'm not feeling so good. I think that pizza I ate earlier is giving me indigestion issues.”

“That's outrageous.” Capt. Spaceboy gawks. “You took blow after blow from that villain, but what gets you upset is a simple stomach ache. You are truly something else.”

“Sometimes you can be more vulnerable to what you feel inside than the outside.” the whale groans.

“Hm. I can sort of see that...” Spaceboy pauses. “Perhaps, I underestimated you sea monster.”

With that, the ship jets back down to ground level, landing near the playground in the forest.

“Looks like we made it back right on time.” Mari chimes, loving when things happen as scheduled, “My my… All of it just looks wonderful. Good job!”

The whole playground crew was now sitting in a circle around the makeshift outdoor theater. Burly and Vance are still doing finishing touches, throwing around Christmas lights while Basil worries and dotes over the flower decorations that line the “stage”, which was really just a circle of dirt.

At its center was a grand piano.

The one Abbi would keep in her library. They must have moved it during the space commotion.

Mari clapped her hands together,

“Now. If there are no other delays!”

It was a majestic event.

The yellow lights twinkled in the purple evening sky.

The first few songs were solos played by Mari.

There was absolute silence in the crowd as she played. Every song was resounding and captivating. Each is interesting enough to keep the listeners on the edge of their seats.

For the final act, Hero and Mari sat side by side to do a duet.

The song sounded absolutely rich and classy. Every so often their hands would touch as they played.

It was the best piano playing Hero could muster. Still, it sounded just a bit off in comparison to Mari, but they played through unfazed. The mistakes didn't matter. The music did.

The Dreamer just sat wordlessly watching the entire time. You could even spot a tear in his eye.

As they finished, the crowd broke into a roar of applause.

It was perfect.

So much so, that it made Humphrey feel out of place.

…

The long adventure had ended. Everyone signed off, and the Sun sank into the Earth completely.

The Dreamer had many other guests to send off, Humphrey was not surprised when The Dreamer did not find the time to say goodnight to the whale before going to bed.

That was just part of the new normal.

Sunny had moved on.

All Humphrey could think to do was take a stroll around the playground thinking about his day.

It was dark, but light was given freely by the Moon. Not that the Moon created any light. It could only reflect light. Abbi told him that. After his eyes had adjusted he could begin to see his surroundings. Most of the festival decorations were cleaned up, but he was surprised to see the piano still there. He moved up to it and took a moment to admire its shiny gloss. The whale just sat at the center of the theatre. Listening to the crickets and taking in the night.

Humphrey peers at the Moon...

Realizing the truth.

He was a creature of the night. A beast from the deep. He had no place here.

That first day, when he brought The Dreamer out of the Abyss. Is it possible that might have been the only time he ever mattered? There to do one tiny act that would set off everything else.

Did he have any other purpose?

Maybe if he stared at the Moon long enough he would get an answer.

“The Moon looks beautiful tonight.”

Mari's voice is regal and gentle.

Humphrey does not jump. The whale only turns back to face her.

“Mari.”

She stands silently in her evening gown.

He looks at the piano.

She answers the unsaid question, “I just wanted to play some more before bed.”

“Oh, I see. I can leave if you need to practice.”

“No. The practice is over. I just wanted to play for fun tonight. And you can stay.”

“Aw. Well, thank you.” The whale hums.

She sits down at the piano.

“It's so hectic with all of Sunny's friends around... Sometimes, I miss the quieter moments.”

After pressing her fingers in a stretch. She starts.

Mari plays a soft piano number about “Moonlight”.

She then speaks more as she plays.

“At times it's hard to believe there was a time when it was just you and Sunny.”

Humphrey's throat catches then breathes a weak, “Yeah.”

“You know there was a time when it was just me and Sunny too.”

Humphrey can't think of anything to say, he just listens to her wonderful song.

He goes back to staring at the Moon while it plays. It was so beautiful.

He wanted to listen to it some more. He just wanted more of it.

But inevitably, the number came to an end. It had to.

Mari pauses her fingers over the keys with firm hesitation.

“I overheard you and Abbi arguing earlier.” She is not angry, but her tone is serious. She doesn't look at him, instead looking through her sheetbook for another song.

“In the planetarium? I am sorry you had to hear that.”

“You want Sunny to remain innocent. Is that what you're fighting for?”

“Something like that.”

More silence.

She finds a song and Is about to start another number but he interjects before she can.

“I love him, Mari.”

She stares at him with her big eyes. He continues,

“I love him and I don't want to share him. I don't know what I'd do if he left.”

There is silence. Mari is thinking, then settles on something to say,

“He holds a special place in your heart,” she says, “If he leaves, can't you let someone else in?”

“But what if I don't have room in my heart for anyone else.”

“You're a big whale, Humphrey. And all whales have big hearts.” She smiles, “You can find room.”

…

Humphrey didn't know what to say.

He tries, “I just don't know if I can be a part of his world anymore. Like your performance tonight, it was so beautiful. I can never be a part of something like that. Look at me!”

He was a big, fat, blubbery whale from a baby book. He looked out of place near the piano.

Mari folds her hands over her lap thinking for a moment, then starts flipping through her music sheets,

“I have an idea. Why don't you sing with me?”

Humphrey looks very confused.

“How flattering. What song would you like me to sing? I would need a lyric sheet.”

“Not exactly. No lyrics are needed. I just want you to hum the vocals. Here, I'll show you.”

Together, Mari and Humphrey hum a song about grace as practice.

= Mari teaches Humphrey how to Sing =

Their duet is lovely. They played song after song. Mari chose the sheet, and Humphrey sat next to her trying his best to keep up and make his instrumental humming sounds. It was as if time had stopped for them to play their tune. Their shared love and devotion to Sunny had been given an audible tune. Humphrey enjoyed the company of Mari. It was a shame they didn't spend more time together. But he had this moment with her at least. A special moment that couldn't be broken.

Or so he thought.

“It sounds so beautiful. Do you two play often?”

The music halted. Both Mari and Humphrey had their attention taken.

It was Abbi and Cat. They must have heard the singing and come to investigate. The whale had been so caught up in singing he didn't catch wind of their approach.

“This is the first time me and Humphrey ever played together,” Mari answered. She gestured to the whale who was trying his best not to show his hidden displeasure. Humphrey was slightly disappointed to see his friends. On the one hand, he was happy to see them, he liked their company, but not now.

This was his moment with Mari. He wasn't even sure if these two would ever have a moment like that again, and now it was lost. Maybe it was selfish. But he had needed that alone time with her.

“We didn't mean to interrupt anything,” Abbi said, “We just wanted to check out what it was.”

The big cat gave a nod in confirmation.

“Oh no, it's just me and Humphrey doing a little jingle that's all,” Mari said.

Before she can say more Humphrey adds, “Nothing to worry about. Everything's in the clear.”

Humphrey subtly tilted his head, giving the indication non-verbally that they should go.

“I am happy you two are having such a good time together. We'll be on our way.” Abbi says with just a hint of disappointment. The Big Yellow Cat gave a tiny frown too.

He was surprised she didn't put up a fight of any sort. It seems she understood and wanted them to be together. Typical Abbi. Always meddling in others' affairs, and making the choice that was the best for everyone, even if it was to her own detriment.

Abbi and Yellow Cat turned, ready to leave.

Now Humphrey felt bad. Humphrey needs his time with Mari, but... Maybe they needed it too.

“Wait.” Humphrey almost shouts. The whale said against his instinct, “I think you can stay and listen.”

“Are you sure you're okay with that Humphrey?” Mari asks.

“Whale of course.” He beams. His moment with Mari had passed, and that was okay. It had happened and that's all that mattered. Now this was a new moment, one they could share together.

Mari and Humphrey started to play again. This time with Abbi and Big Yellow Cat listening closely.

The moon was high in the sky, smiling down on the four.

Yellow can sat on his haunches as Abbi smuggled into him as a cushion.

After about the third song. The Cat suddenly got up to everyone's surprise. Abbi was broken out of her comfortable position and stepped away as the cat started to move.

“What is it Yellow Cat?” Abbi asked as Mari and Humphrey just looked on.

The cat only smiled. Then jolted away, jumping over the trees towards the neighbor's room. The group just looked at each other in confusion, wondering what had come over their friend.

In a few moments, they felt the shake of the cat running back, and sure enough, it jumped over the treeline and galloped back to its original position this time with something in hand.

He had bongos held against him in his left embrace and held his own recorder in his mouth.

Of course.

Ever the includer. Now this was typical Yellow Cat behavior. Always thinking of ways to bring everyone together, it was surprising he didn't wake up the Dream Friends to be an audience.

“You brought my bongos! You shouldn't have. Oh, my playing is so rusty, nowhere near perfect. My self-taught ability is not really anything I could play with Mari...” Abbi sighed.

“Don't be like that Abbi. We can find something to play together. This is just for us. For fun.” Mari said.

Mari started flipping through her music sheets. “Ah, this one should do. It's a lullaby folk song.”

Everyone gets their instrument as Mari gives instructions,

“It's one we can all play together. I'll start with the base piano, and after the first stanza, Big Yellow Cat will play the melody with his recorder. It should be easy enough since me and Cat always end up the center of everyone's attention so it's not really a stretch from the normal.”

The cat nods enthusiastically. Then shows off doing a playful flourish with his recorder.

“When me and him finish the first verse, that's when Abbi joins in with the percussion. While they only play in the background, they add a sense of weight to the piece giving it impact and importance.”

“I'm a little scared but I'll do my best for you Mari.”

“That's all you have to do, Abbi.” Mari then turns to the whale. “And then after the second verse ends, that's when you sing Humphrey. You'll have to carry the whole song at that point. Singing comes naturally to you so I think you should be able to do it, right?”

It seems Humphrey would have to sit out for the first half of the song. He didn't mind at all.

So long as he got his time, that's what mattered.

“I can do it.” Humphrey smiles at his friends and then nearly jumps in excitement.

“Hmm.” Mari hums in new curiosity. “I just noticed this the last part of the song has a violin play, perhaps we can just play without it for now.” She then looks at her friends. “Is everyone ready?”

Yellow Cat already has his recorder up to his mouth in position to start.

Abbi puts her tentacles on the bongos with a little nervousness, but she powers through it.

And Humphrey just smiled. He had nothing to prepare. Just being himself was all he needed.

“Alright,” Mari speaks. “On three, we begin.”

The friends examine each other one last time, and ready themselves.

“One, two...”

Under the light of the full moon, together they play their first ensemble.