Y/N P.O.V (1st Person)

Sheriff huffs.

"But in all seriousness partner, much of what the Queen said has really downplayed our situation."

I grumble a bit.

"You don't need to call me partner you know. You know my name is Y/N."

He looks back at me.

"Partner, one, stay on focus with the conversation. And two, I like calling you partner so you will deal with me calling you partner."

I roll my eyes a bit but don't argue back, because he's giving me the dad stare.

You know what?

In all seriousness, he would make a fairly good father figure for S/N. I wish S/N's actual birth people would've been this good of an impact on his life.

"Look, we're in trouble. A lot of trouble, partner."

I raise an eyebrow.

"And what, pray tell, is that trouble?"

He sighs.

"The Jester, who you've claim to have never met, has gone rouge."

I frown.

"And what does that mean?"

Toadster seems very serious. Well, I mean he was serious before but now he's like 70 times more serious.

"No matter what happens, he must not make the Queen laugh. Otherwise, what's in her pouch escapes and we all die."

"Do you mean the Naughty Ones?"

Toadster immediately freezes.

Is he... okay? He's not moving.

I slowly approach him.

"Sheriff..?"

He suddenly grabs me by the neck and slams me against the stone wall.

"How do you know about them!? What do you know!? Tell. Me. Everything."

I flinch a bit and try to wriggle out of his grip.

After a moment, he seems to realize he has me pinned to a wall by my fucking neck and let's me go.

"...sorry partner. No one should really know who they are exactly other than a select few. I was... worried, how you knew about them."

I rub my neck.

"Eh... no hard feelings... and I know about them because they were on a mural. On the level above."

He pauses, then smacks his forehead with his palm.

"Shit, I forgot about that mural! Dammit..."

I shrug.

"Eh, don't worry. Everyone has their moments."

He nods slowly.

"Yeah... you're right partner. Let's just... get going. Come on."

We resume walking. But damn it's a bit awkward now.

We walk into an area that honestly looks much different than the rest of the Kingdom. It's like a little train or subway station. And it's oddly cute.

"There are three parts of the elevator scattered across three stations, which we can get to using this old transport station."

I nod a bit, looking at the 'train'. It looks like three of those things I used to get over that abyss, except multiplied by three and all different colors.

"I believe it's two tickets per rider."

Oh, four then. I guess since can go find them.

"Two for you, two for me, and two for Little Beak there."

Little Beak? Do you mean...

I turn around.

"Chickadee!"

They chirp when they see me and hop into my arms, where I hug them gently as to not hurt their little baby body.

"Chickadee?"

I chuckle a bit.

"Yep, that's their name!"

He smiles a bit.

"Let me guess, you picked it?"

I nod.

"Yep."

He chuckles under his breath.

"Not to bad of a name, I must admit. But I'll stick by calling them Little Beak."

I shrug.

"If Chickadee's fine with being called that, it's fine with me."

He nods a bit and I wander around the room, collecting all 6 tickets, as well as a keycard that's purple and marked 'Floor -4'.

I also notice a note and read it quickly.

'This is a nightmare. It has to be.

I thought I was ready to witness things down here, but I was severely mistaken. They said the training would be enough...

I have felt betrayed and I have felt scared, but never both at the same time. I never should have put my life in my coworkers hands.

I have been left behind as they ran away like the cowards they are... And now I am left alone to talk to a piece of paper.

What was that screaming coming from above and what on earth was that thing approaching us?

It was almost like nothing but a massive floating face... The training Manuel said nothing about that. And definitely nothing about the giggles that seem to be getting closer and closer to me. Am I going insane?'

Huh. That grey face thing is down here too. Joy... well, at least it doesn't seem murderous.

Yet...

I shake my head and stick the tickets in the weird thing in the wall and Mr. Kabob Man-

WAIT, HES BACK!? LETS GOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

And he wheels onto the red sector of the train.

Sheriff and I step onto the yellow one, Chickadee still in my arms.

The 'train' suddenly activates, and we start moving.

"Y'know, I get your confusion partner. I really do."

I look over at him, eyebrow raised like the fucking Rock.

"What's a massive bipedal toad with a hat protecting a giant purple kangaroo queen for?"

I shrug.

"Well, in all honesty the hat is pretty cool."

He chuckles and lightly ruffles my hair (If you're bald I'm sorry-).

"Heh. Thanks partner. But after I was thrown down here by your kind like I was trash, I was hopeless. Aimless. Cold. And miles away from the promised surface."

He seems a bit mopeful, but quickly shakes his head and refocuses.

"Long story short, I was found and accepted at my lowest. It was then I declared myself the ultimate protector of the queen."

He nods slightly.

"It's a cause worth fighting for. Good-hearted individuals deserve protection. Like you."

I pause at that last part.

"Hm?"

He pauses too.

"Nothing."

I raise an eyebrow, but in all seriousness, I really don't care.

The 'train' slows to a halt, and the three of us step off of it.

"So where is this piece anyways?"

Toadster shrugs.

"Administration room. Come on partner. Let's get this over with."

I shrug and follow him, setting Chickadee down so they can follow me.

"The part we need should be in the Administration Room within the ventilation corridors, but it looks like the door is locked."

I shrug.

"Don't worry. I'll open it."

I wander around the room, and see a note. I immediately pick it up and read it.

'Case Update Report

Case #: 9

Case Type:2

Genome(s): Human, Bufo bufo, Givanium

Update #:12

Alias: The Sheriff

Summary: We just recieved instructions to abandon all work being done on Case 9. We will happily oblight as we do not suspect that Case 9's behavior will change. The LLTT have been contacted.

But to keep these reports up to date, we have included evidence that Case 9 is indeed able to hold himself back from "arresting and imprisoning" (Often fatally) whoever he deems a "filthy criminal". He just chooses not to.

Case 9 only consideres following orders of whe he has called his "citizens". While it remains unknown who he considers his "citizens", it has been theorized that it is all Banban's Gang's members. He seemed to at least listen to the order of Case 6 when they were both placed int he same room. Refer to Recording #134 for the full transcript of the interaction.

While Case 9 had to be exited out of the room before he was insturcted by Case 6 to do something dangerous, it was the first time Case 9 displayed obedient behaviour in months.

Case is permanently not ready for presentation.'

...

Welp, keep Toadster far away from Banban at all costs... yep, sounds like a plan.

I also notice a mural on the wall.

'Bittergiggle says,

Nothing is as precious as smiles! Tell a joke whenever you walk!'

Bittergiggle? Eh, 99.99% sure that's a joke name or something.

I gently place Chickadee on the table pad and I stand on the other pad, then I call in D/N to hit the wall button. And the purple door opens up.

I shrug and walk in, obviously expecting Chickadee and Sheriff to follow, but the room is very dark. Like, night dark.

Then the door closes behind me.

"The fuck!?"

I immediately turn around as the door closes, but it's definitely to late to try to run out of the room before the door shuts.

"Oh what? What's happening!?"

I slam my body against the shut door.

"I don't know!"

Toadster grumbles.

"You stay in there and don't move. I'll figure out a way to get the door open."

A moment after he leaves, a light deeper into the room illuminates, showing... a purple wormy thing?

"Hiiii! I'm a hungry snake! Do you have any food?"

I roll my eyes.

"Go jump off a cliff, or don't need this right now."

I swear it's rolling its eyes, though not like I can see.

"Oh come on! Don't be a sour puss. Come here and say hi!"

I roll my own eyes.

"Do you think I'm stupid? No."

It sounds a bit annoyed.

"Hey, you should try smiling! Maybe I can tell you a joke!"

I shrug.

"Try if you want."

Okay, now it sounds excited.

"Okay, okay! Hmmmm... how did the kangaroo get on the bouncy castle?"

I raise an eyebrow in response.

"It hopped on!"

Okay... that was... terrible.

I frown.

"That... wasn't a very good joke."

"Oh..."

The 'snake' lowers its 'head' a bit.

Shit, I made it sad.

"But uh... I can tell you a decent one. Maybe that can help you."

It immediately perks back up.

"Oh! Please do!"

Oh shit, now I have to remember an okay joke. Hm... how about dark humor? I love dark humor.

"Uh... well, whatdo you call a kid with an eyepatch and no arms?"

The 'snake' still seems excited.

"Hmmmm... I don't know. What do you call a kid with an eyepatch and no arms?"

"Names."

I deliver that line with enough seriousness it sounds like I'm saying something totally normal.

The 'snake' pauses, then bursts put laughing.

"HAHA! HAHAHA! OH, THAT WAS A GREAT ONE! What was that? It's different than any joke I heard before! HAHA!"

I shrug.

"Just a little thing called dark humor."

"HAHAHAHA! STILL AMAZING! HA! Oh, oh oh! Come here nice lady! Come here! Please please please!"

I raise an eyebrow and hesitantly approach, and then the 'snake' suddenly retracts and something lunges out at me.

"WHAT THE FUCK!?"

I yelp and stumble back a bit, as it chases after me, laughing maniacally.

 "OH FUCK NO!"

I immediately run to the door, which manages to open with Toadster behind it.

"PREPARE TO GET TOADSTED!"

Okay, that sounds so stupid and I love it.

He throws... something at the Jester.

"Oh, come on!"

It immediately turns around and runs away.

"These Toadstars never disappoint partner."

I nod quickly.

"Did he hurt you?"

I make some kinda pained noise.

"No but I may have accidentally taught him dark humor."

Sheriff pauses.

"Dark what?"

I pause.

"Dark humor. The type of- Y'know what? Nevermind, not important."

Sheriff pauses, then realizes something.

"He now knows we're not at the Kingdom. Shit! Let's grab the part and get out of here."

I nod quickly.

"Good plan. And also, WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT THING!?"

Toadster sighs.

"That partner, was the Jester I was talking about. AKA Bittergiggles."

I immediately pause.

"Bittergiggles? BITTERGIGGLES?"

I immediately devolve into hysterical laughter.

"HIS NAME IS ACTUALLY BITTERGIGGLES? HAHA! OH, THATS AN AMAZING NAME? HA!"

Toadster looks mildly amused by my reaction to the name.

"Yeah yeah, c'mon partner. Let's go."

He steps out of the way, and we walk into a silver room made out of steel, with lots of vents. And I mean lots of vents.

I walk in a bit, then Toadster puts a hand on my shoulder to stop me.

"Wait. I know my enemies. We're beings stalked."

I immediately pause.

"What?"

He sighs.

"These vents are interconnected. They make perfect traps."

I nod slowly.

"I'm sure there's a way we can tell which ones are rigged. We just need to figure it out."

Hmmm...

I look around a bit, and see something scrawled on the walls nearby.

Chickadee can... sense danger, and chirps when there's danger.

Huh, sounds useful.

"I figured it out. Let's go."

We walk a bit, and I take a few tentative steps in front of a vent, and Chickadee waddled up next to me and doesn't make a sound, so I start walking, and immediately get jumped because the second I started walking, they chirped. WOW, GO FOR A DELAYED REACTION, HUH!?

I immediately get slammed into the floor, lots of screeching, I fight back, Sheriff looks very alarmed and looks like he's about to use his Toadstars again, Chickadee's screaming, good times, yada yada. 

And then whatever attacked me freezes.

"Y/N?"

I pause and realize, HOLY SHIT ITS NABS.

"Nabs!"

He looks freaking ecstatic.

"Y/N!"

"Nabs!"

We kinda hug eachother. Toadster looks very confused.

"You two... know eachother?"

I grin.

"Duh! Literally he's one of my best friends."

Sheriff pauses.

"What."

I shrug.

"It's a long story. But Nabs is nice."

Sheriff nods slowly, still very confused.

I shrug and stand up, pointing at Nabs.

"He's coming with us."

Toadster crosses his arms.

"No."

I narrow my eyes, giving him the mom stare.

"Yes."

He tries the dad stare back.

"No."

I don't relent.

"Yes."

Nabs and Chickadee are watching blankly.

"...fine. He can come with us."

Yes!

"Oh one condition. When we get back to the kingdom, he's staying in the jail until he can be proved trustworthy."

"What? No!"

Sheriff crosses his arms.

"Then he's not coming."

I grit my teeth, but Nabs puts a hand- claw- nub- whatever his legs end with, on my shoulder to stop me from lunging at the Sheriff.

"No Y/N. It's fine. I'm okay with staying in a cell for a bit."

I look back at him.

"Are you sure?"

He nods.

"Positive. Don't worry about me Y/N."

"...fine. Fine. Let's do it."

Toadster makes a curt nod, and the four of us walk to the room at the end of the ventilation corridors or something.

We walk in and I shut off the vent doors opening, because Nabnaleena may still be alive and I don't want her coming out.

Wait no, I do, I want to fight the bitch.

Eh... probably a bad idea though.

I unlock the gray door in the room and grab the gear inside the closet thing.

"That's the part we need from this section. Let's head back and see if it'll fit."

I nod a bit and we all go back to the train and take it back to the Kingdom. Nothing to crazy happens other than Nabnab looking very happy he found me.

"You head to the elevator. I'll meet you there. Nabnab however, is coming with me real quick."

I nod a bit, quickly give Nabs a goodbye hug, and Chickadee and I walk to the elevator over beyond the weird abyss and next to the room where I got interrogated. How did I know where the elevator was? I walked around, obviously. For like... 3 minutes. Straight.

Heh...

I notice a note on the ground and read it as Chickadee and I wait for the Sheriff.

'Case Update Report

Case #: 9

Case Type: 2

Genome(s): Human, Bufo bufo, Givanium

Update #:9

Alias: The Sheriff

Summary: To say that the new approach to encapsulating Case 9 with his desired identity has backfired would be an understatement. Perhaps the amount of time of Case 9's scheduel that was dedicated to watching western media was too excessive.

While Case 9 has fully embraced himself as Banban's Gang's protector he has grown to believe that everyone that is not part of Banban's Gang is a criminal, including inanimate objects with human features, the facility's staff, and most likely children.

It did not help that last week was completely dedicated to how to properly catch, imprison, and interrrogate crimianls HIS SIZE OR LARGER. No staff member is safe near Case 9, as his methods are simply too violent for a human being to survive.

Case 9 has become a real western sheriff where existing as one will ruin everything.

Case is not ready for presentation.'

...uh oh. Hopefully he doesn't decide to kill me, heh...

Oh I am so dead.

I hear someone walking up and immediately pocket the note.

"Whatcha' reading partner?"

I shrug.

"Just some notes I found earlier. Nothing much."

Toadster nods slowly, looking a bit suspicious, but shrugs it off and steps onto the elevator.

"Mind passing me the part?"

I nod and hand it to him.

He fits it in.

"Perfect! That's one of three. I'll stay here and put everything together. For now, maybe just hang around the place and talk to the Queen."

I nod and pick up Chickadee, holding them gently as I walk back into the Kingdom and to Queen Bouncelia's room.

"Welcome back. I hope your journey was worth it and the elevator is a little more usable."

I smile and nod.

"I... wanted to let you know how much I respect you and the things you are doing to get your child back Y/N."

I nod.

"Putting you're life on the line and fighting forces much more powerful than you like that is just... Admirable."

"Thank you your majesty."

She smiles.

"As a token of my respect, please take this blue keycard. While not much, it is what we consider a symbol of trust."

I bow slightly and take the keycard.

"I am proud to announce that you are officially a citizen of the Kingdom. Feel free to stay as much as you like, even after you get your child back."

"Hm... you know what your majesty? I think I'll stay. As great as the surface is... honestly this place is probably better to raise S/N."

Queen Bouncelia Claps her hands together a bit.

"Delightful! Oh, the Kingdom can now proudly announce that it has reached a population of five!"

Five? But... with S/N, myself, Bouncelia, and Toadster... that's just four?

"I say five because a friend of yours showed up while you were away. He was in a damaged state so I told him to stay at the infirmary. He asked for you, well, sort of begged when he found out you were here, so perhaps you could speak with him when you have time?"

Friend? Is it Tarta? Opila? No, Opila's a girl... uh... who could be considered my friend-

Oh no.

Him.

He's the only one who'd call me his friend, even after the mishap with Flynn...

But no...

Not Banban!

________________________________________________________________

A/N: Longggg chapter, lol. But Y/N now lives in the Kindergarten, so that's cool.

But look, Y/N met Bittergiggles (his name is fucking amazing and I love it) and maybe has accidentally taught him a bit of dark humor. Oops. ;P

Welp, see yall around for the next update! ;3

Y/N: Your Name

D/N: Drone's Name

S/N: Son's Name

A/N: Author Note