My footsteps echoed along the staircase as I descended it, reverberating across the house and making my consciousness known to anyone or anything nearby. I furthered my progress as I reached the very bottom, and made my way towards the kitchen, dressed and ready for the day. All of this occurred at seven'o'clock.

Last night was... odd. Or was that this morning? Ever since I'd woken up, I'd been pondering it. Who that triangle really was, why those people crashed his party, who those people actually were... I felt a little uneasy, but... at the same time, I had faith in what he was telling me. The thought of others treating him unfairly was another thing that angered me, what drove me to do what I was doing. Someone should never be treated in such a way based on their appearance... So I was going to make sure I didn't treat my new friend like that. I was going to have an open mind; I was going to help him... because he sounded like he really needed it.

Whatever the case, I had to set about finding a Chaos Emerald for Billford...

I frowned slightly to myself as I wondered, as I opened the door to the kitchen; it opened without hesitation, and I stepped inside swiftly, planning to set to work. I opened yet another door, and this was to the fridge; I peered around, then noticed a row of eggs in a rack. I bit my lip, musing over that and the jam jar to the side. I grew thoughtful, trying to decide what to make Mr. McGucket for breakfast...

"Cream?"

"...!"

I turned around quickly, soon seeing the man himself before me; he was still dressed in his clothes from the day before... or maybe his choice in clothing made it look that way. I could never really tell the difference...

Mr. McGucket glanced over my shoulder as I stared at him briefly, and his expression was slightly sad and disapproving. He didn't like me making him breakfast... We'd had this discussion yesterday, so it was obviously still fresh in his mind.

"Up early today," he mused, looking down at me with an expression that was displaying forced happiness. I looked down, feeling slightly guilty he was still fretting over me. "I'll make meself breakfast today, alright, Cream? I'll make yers too."

"Oh, but I wouldn't want to...!" I was about to object, but the sincerity on his face stopped me; I sighed softly and gave a nod, a small smile following after that. "...okay, then, Mr. McGucket."

He nodded in response, in acknowledgment.

I stepped aside and watched as the man reached in and took out the jar of jam. I shifted myself to the drawer containing the cutlery, glancing for anything Mr. McGucket might need. I picked up a butter knife, putting it on a counter near him. Turning my head, I saw him grabbing a loaf of bread and putting... well, one too many slices into the toaster...

"Mr. McGucket!" I exclaimed as I rushed over, glancing at him worriedly as he stuffed the extra slice of bread into the slot. He'd stopped when I called him, and looked down at me with a confused expression. "You're only meant to put one slice in those slots each..." I muttered hesitantly.

"...oh. Fancy that," he replied in a slightly mournful tone. I looked at him with pity as he took out the extra slice; I didn't know what to say apart from...

"It's okay. You'll get it next time!"

"Yeah..." he murmured awkwardly. He turned the toaster on, and then waited patiently. We stood silently as the toast did its job. As we did, I thought about last night, and then...

"Oh, Mr. McGucket! Last night, I..." I paused and froze, remembering what Billford had said to me. He'd told me not to talk about him... but... was Mr. McGucket one of those party crashers? He was really nice...

But he'd heard the start of my sentence anyway, and furrowed his eyebrows at how I'd suddenly stopped. He looked... anxious. I couldn't describe it.

"...you what?" he asked, worry evident in his tone.

I tried to think of an excuse quickly; one that wasn't a lie.

"...I saw the full moon! You should've seen it! It looked so pretty, and so much... like... home's!"

"Ah, yeah, that was comin' around," McGucket replied with a smile, seeming relieved. Maybe he thought a burglar got in or something... "I think I saw it a couple o' times in the study."

"How long were you up...?" I tilted my head, curious. What time DID he go to bed?

"Not too long, Cream," he told me with a smile.

There was a noise, and we both jumped... then realised it was the toaster.

Mr. McGucket set about getting out the toast, setting it on two plates and taking them over to the counter I'd placed the butter knife. He grabbed the jar and... struggled with it. I watched him for a couple of seconds with a pitying expression, before walking over to help him. I managed to get the lid off in fifteen seconds or so.

Eventually, we both got breakfast. We sat at the dining table this time, and I'd helped make some tea to go with our jam on toast. We had a lot of toast, so I didn't make scones today...

I sipped my tea happily, pinky out, as I sat across from my carer. We didn't sit at the ends of the table; that would've been too far away to talk. As Mr. McGucket continued with his breakfast, I paused after swallowing some of the toast.

"Mr. McGucket?"

He glanced up, acknowledging me immediately.

"Can I... go out today?"

"Huh?"

"To town?"

He looked, for the lack of a better word, surprised at my request. I wasn't as surprised at that though: I'd been sticking to the exteriors and interiors of this house ever since I came here.

"Well..." He looked thoughtful, conflicted, even. "A'd say yes as quick as a fiddle, Cream, but..."

"I'll be good! Really!" I pleaded quickly, clasping my hands.

"...It's jus' I don't know how the local folk'll respond," he explained, looking at me with a concerned face. I didn't understand... was it because I wasn't from this world? "...although... We have a bunch of odd waggedy doos in this here town, so it couldn't do no harm..."

"So I can go?" I asked excitedly.

"Well, can't keep ya' cooped up in here," he replied good-naturedly. He gave me a grin. "Jus' make sure you're comin' with me and not all on your lonesome. Can't lose ya'."

My eyes lit up slightly, but it was that moment I realised if he saw me searching around, he'd get suspicious...

This was the only way I was getting into town, though... And... I'd never sneak away from the house on my own; Mr. McGucket would be worried sick! I wouldn't dare do that...

I nodded happily, regardless, accepting of these terms. I had to do something...

The wait had been really long. We didn't leave until the clock struck seventeen minutes past one. I'd been keenly waiting at the door, patient and ready to go. I think Mr. McGucket found this funny a little... He smiled at me as soon as he unlocked the door, and even more so when I raced out onto the courtyard. I'd spent a lot of time in the gardens; they were really pretty and big... though I hadn't seen anyone gardening in them yet...

Standing patiently at the gate, I looked at the path down to town, excited for the journey ahead. It might not have seemed like much at home, but this was a new place with new people... so it was only natural I was raring for the day! Plus, I had the chance to help Billford! Even the smallest amount of good helped tons, right?

I turned my head to see Mr. McGucket approaching, and we eagerly set off.

The hill was a little steep, but we'd followed the path as carefully as we could. I stared in awe at the surrounding scenery: the trees, the plants, the animals, and the buildings. Outside of the mansion, the woodland was almost even prettier in its natural environment. The rays of light cracking through the trees shed a luminous light that made the opacity of the leaves stand out permanently.

"So, Cream... Any particular reason ye wanted to go out now?" Mr. McGucket suddenly asked, a friendly smile on his face. This was a smile that said I could tell him anything...

But I knew very well that I couldn't!

I paused, thinking of how I would phrase it.

"...nothing too particular," I answered, my expression lit with happiness to avoid suspicion. "I just decided I wanted to see what the rest of your world was like! If it's pretty and nice like mine..."

I realised I might have been coming off in a fashion that this was a contest between worlds, and immediately reconciled.

"...and it is!" I finished, ultimately sheepish and hoping this reason was plausible.

"Ah, awright then," Mr. McGucket replied, then focused on the road. "Sounded like something real specific."

At that, I hid my nervous smile, and we both continued down the hill until we reached the base of it.

"Where to first, Mr. McGucket?"

"Groweries," he responded, looking down at a list he'd withdrawn from his pocket.

"I think you mean groceries..." I corrected impishly.

"What 'ave I been writing down?" He looked confused, and scratched his head.

I chuckled sheepishly, then looked to the side, giving a small smile. Inwardly, though, I was worried. Sometimes, Mr. McGucket did... strange things. Strange things that made me sad... but it was usually his other aspects that stopped me from worrying...

Eventually, we'd reached the streets, and I lurked behind Mr. McGucket as I looked around at all the people around me. He seemed relatively calm, but inwardly, I somehow felt he was worried for me as he looked around. His gaze hid that anxiety, as he portrayed it as nothing short of casual, and continued on towards the grocery store.

To pass the time, and the overwhelming sense that maybe I didn't belong in this landscape, I thought about all the nature we'd passed as we'd trekked into the city. It was interesting, and made me feel quite nostalgic. Gravity Falls, from what my friend told me, was a really pretty place... and the pine trees everywhere were only the tip of the ice berg.

"Here we are!" Mr. McGucket grinned, then his expression dropped at what appeared to be a queue leading inside, a rather messy one at that. "Goshdarnnit, I woulda' thought it wouldn't have been busy today! Sorry about that, kiddo..."

Glancing down at me, he offered an apologetic smile but I just shook my head and returned it. "It's okay. I'm really patient. Besides, I want to take in the outside a little more anyways!"

"Ah suppose," he responded sheepishly, then glanced at the shuffling crowd. "Stay close though, okay? Don't wanna' lose ya' in this kerfuffle!"

I nodded, then blinked at the crowd started increasing. It increased so much that it almost swallowed us whole!

People were saying things, but since it was so jumbled together and loud, I couldn't really make it out underneath them all.

"Wh-what's going on...?!" I yelped, barely grabbing onto Mr. McGucket's hand before it could slip away into the sea of people.

"Ah don't know - darn crazy town! Wait fer yer dogs, folks!" he yelled, flailing his other fist in the air. We both stumbled about, and it didn't help the crowd was far taller than either of us... "What in tarnation is going on?!"

"Something's in there!" a woman's voice called, and my ears pricked.

Something? Or... someone...? If it was out of the ordinary for this place, then maybe...

"It's making a right mess, it is!" another man called.

"What're you folk even doing?" my friend asked incredulously, blinking at the crowd.

"We're tourists! What do you think?!"

"Well..."

...whooosh...

Suddenly, the crowd yelped as a strong gust of wind passed them, blowing away some hats and ruffling material. I stiffened slightly, finding this abrupt strange breeze familiar - at least, in some aspect...

"...Mr. Sonic...?" I whispered in pleasant surprise, trying to look through the gaps in the crowd in quiet awe. I noted a figure running up the street, turning right, into an alleyway... it looked familiar to me! Like, really, really familiar!

It must have been Mr. Sonic. Mr. Sonic must have come to rescue me! And... that meant... I wasn't alone... he could... take me back to Momma...

My guilty gaze moved back to Mr. McGucket, who was trying to see through the crowd, to see what was going on.

"Mr. McGucket...!"

"Hang on, Cream, I'll get us through here...!" he struggled, trying to get past the clutter of people around him.

"Bu-but, I think I just saw my friend!" I stammered, trying to glance back through the mass amount of people.

Glancing back at me, he had a worried expression as I barely saw him through the chaos. "Your friend...?"

"I-I'll be back! I promise!" I stammered, giving a meek wave and then turning, stumbling over other people's feet and making my way towards the alley.

"C-Cream! Be care..." Mr. McGucket's voice was drowned out by the noise as I sped away, skidding to a stop at the alleyway that I had seen movement.

I felt bad for leaving him... but if a friend of mine was here... if Mr. Sonic was here, I didn't want to miss them! I'd head straight back to Mr. McGucket after!

I hoped...

Inwardly, I felt worried - what if it wasn't a friend? What if it was Metal Sonic, or just a really fast bad guy?

Stood in the middle of the alley, I looked on with a hesitant expression and swallowed. I wasn't sure...

"...as I thought. This is nothing like my world..." a voice murmured - it sounded like a girl... and I felt I recognized it from somewhere... "...nor his world either. Regardless, something still feels... similar..."

I heard light footsteps as I saw the shadow of the mysterious person turn around, seeming to be contemplating something. There was an exceptionally long pause, until I heard something that made me sure that it was a friend and not an enemy...

"...I hope Cream is all right."

"...I-I am! I'm here!" I squeaked, stumbling into the alley.

Entering the small street and turning, I blinked as I saw a purple cat turning around defensively. Her eyes narrowed at me, then widened in surprise.

"C-Cream?"

"Blaze!"

Heyup, people~ Rare author's note from me...

It has been a while. XD Finally got around to updating this. :D

Although, I will be going back and editing previous chapters, since I've gotten and read Journal 3 now. Hopefully these changes will make the story funner and more exciting. :3

Anyways, I hope you guys are enjoying the story, and if not, well... I'm sorry. XD

Ta~

-Toxic : )