On Mao Mao's trek through the Pure Heart Valley he did notice that the sweetie pies were very different from the regular animals he had seen. They were all brightly colored and non of them looked like they could defend themselves. From what he could see, he had to work fast to get that barrier back up. Just a look at a those squishy faces and Mao Mao knew they were just a bunch of sitting ducks
He tried to ask them about the Sky Pirates and was given some information about them but it was mostly what the King had already told him before. Other than that they all seemed be a bit fearful from talking about it but otherwise very pleasant and friendly. More and more Sweetypies took an interest in him, asking him all kinds of questions about where did he come from and where did he get such cool clothes. Mao Mao had to fight the urge to give the eager pipsqueaks that crowded around him an earful of his epic and tragic background that molded him into the hero that's going to save them.
Mao Mao knew he had a job to do and made that his top priority. Instead he asked the gathered villagers if any of them knew where the Sky Pirates were but he didn't get a helpful answer.
It had been 3 hours since Mao Mao was brought to the Pure Heart Valley and he was completely lost on what he should do. He sat on the outer brick of the fountain just in front of the kingdom. Word of the new cat in town quickly spread and it certainly was the hot topic.
"Psst. Hey, you! Psst!" Mao Mao's ears twitched as a nearby voice caught his attention.
"Hey, you. Cat. Over here!" a small blue something waved from the top of the bush. Mao Mao followed it and after looking back and forth, dived into the bush. Inside he surprised to see a small blue bat. They were smaller than the others. The bat in front of him had large yellow eyes, light blue fur, a heart on his chest and missing foot replaced by a pegleg.
"Oh, good. You heard me," the bat smiled.
"Yeah, but why did you call me into some bushes?" Mao Mao asked.
"Because I heard you were looking for those guys. You know the...Sky Pirates," she made sure to whisper that last part.
"You mean you know about the Sky Pirates?" Mao Mao asked in confusion.
"Yup. I saw them bring in their big ship and rip a piece out of the Ruby Pure Heart myself. And I know where they are now," the bat insisted.
"How? None of the other Sweetypies know anything about them. And you're just a kid," Mao Mao sat back in the bushes.
"Cause they're all a bunch of scaredy cats. No offense. But after they took the piece I followed their ship. They're off in the forest down at edge of the village. I've seen them myself," the small bat explained.
"Wow, thanks. You're a brave kid. But please, leave things like this to the professionals. Thanks to you, I'm gonna find those pirates and make the Ruby whole again," Mao Mao vowed.
"Awesome. Oh, and if anyone asks you never saw me." the bat said simply before diving out of the bushes. Mao Mao exclaimed in surprise and tired to follow after them but once he climbed out of it the flying mammal was gone.
Well, at least I know where to go now, Mao Mao thought to himself. On the outskirts of the village, huh?
It took a little bit of searching but Mao Mao found the path towards the forest. It was certainly dark and foreboding, the perfect place for a band of villains to hide. Mao Mao took a deep breath and took his first steps towards the shadowed, towering rows of trees. He felt a little bit of sweat on his forehead and his breathing was quick and shallow. With each step his took the cat felt something that was not sure if it was fear or excitement. Perhaps a mix of both. With every step the point that this was his first mission sunk in. This was the real deal and he was miles away from his father or sisters who would bail him out of anything went wrong before. He was on his own this time there's actual villagers who needed his help. The thought of messing up somehow or possibly failing altogether crossed his mind, but as fast as it came he pushed those thoughts away.
He couldn't let those mistakes in the past psyche him out. Mao Mao instead envisioned himself taking on powerful foes, giving them the thrashing of a lifetime and walking out victorious with the Ruby Pure Heart piece. He could already see it. The King thanking him, the villagers declaring himself a hero and his own father coming to the hero ceremony telling him how proud he is.
Mao Mao's ear twitched as he heard something out of the ordinary. He opened his eyes and suppressed a gasp and quickly ducked behind a thick tree trunk. He didn't realize he just wandered so far into the forest but what he found was much more important than that. Sure enough as the bat had told him, there was the airship parked on the ground. From the looks of the knocked down and splintered wood around said ship, Mao Mao took it that either the ship had a rough landing or the dastardly villains parked here with no regard for Mother Nature.
Standing just outside the entrance to the massive ship was an ostrich in some rather sharp clothes and a very tall giraffe. What stuck out to Mao Mao was that both of them were adorned with some kind of cybernetics. He could heard the two of them talking and he tilted his ears to hopefully pick up on it.
"Ugh, how much longer do we have to just sit here? There's nothing around here to do," the giraffe pouted, kicking at a large piece of splintered wood.
"Aw, come now. Don't you worry, Ramaraffe. We're gonna get this all fixed up and be off. Who woulda known that there piece of Ruby would be so dang heavy?" the ostrich reassured, walking over to a side panel on the ship's hull and lifting off to reveal some damage underneath.
"But what am I supposed to do till then?" Ramaraffe groaned.
"Well, why don't you ask the others if they want the village? I'm sure Orangusnake would be more than happy to take some extra loot with us," the ostrich suggested.
The giraffe gasped and a wide smile spread across her face. "That's a great idea! Thanks, Hosstrich!" The excited long-necked mammal quickly ran inside the ship, bumping her head against the doorway. But she was alright thanks to the helmet she adorned.
"Anytime, darlin." Boss Hosstrich chuckled and continued surveying the damage on the outside.
So they do have the Ruby!, Mao Mao grinned and looked around the surrounding area. No one else except Boss Hosstrich and he seemed to be focused on fixing the outer damage.
The cat ducked from behind the tree with a stone held firmly in his paws. Hosstrich used a compartment in his chest and fished out a screwdriver and some pliers. He was about to set to work doing some quick patch ups.
A thump and the rustling of bushes nearby could be heard. The cyborg ostrich was taken off guard and took a look around the corner of the ship. Seeing nothing he shrugged and returned to work. Before he could even turn a screw another loud thump and aggressive rustling of leaves could be heard. Hosstrich bounded over to catch whoever it was, but was once again met with nothing.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" the ostrich demanded, activating his chest-cannon and pointing in at the bush.
Mao Mao took his chance and made a mad dash for the open entrance. He managed to run safely into the ship's entrance. He was about to congratulate himself on his quick thinking, but he saw what was up ahead and froze in his tracks.
"And Hosstrich told me that we should go back to the village and take whatever we want," Mao Mao watched as Ramaraffe explained her earlier encounter with to a small rat.
Mao Mao quickly looked back and forth, he spotted a table with a in a corner. The corner itself was pretty shady. He ducked under the table and hoped that his fur would him blend into the shadows.
"Huh. That does sound like fun, but we'll have to ask the boss for the okay." the rat pondered with a smile.
"Aww, come on. Let's just go, Ratarang. Boss won't notice if were gone for a little while," Ramaraffe encouraged.
"Nope. Ya know the rules. And ya remember the last time we slipped of to see that traveling circus?" Ratarang reminded.
"Yeah...." the giraffe groaned. "Burned the tent to the ground."
"Shame about those trapeze monkeys," Ratarang nodded his head solemnly. "And that's exactly why we gotta let him know. Won't be nothing to steal if the burns the place down."
"Alright, I'll let's go ask boss," Ramaraffe said a defeated tone. The two walked out of the room and down the corridor.
Mao Mao released the breath he didn't even know he was holding. A villain that just burns things to the ground. Even traveling circuses? Mao Mao took a deep breath. He was in the territory of a dangerous foe now. Now he figured that there was no time to waste. But he grit his teeth as he had no idea where he was actually supposed to go. The idea of searching hall after hall and room after room would guarantee him getting caught. But what other choice did he have?