(Junior's POV)

The entrance to Mom's bakery faces stairs that lead up to both our rooms. The actual counter where you buy the pastries is to the right, as well as a few tables and chairs for customers to enjoy their snacks. It's easy for me to leave the house/bakery without being seen, but a small problem is the bell attached to the door that rings every time the door opens. I was waiting at the base of the stairs, waiting for a customer to come in so I can sneak out undetected. From where Mom was positioned, there was no way she could see me, so once the opportunity came, I would be outside to do whatever I wanted.

In truth, I wanted to go to the Fields. Mom never lets me go there because of the monsters that roam there. Ironically, that's the reason why I go there every chance I can get. I don't care how many Tow Tows or Auroros I kill, as long as I get stronger. Mom doesn't understand. When I told her my ambition, she called it barbaric. It's those times that make me think we're not even related. I mean sure we look alike, both of us having blond hair, but other than that, we had nothing in common. Mom isn't a fighter. You can tell from the pink princess-like dress she always wears. When I first woke up from the Memory Loss, it struck me odd that my clothes were very different from hers. I had a sword and other weapons on me that I felt did not belong there. I told Mom that and she agreed, saying that she never wanted me to be in a fight or anything just as violent. My mindset since then has changed, and now I'm the kid who starts fights in Daycare and wanders off into the fields when his mother believes he's sleeping in his room. When Mom found out, she nearly hyperventilated. She smacked my face with her frying pan and then apologized profusely right after. The next morning she baked more sweets than she would ever make in her lifetime. She took it pretty bad, but that morning she made me promise never to go to the Fields again. And I held true to that promise…

…up to now.

Every day since then I've been itching for battle, and the only way to relieve myself of that itch was to do just that. Fight. It didn't matter since I had no friends in Daycare. Actually, everybody hated my guts there, including the teacher. I got many detentions, and Mom would be disappointed in me every time. She promised Penny—the teacher—that it will never happen again. Of course there was no way that would happen. Mom would feel horrible having broken every promise for a pacifist son, even if it was out of her control. Honestly it hurt me. Just a week ago there was another parent conference and Mom was not even able to utter a word.

She was too busy crying.

Yesterday I got the itch, and since Daycare was over for the year, I decided it was time to head to the Fields. The sudden knell startled me, and I grabbed a hold of the door just as it was about to close. I was about to head out when Mom called my name.

"Junior?" The customer that just came in looked at me. Mom was doing the same, leaning over from behind the counter.

I cursed under my breath and turned around, still holding on to the door. I gave Mom a false smile and said, "Yeah?"

"You're going out?" I nodded, trying my best to act nonchalant. Mom can pick out a lie faster than a hound can pick up a scent, "Yeah." Her eyebrow arched. I saw the customer look back and forth between us.

"Where?" she asked.

"Daycare," I told her.

"You're in summer break," she replied.

"Yeah…" I looked at the bakery floor, a bunch of tiles in the form of a brightly colored chess board. "I decided to volunteer there for the summer program… in order to make up for my behavior…"

My Mom's eyes sparkled as they teared up, and I almost wanted to take back my lie. Mom hopped over the counter and embraced me, the smell of bread filling my nostrils, "Oh Junior, that's so thoughtful of you! I'm so happy you would take responsibility for your actions. It's so noble; you don't know how much you remind me of your Father…"I stiffened, and Mom felt my reaction, "What's wrong?"

"I, uh, don't want to be late. I'll be back soon!" I pecked her on the cheek and ran out of the bakery, Mom hollering for me to be back before lunch.

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At the gate of the town, I came to a stop to catch my breath. I looked up and saw the Fields expand before me. If it weren't for the population of monsters, this landscape would've probably be considered a paradise—the grass was a wholesome green, a darker shade than that of my tunic. There were patches of flowers here and there, which just added to the beauty of the place. A breeze would occasionally sweep by, rolling the long grass over like waves at the shore.

I eagerly got my sword that was strapped to my back and ran straight ahead. I climbed up a small hill to see a Tow Tow sleeping about two meters from where I was. I approached it cautiously, careful not to wake it up. I stared at the blade in my hand, regretting that I hadn't sharpened it recently. It's a lot work, so I usually find excuses to avoid doing it, such as saying the stone had become to jagged, or that I had homework to do. Sometimes I even wondered if I even used the sword correctly. I mean, no one ever taught me, at least, from what I know of. Even if I was taught, the Memory Loss would have taken that memory away. I could beat up the kids at daycare easily, but did I have actual skill? It wouldn't be so bad if I practiced, but the last time I used my sword was to help my Mom dice carrots.

I shook my head. I'm practicing now, aren't I? With a cry I jumped and impaled the blade into the face of the Tow Tow. Its serene expression turned into that of anger, and its teeth morphed into fangs. I gave it a couple of more quick slashes, not letting it have the opportunity to attack. Electricity enveloped the Tow Tow, but I ignored it. My hand was buzzing a bit, and I shook it off to execute the final blow. I panted as the Tow Tow disintegrated into darkness just to disappear all together. I looked around to see monsters coming my way having heard the commotion. "Bring it on!" I yelled, as I went for the nearest Primid.

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I fell to the ground exhausted. There were flecks of black all over me from the darkness that the monsters gave off after they've been extinguished. I took a quick glance of my surroundings, searching if there might have been a monster I had missed. Thankfully there wasn't, but there was something off in the distance. It wasn't a monster—I could tell that much. I got up and approached it, gasping when I realized what it was.

A body.

I ran towards it, kneeling beside the unconscious figure. He was alive—I could tell from the short breaths he took. He was older than me; that was obvious from the maturity of his face. He had messy blue hair and torn clothing. He wasn't a hobo, or at least I don't think he was. His ripped cape and head band just seemed old, as if he had them for a long time. He wore a blue tunic and brown boots, making him seem like some sort of adventurer. I shook him, and it was then that I noticed he was laying on a sword, a pretty big one, at that. I could see that the blade was golden, but the rest was covered up.

"Hey, wake up! Come on, wake up!" I shook him harder until I saw his eyes tighten and a groan escape his mouth. His eyes opened, revealing irises the same color as his hair. He looked at me for quite some time before I decided to break the silence. "Um, I take it it's not that comfortable lying on a sword."

The man said nothing, but sat up, taking a hold of the blade. I couldn't help but stare at it in awe. It was taller than me, and by the looks of it, really heavy, but this guy picked it up with one hand. He scratched his head and I cleared my throat, standing up and offering him a hand. He took it, but getting up took more effort on his part since he almost pulled me down trying to pull himself up.

"I'm Junior. What's your name?"

"My name…" his voice was raspy and he coughed, "My name is…" His eyes widened and waved around frantically, "I-I don't know!" He looked at me, "Who am I!?"

I held my hands up and he backed away, "Don't ask me, I just found you knocked out here."

"I was knocked out?"

He looked so lost. I wanted to help him, but I didn't know what to do. Mom was smarter than me, maybe she can help? I knew Mom would get mad that I lied to her, but she was the only person that I could think of that would probably be able to help. "Why don't you come to my house? Maybe my Mom can help you." I got his wrist and lead him to the town. He shook my hand off and followed me, seeing he really had nowhere else to go.

(Peach's POV)

Today was going slow. It made sense—summer wasn't really a time people preferred to eat pastries with coffee. Even so, I couldn't close the bakery because there were those few people who actually came to buy some sweet bread. I was all alone to support Junior and myself, so I really had no choice but to keep the place open. My mind wandered to Junior, and I smiled as I pictured him helping toddlers make arts and crafts and handing out brown sacks with apples and sandwiches inside them. There was a knell, indicating that a new customer has arrived. "Welcome—Junior!?"

Junior came in with a rogue swordsman behind him. He was tall, making Junior seem like a dwarf in comparison. I know in this case you would think the stranger would grab my attention, but actually it was Junior who appeared to be covered head to toe in what looked like soot. A closer inspection and I knew it was the remains of shadow bugs, leftovers of defeated monsters, "You were in the Fields!?"

Junior gaped at me and sputtered until he managed to pronounce words, "Mom, you don't understand—"

"Junior you lied to me! Not only that, but you broke your promise!"

"Mom…"

"And here I thought you were performing community service. Junior, why would you go to the Fields? Don't you know how dangerous that is?"

The stranger spoke up on Junior's behalf, "If that's the case, then your son has saved my life."

I looked at him, "Excuse me?"

Junior explained, "Mom, I found this guy zonked out in the Fields! He doesn't know who he is, or how he ended up there."

"It's true, ma'am."

I took a quick glance at Junior, then went back to the stranger, "Junior, go upstairs," I ordered.

"Mom," he began, but I cut him off. "Clean up. I'll take care of this lad."

Junior was about to protest, but the stranger said, "Listen to your mother, Junior."

Junior reluctantly did as told, walking up the stairs with his head down. I went over the counter and sat down on the table against the window. I motioned for the stranger to sit across from me. He sat down and stared at his hands. I couldn't imagine looking at my own hands to not recognize them, and so I spoke in a comforting tone, "Amnesia, huh?" He nodded and I continued, "Well, seeing that you were in the Fields, you were probably heading towards, or leaving this town. I've never seen you before, so most likely you were on your way here. In that case, someone in this town might recognize you."

"You really think so?" he asked me.

"It's a possibility. Judging from your clothes, you travel a lot, so it might be that you just came to rest here for the day, but ended up knocked out in the Fields."

The man shook his head, "No way; a monster wouldn't be able to take away my memory."

"It doesn't matter how it happened, as long as we fix it. Maybe seeing someone you know will bring back a forgotten memory?" I got up and the stranger followed me, "It wouldn't hurt to ask around."

"Guess not," he said, but I knew from his face that he thought it was hopeless.

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I was tired of hearing "No" and "I'm sorry". I'm sure the stranger was, too. "That's everyone," I told him, "It's a one horse town."

The man looked depressed, "Maybe I did come this way for a place to rest…"

I wanted to comfort him, but I had no idea what to say. Instead, I settled with, "Let's get back to the bakery. We'll figure something out, I'm sure of it."

"Very well…" we headed back to the bakery, but just as we made it to the door, we heard a cry.

"Ike!" We both turned around to see an angel running towards us. No joke—this kid had white fluffy wings behind his back. His white tunic would've been revealing if it weren't for the black spandex he wore underneath. He wore golden rings on his arm and leg, along with a matching wreath on his shaggy brown hair. The angel jumped on the stranger, dragging him on the ground three feet from where he once stood. The stranger looked startled—who wouldn't be with an angel sitting on their chest? He looked down and grabbed the stranger from his collar, "Ike what the heck!? I told you to meet me in the Fields, not in the town! I was running around like a headless chicken looking for you!"

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

The angel blinked," Ike, it's me, Pit."

"I apologize, I don't know you."

"What!?" Pit tugged at the stranger's shirt, "What kind of game are you playing?"

I decided to speak up, "Um, Pit, was it?"

He just seemed to take note of me and he scanned me with his sky blue eyes, "Yeah…who are you?"

"I'm Peach. I own the bakery in this town."

"Okay."

"And, well, the stranger you call Ike… My son found him unconscious in the Fields. You see, he has no memory of who he is."

"He was knocked out?" Pit looked to the side and his features darkened, "Damn, I didn't think they'd catch up to us so quickly…"

"Who?"Ike asked.

Pit turned to me, "You have a bakery, right?" I nodded, "I'll explain everything there."

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We sat down on the table beside the window, and just as Pit was about to start, I saw Junior peering over the rail from the base of the stairs. I sighed, "Come over here, Junior." He smiled widely and approached us, sitting beside Pit since it was the only free spot left.

Pit looked at Junior, "So you're the one that brought Ike here? I appreciate it. I'm Pit, by the way, a friend of Ike's."

Junior nodded at Pit and looked at Ike, "So that's your name? Ike?"

"Apparently," Ike nodded towards Pit, "You may begin."

"Honestly, I don't know where to start, but you and I, Ike, were on a mission."

"Love this story already," Junior commented, and I shushed him.

"I'm afraid of your reactions because of the Memory Loss, but our mission was to kill Tabuu."

"The Lord of this world!?" I cried, "Why!?"

Pit glared at me, "That's just it! He's not the ruler of this world! I don't have time for details, but in short, he isn't even from this world! Tabuu was the one that caused the Memory Loss five years ago in order to make us think that he was our ruler. Meanwhile, our real Leaders are being kept hidden away from the outside world…"

"It can't be, "I said, "There's no way you're saying the truth. How could you be?"

Pit stared at the table. There was a coffee stain there that I had forgotten to clean up. It had long dried and was now a shapeless form on the wooden surface. Pit stared at it as if it was the most interesting thing in the world, "You see, I still have my memories from before the Memory Loss." Junior and I gaped at him; Ike looked mildly confused not knowing what the Memory Loss was. "It's how I know all of it to be true…Tabuu plans on taking this world into his own realm, ultimately destroying the land as we know it. That's why Ike and I were after the four keys that unlock the gate to the Imperial Tower where Tabuu lives."

Junior frowned, "The four keys? But they're easy to get, aren't they?"

Pit smiled sourly, "It should be, shouldn't? Tabuu knew what Ike and I were planning, and so he sent the Originals after us."

"The Originals?"Junior frowned at the unknown term.

"The first twelve creations of Tabuu," I said.

Pit shook his head, "Not Tabuu, Master Hand. He's our real Leader and Creator," Pit explained further, "You're all aware that we are trophies, right? The first twelve that were created are known as the Originals. They served as the basic model for all the other trophies Master Hand would create. That's the reason why they are considered so highly of, because we are based off of them. They're also respected because of their fighting ability…"

"Are they strong?" Junior asked.

"No duh, they've been here the longest," Junior's face got red in embarrassment and Pit noticed, "Sorry," he apologized, "It's just… Ike, I believe—no— I'm sure it was an Original that knocked you out in the Fields."

"I believe you," he said simply, and I looked down in shame.

"It's hard to believe," I said, "But an angel wouldn't lie…" I looked at Pit's blank face, "I… I believe you, too."

Ike got up, and I got out of the way so he could pass, "I think we've rested long enough. Shall we set off?"

Pit nodded and Junior got out of his seat in order for Pit to get out as well, "Yeah, Say, Peach, Junior, I have a proposal."

"Yes?" I asked. "Would you and Junior come with us? I think we would have a better chance succeeding if we had more people."

"YE—" Junior began, but I cut him off.

"Absolutely not!"

Junior looked at me as if I killed his pet puppy, "Mom!"

I tried reasoning with him, "It's dangerous, especially with the Originals after them!"

"I…I HATE YOU!" Junior ran up the stairs to his room, slamming the door shut.

"Oh dear…"

Pit looked around nervously, "We'll be stocking up on items, so in case you change your mind…"

I shook my head, "My mind is set." Pit nodded and waved goodbye as he and Ike left the bakery. Ike looked at me as if he wanted to say something, but instead followed Pit out.

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The best way to make a man forgive you is by pleasing his stomach… or something like that. I was making custard, a favorite of Junior's. It took a couple of hours, but after I finished I called Junior. I waited for a moment before I decided to go to his room with the custard in hand. I walked up the stairs and knocked on his door. He was giving me the silent treatment so I opened the door, "Junior, I made—" I dropped the bowl, the custard falling on the carpet. Junior was gone, and I was able to guess where he went. I ran out of the house, the open window vivid in my mind.

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"Junior!" I ran to the item shop, but the owner said that Pit and Ike had already left. He had not seen Junior. I sprinted to the gates, where I saw Pit and Ike with Junior, heading out to the Fields. "Junior!" He actually walked faster when he heard me, and I got his wrist when I caught up to him. I stared accusingly at Pit and Ike, "What kind of people are you!? Kidnapping my son!?"

Pit looked at me confused, "What? But Junior told us that you changed your mind."

I looked at my son, "Junior? What the hell!"

"I want to go!" he cried.

"Well, too bad! You're staying!" I started dragging him back towards the town.

"Why don't you stay!? I know the reason why you don't wanna go is because you're hoping Dad will come back."

He spat the words out like poison and I froze. "No," I said, and Junior struggled to loosen my grip, "What kind of person do you take me for? I know very well your father is never coming back."

"Then why!? Give me a reason, and I might stay!"

I looked at him and he stopped squirming when he saw tears in my eyes. I couldn't see his expression because my vision was blurred. That was a good question. Why did I not want him to go? Sure, it would be dangerous, but even I knew it went beyond that. Junior thought that it was because of his Father… maybe he was right. Maybe it was because of him, but not because I was hoping he'd come back. It was because Junior reminds me so much of him. His personality, his overall appearance, and finally, leaving. That's it. That was why I didn't want him to go. I didn't want to be alone, "I don't want you to leave me, too…"

"Mom…"Junior's voice softened, "Fine, I'll stay."

"No," I rubbed my eyes, "You could go… but I have to come, too."

I looked at Junior, and I could see his mouth widen in a huge smile, "Really!?" I nodded and Junior cheered. Ike began walking away from the gate and Junior followed him, "Ike, my Mom said I can go!"

Pit walked towards me and asked, "So what changed your mind?"

I thought about it, "I think it will be a good experience for Junior, and… it makes him happy."

"I'm glad."

Pit followed Ike and Junior, and I followed him. I looked back towards the town; it never appeared so small up until now. A breeze went by. I couldn't help but feel that I would come to regret this decision.