Author's Disclaimer: I do not own Super Smash Bros or any of the characters involved in it. I am earning no profit from this story, other than the enjoyment of writing it and sharing it with others! I hope you all enjoy reading it!

Link's face had turned deathly pale. He remained bowed, his eyes glazed over, his focus on something only he could see.

Zelda ran to his side, throwing her arms around him. "It'll be okay, Link," she whispered, shaking his shoulders gently. "It'll be alright."

Link shook his head slowly. "For you, perhaps."

"He'll remember," Palutena breathed. "Zelda, he'll remember the fight."

Zelda's grip on her knight tightened. "O-oh. That's right, isn't it?"

Link removed her fingers from his shoulders and stood up. "Well. Nothing to do but get it over with." He smoothed the fear from his face and allowed color back into his cheeks. If he was anything, it was stubborn. He wouldn't let Master Hand know how upset he was.

"Are you sure you'll be fine?" Zelda asked quietly.

"Positive," Link replied. "Let us go get ready."

"We'll make sure you both get potions," Palutena promised. "Go on."

Toon Link gave both of them tight hugs before allowing them to leave. They walked up the stairs together, both of them with sagging shoulders and uneasy expressions.

"I can't believe that glove," Young Link muttered.

"Don't pretend you're surprised," Cloud said.

Young Link scoffed. "Of course I'm not surprised. That doesn't make it any better."

"There's nothing we can do about it," Shulk said. "Let's just head upstairs." Everyone nodded, and they all walked to the staircase. Shulk led them absentmindedly to his room, letting everyone inside. Toon Link sat on the end of the bed and Palutena sat beside him. Cloud leaned against the wall, crossing his arms over his chest. Looks like that was the end of today's fun.

"Oh, don't do that," Young Link scolded him. "We were having fun five minutes ago. Don't go back to sulking."

Cloud rolled his eyes. "You got a better idea?"

"Focus on the bright side," Pit suggested. "Our attack is so close, Cloud! Less than two weeks!"

"I'll be spending most of that time in the torture room," Cloud said darkly.

"When you wake up, most of the waiting will be done," Palutena pointed out. "We'll figure out what to do about Sephiroth while he and you are stuck. And then we'll launch our attack and get out of here."

"This will work," Shulk said firmly. "It's the best plan we've ever had."

"You haven't had visions of it failing yet, have you?" Robin asked.

Shulk shook his head. "None but that one where we didn't have Sephiroth."

"That's a good sign," Young Link said.

Shulk nodded.

"Focus on that," Pit said to Cloud. "We're getting out of here soon! You can go home and see your kids and Tifa!"

Cloud nodded slowly.

"Pit's right," Shulk agreed. "Until tomorrow, try to relax."

Cloud forced himself to agree, but that was an impossible request. While Link and Zelda fought, the others just kind of milled around Shulk's room. Toon Link got Palutena, Robin, Pit, and Shulk to play a board game. Young Link and Cloud opted out. They had too many players otherwise, and neither of them really wanted to play. Cloud watched, but his thoughts were elsewhere. This morning had been fun, Young Link hadn't been lying about that. Driving the Master Cycle Zero around had been pretty awesome. But that fun had ended now. The only thing that lied ahead was Cloud's imminent torture. He was dreading it. He hated the inevitability of it. He would fight as hard as he could against Sephiroth's control, just as he always had, but it wouldn't get him anywhere. He was impossibly bound by Jenova, and it was infuriating. Which didn't help his current predicament of trying not to be angry.

Once Link and Zelda were let out, the group split up to get them potions. The second Link saw Zelda again, he collapsed as the memory returned to him. It was painful to watch. His eyes open and yet void, his expression perfectly blank, his body contorting every time he took an imaginary blow. He screamed a lot, his hands squeezing his stomach so tightly that Palutena had to physically force him to let go lest he choke himself. It went on for several minutes. He screamed and thrashed and Zelda stood with a hand over her mouth trying not to cry, knowing that she had done that to him.

When Link woke up, apologies were muttered, he insisted he was fine, and the day went on. Link let Cloud use his motorcycle until dinnertime. It was pretty entertaining, and it really did help take his mind off of Sephiroth and his psychotic plan. But when dinner began and the one-winged angel made his nightly appearance, Cloud's pleasant mood soured yet again. Time was running out. His own body would be taken from him yet again, and he would be forcefully enslaved by his nemesis.

Dinner was filled with assurances and insistence to forget about it. Cloud eventually ignored everyone. Positivity had gotten him as far as it could. Tomorrow was coming, no matter how many optimistic words everyone had to say, and Cloud would have to deal with it.

Cloud excused himself from dinner as soon as he was done eating, went upstairs, and got in bed. His sleep that night was torturous. Visions of being controlled, of watching Aerith die at his own hands, of remembering Zack bleeding out on that cliff haunted him for hours. He spent a lot of time awake, staring at the ceiling, some insatiable exhaustion pulling him back to sleep and nightmares again. He tossed and turned for what felt like eternity. Eventually he woke up and got out of bed, refusing to try and sleep any longer. What did it matter if he was tired tomorrow?

Get back to bed, Sephiroth's voice commanded him.

"Sounds like you aren't sleeping either," Cloud spit.

As if I require as much sleep as you do. My body doesn't need rest like yours. Get back to bed.

"What are you going to do about it?" Cloud demanded, getting up and walking to his door. "You can't hurt me."

Not now. But I will tomorrow. My control over you doesn't have to be gentle.

"I'll perform worse in combat if I'm in pain."

No, you won't. Nothing you do will be of your own command.

"I'm not going back to bed. You're not in charge of me."

Naughty little puppet.

Mewtwo pressed into Cloud's mind, the psychic Pokemon's connection frayed with urgency. Do not sleep, Cloud Strife. Your nightmares are of his own design. He's been in your head all night. Go see- the rest of the sentence was cut off as Sephiroth shoved Mewtwo out of Cloud's head.

I need you angry, Cloud, Sephiroth explained. So, yes. I have been in your head all night. I won't deny that.

"Well, I'm not going back to bed," Cloud decided. Tomorrow would hurt no matter what. Right here, right now, he could actually do something to prevent his own pain. For now, he had free will. And he was going to make the most of it. Mewtwo had been going to tell him to see somebody, presumably. Who could help him in a situation like this?

He didn't have to figure it out. Shulk came hurrying up the stairs, the Monado in his hand and panic in his eyes. He spotted Cloud and relaxed just a little, running to him and returning his sword to his back. "There you are! You're already awake. Good."

"What's going on? What did you see?"

"You can't sleep tonight, Cloud," Shulk said, clutching Cloud's shoulders tightly.

Cloud pulled away from the physical contact. "What did you see, Shulk?"

"Sephiroth. He's been giving you nightmares all night. You can't sleep. He'll make you angry. I-I..I saw...it was…"

"Slow down. What happens?"

"If you go back to bed after Mewtwo warns you...I don't know what Sephiroth shows you, but you wake up and your Limit is already broken. The attack on Master Hand and Crazy Hand...they both bleed. You get put in the torture room for two weeks, Cloud. You know what that means, right?"

Cloud paled. "The attack…"

"We'll have to wait even longer. Not to mention you don't want to get stuck in there for that long. So you can't sleep anymore tonight. I'll help you stay up, but this future won't be easy to change."

"What time is it?" Cloud asked, already reaching for his clock. 2:43am. He had to force himself awake for another four hours. He was already tired; riding around all day did require a lot of energy, especially all the crazy tricks he'd pulled, and he hadn't gotten any rest since he'd gone to bed due to Sephiroth's nightmares.

"We've got a long night ahead of us," Shulk said.

Cloud nodded.

Foolish. Your seer is foolish.

Cloud grit his teeth.

"Is he in your head?"

Cloud nodded.

"Zelda can help. She knows some telepathy. Not much, but maybe enough."

"Not even Mewtwo can do anything about it."

"Mewtwo hasn't got the Triforce of Wisdom."

"Fair point."

They got up and left Cloud's room. Sephiroth remained silent, but Cloud could just feel his disapproval. Cloud forced himself to ignore it, focusing on following Shulk down the dark stairs. They reached the second floor and knocked on Zelda's door. Nobody replied, so they assumed the princess was asleep. Shulk opened it quietly and approached the princess, shaking her awake slowly. Cloud stood in the doorway, pinching his nose and trying to ignore the headache Sephiroth was giving him.

Zelda blinked her eyes open. Seeing Shulk standing there, she threw her blankets off of herself and stood up. "What's going on?" she demanded, nervousness evident in her tone.

"Cloud can't go to sleep tonight," Shulk replied. He explained what he'd told Cloud already, and added that Sephiroth was still in the ex-mercenary's head. "We were hoping you could help."

"I can try," Zelda replied. "But if even Mewtwo couldn't, I'm not sure how helpful I'll be."

"Just try," Cloud said.

The princess's power is nothing compared to mine. You know that.

"Shut up."

"What's he saying?" Shulk questioned.

"Just making fun of you both."

"If he's in your head, Cloud, he knows what Shulk saw," Zelda said, gesturing for Cloud to sit next to her on the bed. He did as he was ordered, and she rested a hand on his forehead.

"So?"

"He knows his attack fails. He knows it won't work."

"Maybe he just doesn't trust me," Shulk shrugged.

"No, that's not it," Cloud replied. "He can see through me how many times you've been right."

"That's a lot of memories to go through," Shulk argued. "None of which are good emotional blackmail."

"Who cares, I guess?" Cloud mumbled. "We know what he's doing, who cares why he's doing it?"

Zelda nodded. There might be some kind of bigger game being played here, but clearly they weren't about to figure it out. Their attack on Master Hand would come before Sephiroth could really execute any long-term plan anyway. Cloud just had to trust his allies would figure out some way to get Sephiroth on their side.

No amount of bribery will ever sway me. And none of them have approached me. My loyalty is not yours, nor will it ever be.

"I'm not worried about it," Cloud replied. "I trust them, not you."

"Hush, Cloud," Zelda commanded, pressing hard against his skin. She closed her eyes, her finger shaking, the Triforce emblem on the back of her hand glowing brightly. Golden power lit up her entire hand, and she shoved it into Cloud's head. He felt dizzy for a moment, but more importantly he felt Sephiroth's grip on his mind loosening. Shulk caught him as his balance failed, even sitting down, and for a moment Cloud relished in the silence of his own mind. But he grimaced when after the sensation subsided, Sephiroth returned.

"Didn't work," Cloud mumbled, pressing a hand against his temples.

"Did it help at all?" Zelda asked, breathing hard from the effort.

"For a second."

"Well, I can't do that all night," Zelda said.

"Don't worry about it," Cloud shrugged. "I won't be falling asleep, that's for sure."

Shulk nodded. "That's what matters most. Come on, I'll take you back to your room. We'll leave you alone, Zelda."

"I want to help," she said firmly. "We need to change this future if we want to attack on time. So I'll help."

"Then we'll stay here," Cloud said. He got up and leaned against the wall. "We'll stay here."

Get back to bed.

"What are you going to do about it?"

I don't need you asleep to torture you.

"Do your worst."

Your children. It's been two and a half years. Plenty of time for a nine-year-old to become much older.

"Don't listen to him, Cloud," Zelda said. "Let's talk."

"For four hours?"

"I can go downstairs and get a record player," Shulk volunteered.

Cloud nodded. He didn't listen to music often, but it was better than sitting in silence.

I'm sure they all think you're dead. I'm sure they've moved on. Maybe Tifa found someone who actually is willing to love her.

"Good for her," Cloud spit, though that thought did hurt him.

"Stay calm," Zelda said, getting up and clutching his arm. "Don't let him win. Shulk will be right back."

Always depending on others. Too weak to care for yourself. That's the way it's always been. You needed Zack when you were an infantryman. You needed Aerith after you forgot about Zack. And you needed Tifa during the pandemic. All for what? To save you from yourself? Because you're too weak to live on your own? Why are you worth all that saving?

Zelda sat Cloud down and started humming something, a lively tune that she'd probably heard in Castle Town one day five years ago. "Come on," she said. "Join in."

Cloud crossed his arms over his chest.

"Better than listening to him."

That was true. So Cloud paid attention to the tune until he figured out its cycle and then jumped in. Zelda smiled, nodding in encouragement. They kept at it until Shulk returned. Sephiroth's voice was quieted as Cloud had something else to distract him. Shulk got back and turned on the record player, placing his selected disc in place and letting the music play. It was a fast song, with a lot of electric guitar and drums and words. Cloud could listen to this for a while. Rock music, Shulk called it. The three got settled, listening to the fast-paced song and trying to keep themselves awake.

They got through the album the first time without anyone falling asleep. Shulk put it on again, and Cloud started to feel tired. He'd heard all these songs, and now his brain was willing to tune them out and let him rest. Because he was exhausted, and he did need it. Well, he wasn't going to let himself fall asleep. He shifted positions, twisting his back so that he was uncomfortable, and went back to listening to the music.

But he couldn't just sit for another few hours in an uncomfortable position. So he stood up, leaning against the wall, trying to keep his eyes open. Shulk stood up too, turning the lights on to make it even harder to fall asleep. It took them a moment to adjust to the light. But once they had, it was no longer helpful. Zelda's eyes slipped closed and Cloud shook her awake. She mumbled an apology, her eyelids fluttering and her eyes glazed over.

"You can go to bed," Cloud said. "Shulk and I can do this."

She shook her head, standing up as well. "I will help."

She seemed to have her mind set, so Cloud quit arguing. They stood for a while, but the exhaustion was hard to ignore. Cloud found himself falling asleep, saved only by Shulk pulling on his arm.

"We can't do this all night," Zelda yawned. "How long has it been?"

"Half an hour."

The princess groaned.

But she was right. There was no way they could manually keep themselves awake all night. But who to ask for help? Who could help them stay awake all night? Somebody who knew magic, possibly, but Zelda was quite knowledgeable on the subject and she had no suggestions. "Let's go see, Link," Zelda said.

"Why?" Shulk demanded. "Don't you want to let your boyfriend sleep?"

"I mean, of course. But he might be able to help."

"How?" Cloud asked.

"Not only can he cook regular food, but he's also quite talented at making elixirs. He's told me a little about them. Evidently there are a lot, for a lot of random things; healing, naturally, but also making your movements quieter, extra strength, tougher skin, and resistance to the elements. With all that, maybe he's got one that has something to do with energy."

"Worth a shot," Shulk agreed. He removed the disc from the record player and turned it off. They turned the lights off and then made the trip up to the third floor, where Link's room was. And also where Sephiroth's room was.

"Maybe I should wait here," Cloud said when they reached the top floor.

"Good idea," Shulk agreed.

Scared, Cloud? Afraid I might hurt you?

"No. On second thought, I'll come."

"Don't fall for it," Zelda said. "Who cares what he thinks of you? We know you're strong. This isn't about strength."

Cloud nodded slowly. "Fine."

Zelda and Shulk left him by the stairwell, advancing to Link's room.

The girl lies, surely. You are not strong. Sure, you can do things nobody should be able to. But you owe that to our mother, just as I do. Without her, you are nothing. All you ever wanted was to join SOLDIER, don't you remember? Because without Jenova cells or mako energy, you are useless.

"That thing is not my mother," Cloud muttered.

They left you alone. Without them, what if you fall asleep? The visionary's future will unfold, just as he saw it.

"So, you do believe him. You know exactly what's going to happen to us tomorrow."

Sephiroth didn't reply. He pressed his own fatigue into Cloud's mind, and suddenly Cloud's exhaustion became almost unbearable. He had never felt so tired in his life. His hands shook and his legs failed him. He fell to the ground, his eyelids feeling heavily weighted. Just a few more seconds. This conversation wouldn't take long. He could...he could stay awake…

Sephiroth pressed harder. Tiredness covered Cloud like a warm blanket. He was tired. What was wrong with sleeping again? His eyes fell closed. His head hit the ground. Just a quick second. Then he'd wake up again...because...he needed to? But why? He was so tired. Why couldn't he rest?

"Cloud!" someone's voice screamed. Footsteps approached him, and then someone was shaking him and Sephiroth let up.

Cloud's eyes snapped open and he sat up, knocking heads with Link as he did so. They both sat rubbing at their skulls for a moment, Shulk crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at Cloud. "We left you for two minutes!"

See? They don't trust you. Why should they?

"Blame Sephiroth," Cloud muttered.

"Did he make you more tired?" Zelda questioned.

"He hasn't slept tonight either. He's tired too. Not as much as us, but at least somewhat. He pressed his exhaustion on me."

Shulk relaxed. That made sense. "Oh. Sorry for yelling."

"It's alright," Cloud replied, dragging himself off the floor and yawning. He was still tired. So were Shulk and Zelda, and they hadn't been tossing and turning all night. Link looked okay. His blue eyes were wide open and alert. Maybe it had been a good idea to call on him, even if he couldn't help with an elixir.

"I understand the situation," Link began. "And I can help. Zelda guessed correctly. I have an elixir that will rid us four of our exhaustion."

"Any penalties for that?" Shulk asked.

Link nodded. "I do not do it often, because the riddance is temporary. When it wears off in six hours, that tiredness crashes into you like a wave. Additionally, it continues to accumulate naturally without us noticing. So by tomorrow morning when its effect ends…"

"We're going to be dead tired," Zelda concluded.

Link nodded.

"That's fine with me," Cloud said. "You guys don't need to take one. I can stay awake by myself if my exhaustion is gone."

"We're not leaving you alone with him in your head," Zelda objected. "Make four of them, Link."

Link nodded. "I will do it downstairs. Follow me."

They walked down the stairs and into the main room. It wasn't illegal to be awake in the middle of the night. Just...nobody ever was. It got too dark to play cards, the robots didn't have sports set up outside, so there really wasn't anything worth doing after the sun went down. The robots stationed around the room watched the four closely, their programming noting that an excursion like this was unusual, and that the last time there had been people awake at like 3am, an attack had followed. But again, it wasn't breaking any rules, so the robots left them alone.

Link set up his cooking pot, letting Zelda light it for him with magic. Then he went about dumping a bunch of ingredients in the pot. Cloud wished he hadn't been watching. An old bat's wing, some kind of monster's guts, and a couple crickets. All of it was melted down into this green liquid that looked something like vomit and smelled just as bad. Shulk had a look of disgust on his face, and Cloud guessed he was thinking the same thing.

"You don't have to drink this," Cloud insisted.

"Nonsense," Shulk replied easily. "We won't leave you to deal with Sephiroth alone."

As if their presence matters. You are the only one who can hear me.

"Yes, because your telepathy sucks."

Unimportant. I only need you. Tomorrow is important. It must go as planned.

"You know it won't."

You're assuming that as planned means success.

"What in the world are you playing at?"

Too many questions. A good puppet stays silent and lets his master do the thinking. I am much better at it. Don't forget how thoroughly you were scolded on the day you came to see me. And then you tripped down the stairs in your anger.

"Thank you for pointing that out. I can remember that on my own."

Oh, really? Would you like to remember something else, then? Sephiroth tore through Cloud's memories, sending him falling to the ground as his head exploded in pain and old memories resurfaced in the forefront of his mind. Flashes of Tifa and Denzel and Marlene. Barret. Vincent. Cait Sith. Aerith. Zack. Sephiroth found what he was looking for.

"So, you want to be in SOLDIER? Hang in there."

"Get out of my head!" Cloud screamed.

"Get it together, Cloud," Zelda said, resting a hand on his shoulder. "Snap out of it, come on."

"We're friends, right?"

Friends. But you let him die.

"Embrace your dreams. And, whatever happens, protect your honor...as SOLDIER! Come and get it!"

Cloud shoved Zelda off himself and shivered as he watched through his mind's eye Zack fighting in vain against the entirety of Shinra's army. He took care of a great deal of men, and had he had any backup he just might've won. But it was hundreds of men against a single SOLDIER. It was not a fight he could have possibly won. Cloud's memory of this was fuzzy. It was the first thing he awoke to after four years of being in a coma. And he almost wished he'd slept through it. Zack started strong, dashing from target to target and using the Buster Sword to block the incoming bullets. He took a shot in the shoulder and switched his blade to his off hand. He took a bullet to the knee and suddenly walking was a chore. Someone hit him over the head with his gun when he got too close. And yet, he fought on.

What would you say, Cloud? Would you say he became a hero?

"Stop this, Sephiroth. Leave me alone."

Someone was pressing something into his hands. His hazy vision cleared and he saw Link standing there, presenting him with a glass of the disgusting elixir. "Drink," he commanded coldly. The others already had theirs in hand too.

"On three?" Shulk asked with a grimace on his face.

Zelda nodded.

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

The four of them raised their glasses to their lips and quickly downed the thick liquid. Cloud almost choked. It was chunky, as though not all the components had been fully dissolved. But he forced himself to swallow the entire glass, forced himself to get it all down. Shulk gagged, but he too made himself drink. Link finished easily, putting his glass aside and watching as the others struggled to get it down. Zelda choked. She plugged her nose and then tried again, this time with more success.

Cloud poured the last drop down his throat and then handed the empty glass off to Link. Only a second later, he could feel the elixir's effect. His exhaustion vanished. He felt ready to run a marathon. Not only was he not tired, he felt like he had extra energy. He rolled his shoulders, already feeling much better. Now if only Sephiroth would shut up.

Looks like you won't be returning to bed tonight.

Cloud ignored him.

A shame. Tomorrow will be quite torturous.

"It was going to be no matter what I did."

I am looking forward to it.

"You're crazy."

"Cloud," Zelda said, handing off her glass, "stop listening to him. It's only hurting you."

Cloud clenched his jaw. "Yes, you've told me that. It isn't like I want to listen. But it's hard to ignore when he's in my head all the time!" Blue flames licked at his skin. His Limit was breaking.

"Cloud, come on," Shulk said. "You have to calm down. You have to."

Good, Cloud. Very good. I like that hatred. Keep fueling it.

Cloud focused on taking deep breaths, trying to quell the fire that clung to his body.

"You need to be calm tomorrow," Shulk said firmly. "If you want to be in the torture room for as little time as possible, you need to be calm."

Cloud nodded. What was it Tifa always said when he was angry for no reason? Dilly-dally shilly-shally. That was it. That helped. He could hear her saying that, scolding him for being upset or pushing people away.

Aerith's voice combined with Tifa's, eventually overruling it, repeating the same phrase. "I never blamed you. Not once. You came for me. That's all that matters."

"Well. Okay," Zack chimed in, "you never made SOLDIER. But it's what's in here that counts."

Cloud took deep breaths. The flames of his Limit died down. Shulk relaxed. Zelda relaxed. Link nodded in approval.

"We're getting out in less than two weeks," Zelda said. "What will you do when we get out?"

Cloud considered the question.

You will not be escaping. You don't have my support, and without me you're doomed to fail.

"I'm going to find Tifa and Denzel and Marlene. And I'm going to hug them so tightly they can't breathe and apologize for leaving them for so long."

Zelda smiled. "Sounds wonderful."

They stood in an awkward circle and took turns discussing their post-mansion plans. None of it was any new conversation, they'd talked about it before. But it was still a positive thing to hear. The way Shulk's face lit up as he talked about Fiora. The way Zelda so clearly wanted to return to her people and ensure their well-being without a ruler. Link stayed quiet through most of this, as usual, insisting that he wasn't sure what he was going to do. He had qualms about his old position; just following the princess of Hyrule around all day and never saying a word, as he put it, but what else could he do?

The conversation almost silenced Sephiroth's voice. He was still there, and Cloud could definitely still hear him, but it was easier to ignore. He didn't pay attention to the memories that were swirling around in his head, regardless of how painful they were. He talked loudly, almost yelling over his own telepathic intruder. The others didn't complain, Shulk raising his voice to match Cloud's.

For hours, they sat and talked. The conversation lulled sometimes, but when Sephiroth started talking Cloud would bring something new up. They would discuss that until it got dry and then they'd find a new subject of conversation. Motorcycles, sword techniques, magic, materia, ether, they talked about anything that could be thought of. None of their conversations were meaningful, but they were distracting, and Cloud needed distracting.

Finally, the sun started coming up. Cloud was not angry. His Limit was not broken. He was amused by Link's latest attempt at understanding modern technology. Shulk had explained what a microwave was, and Link just couldn't seem to understand that it could be used to instantly apply heat to cold food.

"But how does it work?" Link demanded. "I do not get it."

"It uses radiation," Shulk explained. "To make the food hot."

"But radiation is bad," Link objected. He glanced at Cloud. "Is that not what made you so sick during your journey?"

"That was mako poisoning," Cloud replied. "From direct contact with the Lifestream."

"So radiation isn't bad?"

"No, it is," Shulk replied. "That's why you get sunburns. It's when you stay out in the sun too long and the UV radiation damages your skin."

"Then why are we putting it in our food? That we eat?" Link questioned, his tone suggested frustration. This was impossibly confusing.

Zelda laughed at him.

He glared at her.

Cloud shook his head in amusement. He supposed he could be thankful he had friends like this.