I hear the faint graze of sand against polished wood.

"Fuckin' finally, looks like I'm here."

I stand up, the boat I rode tilting ever so slightly under the shifting of my weight.

After many boring hours of travelling in the vast ocean on this tiny boat, my body's feeling a bit tense and pent-up from a lack of... well, anything. I put my arms up to the sky, yawning and giving myself the biggest stretch I've had in hours.

In front of me is a vast expanse of greenery past the beach I rocked up on.

I look down to my side, seeing my treasured sword (actually, it's more like a rapier, but whatever) laying down on the side of the boat alongside a bag of other essentials like food, toiletries, money, and personal keepsakes I like to imagine as good luck charms.

Picking my sword up, I hold it out in front of me in admiration. It's a nifty and fine piece of work, which I personally commissioned a blacksmith to make. It has a bee motif going on, with the blade being shaped like a stinger and the hilt having a striped black-and-yellow pattern on it, just like my own clothing.

Looking back again to the land in front of me, I remember the task at hand.

Something's happening in the land of Miitopia, and it is absolutely not pretty.

Sword on my side, bag on my back, I venture out into the plains of Miitopia. I take a glance at a map I was given, so that I could hopefully get a better grasp of where I'm going. Miitopia seems to be comprised of ten distinct regions, each with vastly different geography and cultures. Going by my own judgement and observational skills, I'm in Greenhorne, the south-westernmost area of Miitopia. There seems to be a town to my northeast, and a whole castle further past.

After about an hour of walking, I see a cluster of houses not too far away over a hill. Going by my own judgement and observational skills, this looks like the town I've seen on the map. Sure enough, getting closer lets me make out the light bustle of townsfolk as I approach the town. I'm not entirely sure what the people are like and whether they accept visitors, but it'd be worth a try getting some information from them about what urgent situations have been going on in Miitopia. Something about a Dark Lord stealing faces, but I gotta make sure for myself.

It's not long before I catch a look from a relaxed-looking townsperson. He eagerly paces towards me with a bright smile on his face.

"Ah, a visitor! It's been a long, long while since we've had one of those. Welcome to Greenhorne, the most peaceful place in Miitopia!"

I raise an eyebrow and look around the village in front of me.

"Peaceful, huh..."

It does seem that way. Jolly townsfolk are going about their day-to-day activities with no apparent care for whatever could threaten them. The houses look a bit plain, but they look decently built. I see posts with lanterns hanging off them to lit up the streets when night approaches. Over all, it looks like a typical grassland village that I'd hear about in countless tales.

"That's right! For hundreds of years, Greenhorne hasn't been threatened even once, and that's something we take pride in, aye!"

I raise an eyebrow, a bit confused on why that's a thing to be proud about.

"Ya sure? 'Cuz I've been hearin' about some menace goin' around Miitopia and stealin' people's faces."

The man looks up in thought for a moment, then shakes his head.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about... Could that be why you came here, traveller?"

I notice that he's taking a glance at my sword and biceps. Fair enough, I'm wearing a sleeveless top.

"Yup. I'm here to see if what I've been hearin' is actually real."

The man shakes his head again.

"Perhaps you must've heard a folklore tale? I know Peculia has a lot of those."

I recognise the name from the map, but I remember that it's way over on the other side of Miitopia. Getting there would take weeks, if not months. I shrug.

"Could be. I just wanna make sure for myself, 'cuz it did seem pretty urgent."

The man then turns toward the town. "In that case, you could try talking to our mayor. He does have connections, after all."

I nod, seeing no alternative. "Worth a try, I guess."

For the next 15 minutes, the man guided me around the town, pointing out various shops and points of interest. He introduced himself as Chilton, the town's representative for guiding travellers and visitors around Greenhorne. Just as I saw from the outside, it's a quaint, busy, but happy town. I'm not sure how to feel about this place though, what with the complete isolation from other civilisation and the oddly high-spiritedness of the townsfolk, but it might be something I'll just have to get used to. As we walked past a shop, a chipper old lady greeted us and commented on how "bee-YEW-tiful" the day is. Makes me wonder how prepared they are for any enemies like the Dark Lord, seeing as they don't have any proper guard... unless Chilton is secretly a really good fighter or something.

"Good morning, traveler! I take it that Chilton has showed you around Greenhorne?"

Chilton brings me to the mayor's house, which is fairly bigger than most of the other houses around. Once the door opens, I'm greeted to the sight of the mayor. He's a bit short and meek, though his person exudes a certain air of authority just from the fairly high clothes he's wearing.

"Yeah, seems like a pretty nice place you're runnin'. Everyone's real friendly, just like Chilton here is."

The mayor nods, puffing his chest proudly. "Splendid! As expected from my rule."

He then extends an open hand towards me. "I am Doofus, mayor of Greenhorne Town. It's a pleasure to meet a visitor after so long."

I almost do a double take there, what a name, for the mayor, no less! Maybe the naming culture is different here in Miitopia, or the word 'doofus' at least has a more positive connotation.

Either way, I brush off my disbelief for now, taking Doofus' hand and giving it a handshake.

"The name's Dusty. I'm a travellin' warrior, just chasin' down a potential threat."

Doofus raises his brows, seemingly curious about what I'm talking about.

"A potential threat, you say? That is quite an alarming tidbit, as a mayor."

I put my arms on the back of my head, looking aside momentarily.

"From what I've heard, yeah. I don't know how true it is, but better safe than sorry, ya know?"

Doofus nods in understanding. His tone is a bit reserved after hearing this news. "Perhaps we can discuss this further over tea and biscuits? You must be parched and peckish after a lot of walking, Dusty."

I do notice that my mouth is getting a bit dry, a little tea break won't hurt. I give him a smile. "I wouldn't mind. Thanks, mayor."

Before heading inside, Doofus turns toward Chilton. "Thank you for guiding Miss Dusty around town, Chilton. I'm sure she really appreciates it."

I nod, maintaining a smile. "Yeah, I really appreciate it. Thanks, Chilton."

Chilton salutes, giving us a bright smile. "I'm glad I was of help, Dusty! I wish you good luck on your travels, and I'm sure we shall meet again."

I nod. "Same to you. See ya later!"

Chilton heads off after waving goodbye, and me and Doofus turn back to each other. "Now, shall we head inside?"

As I've expected, Doofus' house is rather spacious and pointedly bigger than most of the other townsfolk's homes, which is more or less what I expected to see. The house is mildly decorated with clean-looking ornaments and personal articles. It's not over-the-top royal or anything, but definitely enough to let the average everyman know that Doofus is of a higher standing in Greenhorne's social hierarchy.

Doofus guides me to the dining table, which looks squeaky clean and polished. As I sit down on a chair and leave my belongings beside me, he heads to the kitchen area and begins to fix up some tea. Personally, I'm not really that big on tea, but I do appreciate the gesture.

"So, Dusty, what's this I hear of a potential threat?"

I look up towards Doofus, who's carefully pouring tea into his and my cup. Thinking back to when I first heard of the Dark Lord, I begin to remember the details.

I took a sip of my mocha, enjoying a break after a long and boring day of work. I work as a salesperson at a flower store, so I'm the one who has to deal with customers, and that gets very tiring very quick. I was at the Pale Froggy Cafe, where the owner, Fritz, knows me decently well. I'm a regular here.

Reflecting on how I could've treated that customer a teeny bit better earlier that day, I heard the creak of the entrance door before a soothing chime as someone made their way in.

"Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the Pale Froggy."

Cleaning up the mess from a particularly rowdy group of customers who left as I came in, Fritz looked up to see a seemingly panicked man.

"Bad news, It's urgent! You must hear!"

Normally nothing quite like this happens in a place as calm as here, so naturally I turned my head toward his direction to listen in as well. Fritz raised an eyebrow, also curious about whatever this urgency could be.

"People's faces are starting to go missing! I-I saw it myself! A shadowy figure, draped in a cloak of darkness... It's the thing solely responsible!"

Fritz looked a bit unconvinced, which I didn't blame him for. It was a story that seemed a bit too out there to be true.

But then again...

Nothing but pure horror was written on this guy's face. A look that sent alarms ringing, alarms that told me that he was being genuine, and this shit was real.

"That can't be true... How would anything be able to pull that?"

Fritz set aside a glass and leaned forward, staring directly at the man, who's started gripping his cranium in desperation.

"I-I don't know! Just, p-please, spread the word and help put a stopper to this... menace!"

A few seconds passed by, with Fritz turning back towards me.

"...Dusty."

"Eh?"

"I know you're strong. You can fight, right?"

"So ya think he's tellin' the truth?"

Fritz nodded his head, and at this point, I knew it's go time.

"Good, now we're talkin' my language."

"You... did have proof, right?"

Doofus fixates on me, no doubt a little bit skeptical after my info dump.

"Yup. Got it right here."

I reach down, undoing the seal keeping my bag closed. Reaching for a compartment on the side, I feel the paperiness of my evidence. Slipping it out of my bag before closing it back up, I lay the papers down on the table in front of me.

"Oh my goodness gracious..."

It's a bunch of photos of limping, faceless people. Even now, looking at them myself gives me so much chills...

"That- It can't be real...!"

I nod, a bit regretful that it's gotta be me of all people to break it to him.

"Unfortunately it is, I made sure to get pictures before I left. I talked to a bunch of eyewitnesses, and they all said that this monster was headed towards this. Very. Miitopia."

Doofus looks pretty speechless. He takes a moment before putting his head in his hand. I then realise how dumb and presumptuous this all sounds.

"Or... you know, This could've all been done elaborate prank, ya never-"

Piercing throughout the town air is a shrill and mortifying scream that, after seconds, transforms in to many shrill and mortifying screams. It's so sudden that both me and Doofus jump in unwelcome surprise, before we both bolt outside the front door to figure out what the hell is going on.

"...Holy shit..."

"...M-my... goodness..."

Floating around in the sky is a multitude of faces, some of which I recognise from the same people I've seen around Greenhorne.

The Dark Lord is here.

Panic and unrest fill the once-peaceful town, this crazed situation getting worse with every second. With my sword now by my side, Doofus calls out to me before my reckless charge into the dark.

"Y-you're gonna fight?!"

I turn around, flashing him a thumbs-up. To be honest, I'm a bit freaked out... real freaked out, actually. But what's a heroine who doesn't take the necessary risk to save people?

"'Course I am. I'll give all it takes."

"Then in that case... I shall bid you farewell for now, valiant warrior."

I wave my hand before turning back around.

"Yeah, yeah, see ya."

As I make the mad dash towards where the faces are floating, I notice that the atmosphere seems to be getting dark, darker, yet darker. The darkness keeps growing, shadows cutting deep into the town. I pass by multiple townsfolk, each with their faces gone and their bodies petrified, but some lucky survivors are still up, going, and trying to escape the darkness.

I press on, doing my best to ignore the discombobulating feeling as I approach the epicenter of the darkness. Passing by more houses and running through paths after paths, I reach the town centre. In the middle is a large water fountain, sporting water up high above everyone.

Everyone, except for the malevolent cloaked son of a bitch who started this mess.

"BWAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAH! Starting with you lot, my plan for complete world domination has started to proceed! All of you..."

He gestures towards the entire town.

"... shall be assimilated into my ranks whether you like it or not!"

I grip my sword tight as countless faces swirl around the Dark Lord.

"Praise your new lord, Nicholas Cage!"