Chapter 41 – Second Thoughts…

"Woah! The view here is amazing!"

After entering the tower in the sky, we climbed up these stairs and opened two more doors with switches to began exploring the inner depths of it. Or at least I think we are. It's been like 10 minutes and we can still see the outside.

Nothing wrong with that. I did say that the view is amazing.

"It looks like we're really high up." Chetta said.

"I know, right? I think we may be over Dream Land at this point."

"Dream Land?"

"That's the name of this world. Much like how our world is named Primp Town."

"I see. So we're really high above Dream Land?"

"Poyo poyo. Poyo."

"Um…what did he say?" Chetta looked confused.

"He said that Nutty Noon is the highest point in all of Dream Land. And that people often come up here to look at the view of the entire area." I translated. "Right?"

"Poyo!"

"Wow. So you can understand what Kirby says, Amitie?"

"Yeah. Although I didn't at first. I had to use my hat for it to work."

"I see. Hey, speaking of which…where IS your hat? You're usually never without it."

Aw, geez. I'm gonna have to tell her, am I?

"W-Well…y-you know how I'm the Light Soul?"

"Yeah…"

"W-Well…t-turns out that the Dark Soul…w-was my hat."

"Was your hat?"

"A-At some point in the past, my hat made contact with this thing called a Puyo Soul. A-And it became an evil clone of me. Named Dark Red Amitie."

"W-Woah! Th-That's…scary!"

"Meow." Akaineko meowed.

"Yeah. It really is."

"So this Dark Red Amitie person is…"

"Yeah. The one who caused all this mess. And now I have to stop her and save this universe from being destroyed. Although, I do feel kinda bad."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because. When me, Arle, Ringo, and Raffina came to this world, we believed that it was just to clear up a bunch of puyos that somehow got here. But now with something this big a life-changing, I kinda regret dragging you guys into what is technically my mess to clean up."

"Poyo? Poyo poyo?"

"What? No, Kirby. I don't regret meeting you guys. It's just…"

*moan* I actually don't know how to say it…

"Hey, Amitie. Are you okay? You're crying." Chetta said.

I felt my face beneath my eyes. And realized that I really was crying. Why? Why was I crying? Could it be this fear of losing to my clone and letting Dream Land get destroyed? If that really happened…I would have let everyone down. Especially Kirby.

Or maybe…maybe I truly do regret coming here.

"*sigh* I mean, what was I thinking? There's no way I can do this. Saving the universe? I can't even save my allowance. How did I get tasked with something as big as this? Am I really qualified to be THE Light Soul?"

"Poyo…"

"Amitie…"

"Meow…

"*sigh* Maybe Schezo was right. Maybe there was a mistake with the legend. *sniff* *sob* I'm really am…I really am weak."

"Like hell you are!"

Huh?! Th-Those voices…

We turned around to see Arle, Ringo, Raffina, Lidelle, and Raina standing across from us.

"G-Guys?! Wh-What are you doing here?!" I asked in shock.

"We were wondering where you three went. That's when Magolor told us about this tower in the sky." Ringo said.

"Y-You didn't…hear what I said, did you?"

"Every word, Am."

"Are you really going to believe what that idiot pervert told you?" Arle asked.

"B-But…"

"But NOTHING! You're not weak, Amitie! FAR from it!"

"Wh-What do you know? You don't know how I feel."

"Maybe not. But I do know that you're not weak."

"Why do you keep saying that?! It's all a lie! I'm a weak spineless fool! One who believed she could save an entire universe! I'm such an idiot!"

"Poyo!"

"Huh?" I turned over to Kirby, who had an angered look on his face. "What? You're gonna tell me the same lie too, Kirby?"

"Poyo! Poyo poyo! Poyo!"

"But I'm not like you! I'm not a Star Warrior! I could barely perfect my old spells when I had them. All of this! This was just a lucky mistake! All from the very beginning!"

"Was it a lucky mistake that you met Kirby?" Arle asked.

"W-Well…no. But…"

"Was it a mistake that you taught Kirby how to play Puyo Puyo?" Ringo asked.

"A-Again, no. But.."

"Was it a mistake that you wanted to come to this world and rid the puyos that were falling here?" Raffina asked.

"O-Once again, no. But…"

"And was it a mistake that, no matter what, you promised we'll all be friends forever?" Lidelle asked.

"O-Okay, I get it! those weren't mistakes. In fact, I don't regret saying or doing those things. But this whole Light Soul and Dark Soul thing. And then there's…her."

"Amitie…" Raina said to me. "This may be irrelevant right now, but both you and Sis said you'll protect me from Amitie's wrath. And that you'll defeat her once and for all. When I heard that, plus the fact that you didn't kill me for being a clone…i-it was the first time since being created that…I felt happy. I actually look up to you, Amitie. You're my hero."

"H…Hero?"

"And no weak person can have someone idolize them, Amitie. Just look at me. Oh, La-Ti-Da!" Raffina praised herself.

"No one likes a gloater." Lidelle said.

"H-Hey!"

"M-Me? A-A hero?" I asked.

"No doubt about that, Am. You're the bravest girl I know." Ringo said.

"Probably as brave as me. If not more." Arle said.

"You even helped me defeat Ridel when it was too dangerous to even face her. You really are a hero, Amitie." Lidelle said.

"We would probably be still stuck in that old building if you didn't show up." Chetta said. "Right, Akaineko?"

"Meow."

"And you did help us save Kirby from that snake monster before." Raffina added.

"W-Well…yeah. But only partly."

"Poyo poyo. Poyo poyo poyo."

"Huh?! I'm your hero too, Kirby?!"

"Poyo poyo."

"You would've never been able to do this yourself?! Really?!"

"Poyo!"

All of these things everyone's saying about me…I didn't want to believe it. My head was still filled with doubts. But the more I thought about it, the more those doubts started being erased from my mind. It was like…a new found of hope and courage was fused with my current body's state.

It was a new feeling. And it felt really good.

"E-Everyone. Th-Thank you. I-I don't know what I was thinking. Truth is…I'm scared. Scared of what could happen down the road. I mean…this whole adventure is almost over. And I don't want to mess it all up."

"That's why you got us, you moron. Aren't we your friends?" Raffina asked.

Even though I was just called a moron, I still laughed at the question being asked to me.

"Yeah. You guys really are my friends."

"See? Now let's continue exploring this place."

"Wait, huh? You mean you guys are coming along?"

"Am, we're so far away from the ship. Walking back would just be a waste of time." Ringo said.

"O-Oh, yeah. Good point."

"Alright then. Let's get going!" Arle cheered.

"Meow."

"I know, right? A sentimental moment in a grand adventure. It's all just too purrfect."

We all looked at Chetta for a bit. Then Arle, Ringo, Raffina, Lidelle, and I began laughing at the fact that she made a cat-related pun.

"Wait, I don't get it. What's so funny?" Raina asked.

"Poyo?" Kirby was just as confused as her.

"We'll explain it, you two. Just come on." Raffina said.

We then continued to make our way through this Sky Tower. This time, with a doubt-free mindset as I was surrounded by people who care about me so much.

Gee. I'm so lucky to have such great friends.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: No notes this time. Just a regular old update. Thanks for reading. Later.