Chapter 51 – Rescuing A Friend

Team #4 – Arle, Ringo, Bandanna-Dee, Daroach

"Hey, Ringo. Was it really a good idea to leave Cherri back on the ship?"

"At least it should be okay. I mean, Raina's with her."

"Yeah…but Raina isn't really that much smarter than Cherri."

Ringo went silent for a bit as I told her what I honestly think of Raina and Cherri. I don't dislike them. But they really are idiots.

"True…but Raina is aware of what's going on. And can easily explain it to Cherri so that we don't get a headache."

"That…is a good point."

Before we left the ship, I had formed a team with Ringo helping me out. Bandanna-Dee and Daroach offered to help as well. So they came along with us. Maguro went to see if he could find Risukuma in all this madness. So it just left the four of us.

Well…five. Ringo brought someone that she didn't trust leaving alone.

"Aw. You didn't have to bring me along, Ringie. I could've done it myself."

"Like hell I'm going to believe that, Ecolo."

And I don't blame her.

"What? Do you really think I would do something during all of this?"

"Yes!" We both yelled.

"What makes you think that?"

"Oh, I don't know, Ecolo. Maybe it's because you tried to bury my school with puyos that one time." Ringo said.

"And used my body to do so." I added.

"And let's not forget the time you tried to make everyone's wishes come true."

"That was good, wasn't it?"

"Like we said, Ecolo. There are just some wishes that should NEVER come true." I said.

"You still haven't explained what those wishes are."

Ugh.

"You really are a questionable thing." Bandanna-Dee wrote on his board.

"Trust us, Bandanna-Dee. Arle, Am, and I deal with his questionability on a regular bases." Ringo said.

"And it's a struggle, too." I added.

"You're welcome. *giggle*" Ecolo said.

This guy…

"This Primp world really is an interesting place." Daroach said. "Wonder if I could find some treasure once this whole Zero thing blows over."

"Well, there are endless puyo towers up ahead. We usually go there to find all kinds of stuff. And every 10 floors is a checkpoint. Which we can decide to keep what we found from the floors below." I explained.

"Hmm…interesting indeed. You don't mind taking me to one of these towers, do you Arle?"

"Sure, Daroach. I've been looking for someone to tag-team with for a while now. It's going to be so awesome!"

"Yes. indeed, it will."

"You sure you don't want to tag along, Ringo?" I asked her.

"Um…no thanks, Arle. I'm good."

"Still afraid of the dark, Ringie?" Ecolo asked.

"N-No! I-I just…Wh-Who asked you, anyway?!" Ringo began to blush out of embarrassment. Which made Ecolo laugh.

For our part in this rescue mission, our group decided to head for the Ruins Area of Primp. Based on what Bandanna-Dee had told us, this area had fused with Radish Ruins. And honestly, that place was a bit scary to me. The ruined castle-like maze reminded me too much of my journeys as a mere 5-year-old. How I would go to places like these and experience what no other 5-year-old girl should go through. They were just pure nightmare fuel. I still get ones based on what Mamono did to me.

And it serves him right that he's nothing but a pathetic lonely bird-thing now.

I may have grown a lot since those times, but those memories still haunt me every so often. And Shadow Arle is making me relive those horrible times even more than normal.

Which is why I want to defeat her. To rid her from existence. I know it may sound harsh, but I can't live in that endless loop of fear again. It ruined my childhood. And I'm not gonna let it end the rest of my life, too.

But…I just wish Carby was here to do it with me.


We continued exploring the (Radish) ruins of Primp looking anyone that had an untimely encounter with any of these black eyeballs that are flying around.

"Gee. With this place fused with Radish Ruins, our ruins look even creepier than before." Ringo said.

"Don't worry, Ringo. I've got your back. I'll protect you from any danger out here." I said to her with a serious smile. Which made Ringo blush a little.

"Th-Thanks…Arle."

"Ooh…something's blooming around here. *giggle*" Ecolo teased.

"Wh-What are you blabbing about now?"

"Nothing. It just seems like you and Arle have gotten really close, Ringie. Special bond or something?"

"Wh-Wh…Just what are you implying?! There's nothing special going on!"

"Y-Yeah! N-Nothing! W-We're just looking out for each other, that all!" I added.

"*giggle* Really?"

"Yes, really!"

"What part are you not understanding?!" Ringo yelled.

"The fact that the both of you are blushing really hard right now." Bandanna-Dee wrote on his board.

"D-Dee, don't help him!"

"Aw, don't worry, girls. Nothing wrong with being together like that. just don't do anything dirty, okay? I know how you're at that age. *giggle*"

"Tch. Ecolo…"

"For the last time…" I said.

"IT'S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" We both shouted as loud as we could to get the point across.

"Hmm…alright. If you girls "say" so. *giggle*" Ecolo said before disappearing away from us. We didn't even care that he left. We were just glad that he was gone and could quit making such an accusation.

Honestly. He's a bigger pain than Schezo and Satan combined.

"He sure is an interesting one." Daroach said.

"Real questionable, too." Bandanna-Dee wrote.

The two of us just sighed out of exhaustion as a response.


It wasn't long after Ecolo ditched us that we were at the end of the path the ruins had. We were standing on a hard concrete floor circled by the pillars we saw back in Radish Ruins. It looked almost like an…arena of sorts. And if it wasn't weird enough, the grass the ruins usually had was now started to be replaced with sand. And with the oddly night sky over it all, it was starting to look familiar.

"H-Hey…guys. I-Isn't this…Sand Canyon?" Ringo asked.

"Looks like it." Daroach said. "This area must've gotten two areas fused with it.

"This is bizarre." Bandanna-Dee wrote.

"So it's Primp Ruins, Radish Ruins, and Sand Canyon fused together? This is really…"

*SLAM*

"Gah! Wh-What the…"

I was suddenly tackled down to the now sandy ground and was pinned down hard. Not really hard. Because I was able to squirm around to attempt an escape.

"Gao! Gotcha, Arle! Prepare for ultimate payback!"

Wait. That voice…

"Dr-Draco?! Wh-What you doing?! Get off me!"

"You honestly think I'm gonna fall for that again?! I won't be made a fool twice! Especially by someone who I thought was my friend!"

"Wh-What you talking about?! I didn't even do anything!"

"Draco, stop! Arle's telling the truth!" Ringo shouted while trying to get Draco off me.

"Ringo?! So you're a part of this, too?!"

"A part of what?! You're not making any sense!"

"Draco, wait!" We heard a second voice approach us. This voice belonged to the young guardian girl known as Chico. "Look for a second! I really do think this is the real Arle!"

"Huh? The real one?" Draco then took a good look at me and then realized that Chico was right. "Oh! Arle, it is you! Where've you been?"

"Draco. I would tell you…but would you PLEASE get off me, first?!" I yelled.

"Oh, right. Sorry."

Once Draco finally got off me, I was helped up by Ringo and calmed down enough to talk to these two.

"So what were you-GAK!"

Or…so I thought.

"Arle! It really is you! I thought you were really trying to kill us! WAAAAAAAA!"

"*sniff* I-I thought…y-you were hated us for reason. Y-You were all scary *sniff* a-and stuff. I-I was *sniff* sc-scared for my *sniff* l-life."

Currently hugging me and crying in my ears were Harpy and Seriri. Both looked like they were scared and dramatized. And when I finally got free of their grasps, I saw that they each had bruises on their bodies. Some were worse than others.

"G-Guys. Wh-What happened to you?" I asked.

"H-How did you get those bruises?" Ringo asked.

"*sniff* I-It was horrible." Seriri said while still crying. "H-Harpy and I were having fun together when we saw you up ahead. W-We tried calling for you, b-but you didn't respond."

"Th-Th-That's when you disappeared from in front of us. A-A-And then you came back…a-a-and started hitting us." Harpy said. Also still crying.

"H…Hitting you guys?"

"Y-You kept punching and kicking us. It hurt really really badly."

"W-We begged you to stop. B-But you kept laughing at us. Saying mean thing to us as you kept beating us up. Really mean things. A-A bunch of swear words, too." Seriri continued.

No way…

"It was around that time that Draco and I found you guys. And tried to fight back." Chico said. "But you were too strong. You defected my spells and threw Draco off like it was nothing. It was then I quickly realized that whatever that Arle was, it wasn't you."

"Arle. You don't think it's her, do you?" Bandanna-Dee wrote.

"Yeah, Dee. It does sound like her." I said.

"Wait, you actually know this fake Arle? And who are these two with you? Are they with this killer you? I'm so confused!" Draco yelled.

"Draco, calm down. Look, it's a long story. But to sum it up…us two, a few of the others, and people from a different world are tried to stop a fallen angel from destroying each of our worlds. And this other Arle is helping it do so."

"Woah…" Three of the four girls said.

"A fallen angel? *moan* Those things are super duper mean! They bullied me a lot when I was younger!" Harpy whined. Growing angry in the process.

"I-It's a different kind of fallen angel, Harpy."

"By the way, I'm quite curious. If you guys now know the Arle you encountered was fake, what made you think she was the real deal?" Ringo asked.

The four looked at each other with a confused look on their faces. I guess they really had to think about it. Well, I mean...other than Chico, this group of girls aren't really that bright.

"Well…we kinda assumed it was you because Carbuncle was with you." Harpy said.

"Wh-Wh-WHAAAAAT?! C-CARBY'S WITH HER?!" I shouted in shock. "Who is this…Carbuncle?" Daroach asked.

"He's Arle's #1 companion. The two would go everywhere together and are the best of friends. But before we left for Dream Land, the two basically had a fight about Kirby and being cute. And she ended up leaving without him." Ringo explained.

"Oh. I see."

"You guys sure it was Carby?" I asked.

"Positive." Draco said.

"A-Although, now that I think about it…" Seriri said. "H-He did look really scary as well. H-His eyes were completely white and he had this creepy-looking symbol on his stomach."

"And his gu's sounded all distorted like. Like he was possessed or something." Chico added.

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no, no! It…can't be. Sh-She…*sniff* she stole Carby from me. After I basically ditched him like that. I feel so horrible."

"Arle…Arle, come on. It's not your fault." Ringo tried to comfort me.

"Ringie's right, my precious little kitten. This has nothing to do with you."

"Oh no. That voice. She's here."

"*screams of total fear* RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" Harpy and Seriri ran for safety as they now fear my clone for what she did to them.

The rest of us watched as Shadow Arle appeared from nowhere and stood on one of the pillars in front of us. She still had that same demented smile she had when we first saw her. But was different about her was what she was holding in her hands. Someone I cared about so much. And was near and dear to my heart.

"C…Carby!"

"Oh? So he really is yours? I knew he had to be. He has your scent. Your sweet delicious scent. I couldn't get enough of it. I wanted it all. So I ripped his soul out and made him a mindless slave. He may have forgotten who you are, but it was a sacrifice .that to happen. To get closer to you, my precious little kitten. *giggle*"

"Wh-Whoa. Sh-She's a lot scarier now that I know she's a fake." Draco said.

"A-And her speech. W-With the distorted voice, it sounds so…naughty." Chico said while blushing a bit.

"Why did you do that to Carbuncle?!" Ringo yelled.

"*creepy demented giggle* All of my deeds. Weather by my own choice or commanded by my master Zero. Is all to get closer to my precious kitten. My love for her is so damn great, that I'm willing to do anything to make her mine. Even if it means destroying universes for no apparent reason, I'll do anything for you, Arle-sama!"

"This way of thinking is truly unreasonable. You can't seriously believe this is the way." Daroach said.

"You DARE defy my love for Arle-sama? I'll make you pay with your life for that."

"No, he has a point. Assaulting, killing, and taking people's souls is not how you get someone to love you." Bandanna-Dee wrote on his board.

"You too, Pudgy? I'll make you…do…something with those words. I'm not sure yet since you don't have a mouth."

"Don't you see what you're doing is wrong?!" Ringo shouted. "Zero is just using you! It doesn't care what you want! It just wants to kill us all!"

"No! No, I refuse to believe that! Master Zero would never do that to me! It knows how much I love Arle-sama! And if none of you want to believe it, then you can all die with the rest of these universes! Right, Carby?"

"Guu…"

Oh, God. Carby's voice. It…It sounds so…empty. Like there's nothing there anymore. If this is what she did to my Carby…my Kaa-kun…my Carbuncle…

No. I must save him. I gotta! And I will!

"Hey! Shadow Arle!"

"Hmm? Yes, my precious little kitten?"

"You and me! Right now! Let's have a Puyo battle! But with some requirements added to it!"

"If it's from you, Arle-sama, then I'm all ears. *giggle*"

Yuck. That "Arle-sama" thing is so hard to get used to…

"First off, it'll be a simple Tsu-rule match! First to have their board filled completely loses!"

"Interesting way of play." Daroach said.

"Second, it'll be one-one! You and me! Nobody else!"

"Whoa! I've never seen Arle so serious before!" Draco yelled.

"Not even when dealing with Satan." Chico added.

"And third! If I win, I want my Carby back! You hear?!"

"Oh, I hear. But what if I win, Arle-sama? What do I get?"

*sigh* Here it goes. What I've been planning. I hope this works.

"If you win…th-then I'll become your lover."

"WHAT?!" Everyone shouted. With Bandanna-Dee panicking.

"Really?! You'll do that for me, Arle-sama?!"

"A-Arle?! Wh-What are you thinking?!" Ringo shouted as she grabbed hold of me.

"Trust me, Ringo. I know what I'm doing. Remember when I said that I didn't see my true feelings inside of her? Well, this is what I mean. I'm gonna use her romantic feelings for me against her. If I can weaken her by doing this, I'll beat her. And save Carby in the process. I just need you to cheer me on, okay? Can you do that for me, Ringo? Please?"

Ringo looked unsure of it all. The fact that I made such a bargain was still a shock to her. I know that she cares for me a lot. And I feel the same way for her.

Y-You could even say that I…n-never mind.

Ringo then grew a smile on her face as she gave me a good luck hug. With me returning the hug with gratitude as I took one last glance at my fallen angel clone and my soulless best friend.

"So. Is it a deal then?" I asked her.

"*giggle* As you wish, my pretty little kitten. You don't know how much this makes me happy. Don't you agree, Carby?"

"Guu…" My empty soul friend said.

"Alright. Then here we go. Let's…"

Shadow Arle sprouted her wings and flew down to the arena-like floor. Face-to-face with me while holding Carby in her arms.

"Puyo Battle! *creepy demented giggle*"


BOSS: Vs. Shadow Arle


The most important battle of my life began once I grabbed the first set of puyo and began stacking. I had to beat her and rescue Carby. I don't know what I would do if Carby was like that forever. And to be Shadow Arle…a-and me being…h-her lover…

Gah! Focus, Arle! You've got better things to do than to think of that right now!

"What's the matter, Arle-sama? Excited that you'll be my lover in a few minutes? *giggle*"

"A-As if!" I yelled at my clone as I continued building up a reasonable chain to start with.

"Fire!"

"Ice Storm!"

Unfortunately, I was able to make a 3-chain. Not my best at all. I've got so many nerves inside of me. Not only is something huge is at stake, but Shadow Arle is still holding Carby in her hands. I can't go full throttle or else I might hurt him.

So basically, the odds are NOT in my favor.

"*giggle* That was really cute, Arle-sama. Wanna see mine?"

How was that cute?!

"Honestly, no. But you're gonna show me anyways, huh?"

Shadow Arle continued giggling as she set off her own puyo chain.

"Blaze!"

"Hail Storm!"

"Lightning!"

Which, in case you couldn't tell, was bigger than mine.

"Gah!" I was pelted with a bunch of nuisance puyo as I couldn't counter it in time. It filled ¼ of my board. Putting me in a losing position.

"*creepy demented giggle* My special gift to you, my precious little kitten." Shadow Arle taunted.

Well…at least I think she did. She's so much in love with me that I don't think she can be cruel to me.

Which is why I have to wait a little longer.

I continued playing by starting over from the nuisance puyo that filled my board. I was still cautious about hitting Carby, but it doesn't seem like he can do anything. The pure white eyes he had made him look dead. But at least he isn't.

Hold on, Carby! I'm coming! I just need to wait for the right moment!

"Arle-sama! I'm finished! My new chain wall will bury you in nuisance puyo and you'll be all mine! Isn't that great, Carby?! *giggle*"

"Guu…"

Damn. That looks big. I hate how short Tsu matches can be. I'll just have to get this over with now.

I sat there and watched as Shadow Arle set off her chain of puyo and started gaining power. With my fists clutched together as I started them down.

"Blaze!"

"Hail Storm!"

"Uh…hey, Arle! Now would be a good time to fight back!" Chico yelled.

"Lightning!"

"Diamond Cutie!"

"Why is she just standing there?" Daroach asked.

"Maybe not having Carbuncle makes her stupid." Draco said.

Note to self: Punch Draco in the face for that remark later.

"Mental Meltdown!"

"Heaven Ray!"

"Arle…" I heard Ringo say.

Ringo…forgive me for what I'm about to say.

"*giggle* Here it comes, my precious little kitten. The best and only present you'll ever get. *creepy demented giggle*"

"Hey! Shadow Arle!"

"Hm?"

"Before you pelt me to oblivion, I…I just want you to know…THAT I LOVE YOU!"

"WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!" Everyone shouted. And I mean everyone. Including Harpy and Seriri who were watching the fight from their hiding spot.

And even Shadow Arle.

"Wh-Wh…What? Y-You…You really love me?"

"Yes. I do. With all my heart."

"A…Arle…" Ringo said.

"Wow, Arle. I didn't think you were into the freaky stuff. Good for you for being a freak." Draco said with a thumb's up

Second note to self: Punch Draco really hard for that remark.

"I…I…I don't know what to say. I-I don't know what to do! I don't know how to feel! What is…g-going on?!"

As Shadow Arle began questioning herself, she started glowing a really dark light. It covered her entire body as it got bigger, darker, and more powerful.

"Gah! I can't…I can't…NOOOOOOO! I CAN'T DO IT!"

Shadow Arle then exploded in the big dark light. Falling down to the hard ground below and losing grip of Carby in the process.

"Carby!" I rushed over to where he was going to land and caught him before he had the same fate as my fallen angel clone.

Carby. We're finally together again. I'm glad.


"G…Guu?"

"C-Carby! A-Are you okay?! A-Are you hurt?!"

"G-Guu? Gugugu."

"Carby! I'm glad you're okay!" I yelled in pure joy as I hugged my best buddy.

"Gugu?! Gugugugu?!"

"Th-That was a clone of me."

"Gugu?"

"Yeah. Another one. Although, this one's a lot different."

"Gugu?"

"Well…"

"Arle!"

I turned to see Ringo and the others rush over to me. Some were in a panic. Well, mainly one.

"Arle! Are you okay?"

"Look, Ringo! Carby's back to his normal self! Isn't that great?!" I cheered.

"Gugugu!"

"*sigh* Arle…I-I…"

"Wow, Arle." Ecolo said as he appeared out of nowhere and interrupted Ringo."To think you can be that conniving. Wish I knew that when I possessed your body back then.*giggle*"

"Shut up, Ecolo."

"A…Arle…sama…" We all then looked at my clone, who was struggling to stand after that explosion.

That explosion was something I learned from Ms. Accord one day. Apparently, if you build up enough power while playing Puyo and you don't use it, it'll cause you to overload. And the excessive storage of magic will make you explode. There's a chance of you dying from it. But it's really low. The most injuries you'll get is a bunch of bruises and maybe some internal ones.

Yeah. That's right. I didn't want to kill her.

"Hey. Listen. There's something I gotta tell you…"

*BOOM*

"Wh-What was that?!" Chico asked.

"Uh…everyone." Daroach said as he pointed up to the black cloudy sky above us. Out from it came more of those black eye things. And their eyes started to glow a dark red color. Almost like…the color of blood.

"That…does not look good." Bandanna-Dee wrote on his board.

"Everybody…RUN FOR IT!" Draco shouted as she, Chico, Harpy, and Seriri began running away. The latter two crying in fear as they did so. Ecolo and Daroach flew away as fast as they could. And us four were about to chase after them.

But then the eyes got in front of my way and were firing at me. Blocking my chance of escape. It was then made clear to me that I was their target.

"Arle!" Ringo shouted.

"Cr-Crap. Carby! Go on without me!"

"Gu?!"

"I know it sounds selfish, but I would rather for you to stay alive than for us to die together. Carby, I'm sorry I completely ignored you over Kirby. I was an idiot for acting that way. You're my one and only cute creature for me. And now…as my greatest apology…I want you to live on. *sniff* W-Without me."

"Gu! Gugu! Gugu!"

"Don't try to change my mind! I've made up my mind! Ringo! Catch!"

"Wh-What?!"

I threw Carby over to Ringo and she caught him with both arms. Holding him tight.

"Take Carby and leave! Now! Save yourselves!"

"Arle! You can't be serious!"

Bandanna-Dee even tried to attack the eyes to get them away from me. But the spears he threw were no effect at all. All of the eyes were still locked on me. All set to kill me.

One of the eyes then spouted a black sword from its eye. It looked extremely sharp. With its edges looking uneven all over. And it had a dark black glow around it, as well.

*gulp* So this is how I go, huh? Whether back in my world or here in Primp, my cause of death was going to be dark none the less.

The eye then charged at me. Preparing to strike me with the sword coming from itself. This was it. There was no escape. Like many times before in my childhood, I was prepared to die.

"ARLE!"

"GUU!"

Goodbye…everyone. It was a blast being with you all. Especially you, Ringo. You were the most caring of them all. My only regret was…

Not telling you the truth.

*SLASH*

It wasn't long before I heard a big slash. And I knew my life had ended.

Or…it didn't?

I opened my eyes and saw something I didn't expect. I was still alive, for one. But someone else was standing in front of me.

"Sh…Shadow Arle?!"

"N-No one…No one hurts my Arle-sama. *bleck*" I watched as she puked up blood from the massive cut through her stomach. And with that and the bruises from earlier, she was barely able to stand.

"H-Hey! Wh-What are you…"

"A-Arle-sama…please. L-Leave this place. Pl-Please save yourself."

"B-But I…"

"Permutation!"

"Gu guu guu!"

Ringo, Carby, and Bandanna-Dee were busy once again fighting the black eyes. And defeated every last one except the one with the sword, which flew off once it realized it was all alone.

"Arle! Are you okay?!" Ringo yelled.

"G-Guys, I…"

"A-Arle…sama. Pl-Please leave." Shadow Arle said.

"B-But…"

"Zero…i-it sees you as a threat now. I-It won't stop…u-until you're dead along with the Star Warrior and the Light Soul. Y…Y-You need to leave…b-before it sends more eyes to kill you. *bleck*" She just puked more blood.

"B-But…wh-what I said earlier…"

"I knew…I knew it was…a-a lie."

"Y-You did?!"

"The fact that you would play with my romantic feelings for you just so…y-you could save Carby from me. I-It's stuff like that…how you're so caring…is what made me fall for you. Despite being made from your DNA and personality. *bleck* *cough* *cough*"

Damnit, girl. Now you're making me feel even more guilty.

"This is the end for me, Arle-sama. I'm sorry for causing so much trouble. Tell Ribbon…I deeply apologize for what I did to her home. I really am a monster."

"Hey! Don't say stuff like that! Don't just quit on me! I mean, you're ME! You're not supposed to quit!"

*BOOM* *CRASH*

"A-Arle! We better get out of here!" Bandanna-Dee wrote.

"Dee's right, Arle!" Ringo said.

"Gu!"

"B-But…"

"Goodbye…my love. Please…help your friends. Defeat Zero. Save your worlds. That's my one last wish…" These were Shadow Arle's last words before she closed her eyes…

…And died from her injuries.

"NOOOOO!"

*BOOM* *CRASH*

"Arle! We gotta go! Now!" Ringo shouted.

"*sniff* Damnit!"

I got up from the ground and followed the others away from the ruins before more of those eyes could show up. While doing so, I looked back at my clone's dead body. And tried not to shed any tears.

*sniff* Sh-Shadow Arle. The one and only doppelgänger…

That I don't hate.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: After destroying Ripple Star, killing its residents and destroying its power source. And taking Carbuncle's soul, Shadow Arle does the unthinkable. She sacrifices her life to save Arle's. And gives her the chance to escape Zero's now maxed-out rage. Arle feels nothing but tremendous guilt for it all. As both of them had the same goal in mind.

I know I've said numerous times that this story is long. But to prove it one last time, I have passed 1,000 pages on Word while writing this story. Another milestone for me as a writer.

Anyway, feel free to review/favorite/follow/kudos the story. The next chapter…is the final battle against Zero. This is for all the marbles (or strawberry cheesecakes, if you ask Kirby). Look out for it soon. Thanks for reading. Later.