It was already getting dark by the time the group reached the inn. Susumu got her hair washed, the group had a surprisingly large dinner for being out in the desert(granted, it was mostly scorpions and cactus juice), and now they were ready to settle in for the night.
Susumu was laying back down in her bed, thinking over the events of the day. I almost got eaten. I almost got poisoned. I almost became Jeremy's mindless servant for all eternity.
...Almost.
She shook her head, reminding herself that none of those things had ACTUALLY happened. Yeah, they had ALMOST happened, and what she remembered of it was terrifying, but her friends were there to back her up, weren't they? If the worst happened, she'd do the same for them...
...But what if they hadn't?
"Kukuku... Falling asleep already~?" Susumu's thoughts were broken by Priff's voice. "I... Made you something."
Priff handed Susumu a tray, and on it was a cup filled with a strange blue liquid. It smelled rather pleasant, but... "Eh... Thanks, Priff, but I've drank enough weird liquids for today," she started to turn it down.
"Just try it," Priff assured her. "Remember those Mii Trap stems I picked up? Well... It turns out you can actually make some pretty good tea from them, kuku~ Those things tried to eat you today. Now return the favor."
Susumu looked at the cup for a second. This... Was tea? It was such a bright blue color, it looked like it might stain her mouth, or...
She didn't think much longer before taking a drink of the odd liquid. "...Gaaah! B-Bitter! It's too bitter!" The "tea" was so bitter that it was starting to make her mouth go numb. As bitter as it was, though, it was also slightly sweet, and tasted a little bit flowery too. "...But... It's kinda good too!"
"Kukuku... I had a feeling you'd say that~" Priff was already ready to sleep, so she climbed into her own bed, but continued watching Susumu drink the rest of the tea. "Just leave the cup on the dresser."
Susumu quickly finished the rest of the tea, then put the cup on the dresser before huddling back under her blankets. She was exhausted from everything that happened, and now the tea was making her feel warm and sleepy... It seemed like Priff was already asleep by now, and it wasn't long before Susumu fell asleep herself...
However, not long after Susumu had fallen asleep did that same shadow start to creep into the inn. Priff was woken up by an odd force. "Kuu... Something isn't right." She hopped out of bed, seeing that Susumu was now shaking in her sleep again. "Must be having a nightmare..." Her body started to give off that strange aura again. "Don't worry. Your head will be cleared soo- KUKU!"
Priff choked when something suddenly grabbed her, however. "Oh, I'm afraid there's not much you can do for her at this point," said a very familiar voice. "Of course, after tonight, there won't be much she can do for you either! Ahahaha!" Azamir then scooped up Samuel and Neal and flew off into the night.
The next morning, Susumu woke up feeling terrible again. "Urgh, my head feels... ...Priff! Priff, are you there?! Wake up!"
No answer. No answer from Neal or Samuel either. "Ugh, again?!"
"Susumu!" Garaden's voice echoed in her ears. "Susumu, wake up! Azamir has-"
"Don't tell me," Susumu groaned. "Azamir took all my friends again? Not that I can do anything about it anyway."
"Not only that, but he seems to have erased your powers as well..." Garaden added. "But fear not, Susumu! I have a brand new set of powers for you, and I think you're going to like these!"
"Oooh! Let's see what I get now!"
"Haaa... HAAAA!" When the light faded, Susumu was wearing some sort of frilly, flouncy outfit. On top of her head there was a large bow, and she was now holding... A microphone?
"A... A Pop Star...?" Susumu squeaked, her face starting to turn red. "G-Garaden, wait, I can't accept this! I'll never make it as a Pop Star! I can't sing or dance or..."
But Garaden had already disappeared. Susumu sighed, and dragged herself out the door. Looks like she didn't have much of a choice...
END OF ACT 2