Authoress' Notes: To avoid criticism, I'll say this: "PM2" is a game of oversimplified places, buildings, and people! Just because Kroop's house in the game only has one room doesn't mean it really only has one room! Therefore, I shall improvise as needed. Thank you.

Better Off Alone

Chapter 18: Miracle

...So this was how it felt? How it felt to lose a loved one all over again?

To have someone die before they knew one last thing that could've made their passing a lot easier?

The pain of his mother would always stay with him, but to have Vivian die... That just wasn't fair.

If only he could do it all over again. If only he had the nerve to go search for her in the first place, this wouldn't have happened...

He always favored Vivian over everyone else on the team, as she wasn't your run-of-the-mill type of girl. Whenever she was around, he noticed some people would tend to stare at her. He figured she knew this as well, but what could she do about her looks? Not only was she "different", but seemed troubled, misguided, confused, and somewhat disturbed. Each one of those problems made him more attracted to her for some reason. The details of her past seemed traumatizing, yet he wanted to learn more.

His fondest memory of her was in Boggly Woods. He remembered like it was yesterday how he, Mario, and Goombella were following a Puni to the Great Boggly Tree to help his captured family. On the way, they passed the trio of Shadow Sirens, who Goombella said to ignore because they looked shady.

He assumed they were merely odd-looking witches who resided in the pale foliage with the other weird inhabitants, but something about the red one sparked his interest. She looked so sad... almost to the point of tears. With six more Crystal Stars to collect, he knew their adventure would be a colossal one, full of surprise, action, and suspense. Her entire back-story might've been just that...

When they returned to search for Flurrie's necklace, they instead found themselves in a fight with the trio. All three were quickly trounced and the older two ran away, leaving the necklace and their sister behind. She stumbled over a tree root while fleeing and tried to grab it, but was literally paralyzed with fear. One last horrified look at them showed a tear running down her face as she scrambled to get away. Koops had to admit he felt a little sorry for her.

He always thought his first, first liking of Vivian was simply pity and nothing more. Then that pity turned into empathy, which soon became interest, then quickly grew into affection. He asked himself over and over again, "Why do you like this girl? What does she have that you want?" Those questions still needed answers.

Imagine his surprise to see her again in Twilight Town and learn of her new allegiance to Mario. The others didn't seem to like her at first, but upon learning of her sad tale and honest intentions, they all felt ashamed for judging her so wrongly. Afterwards, they tried their best to handle her very nicely, not because she was different, but because they wanted to rebuild her self-esteem. They treated her like a friend--No, like a family member--and in time, she began responding positively in her own little weird way.

All she ever wanted was to be loved.

It was a bright, beautiful day out, but he really couldn't care any less at the moment. The kitchen was warm with the early noon's sunlight, a feeling that usually left him happy and awake. Today, it only made him feel lonely. None of his friends had called lately, so no one else knew of the bad news. He didn't have the heart to tell them himself. A tear dotted the table, accompanied with a soft sniffle...

He'd never be able to see her smile...

She'd never be able to laugh...

And they'd never have the chance to enjoy each other's company ever again...

She was just beginning to realize what true friendship really meant, only to have her life cut short by some freak accident. He sighed for the umpteenth time at what could've been. Her body had only been found the other day and almost everyone in town seemed to have forgotten about it. As long as its discovery didn't interfere with their lives, they couldn't be bothered to care.

Hearing footsteps from the stairs, he put his head down. He couldn't stand for other people to see him cry. Koopley walked in with the morning paper. He usually read it in the kitchen, but didn't want to disturb Koops. He casually strolled in to grab something from the fridge, but was probably using that as an excuse to check on his son.

After getting a Mushroom and some Honey Syrup, he asked, "You alright over there?"

"I'm okay," was the muffled response.

"Can't say I knew much about Vivian, but... I understand what you're going through... It's good to see you're taking it well."

Did it really look like he was taking it well? He felt like a train wreck on the inside. Maybe his face couldn't show as much emotion...

His father searched for something to say. "Y'know... Kroop still has her over at his house... In case you want to... pay some last respects?"

Hearing that made him flinch. He wasn't so sure he wanted to see her now. At that very moment, Kroop had her body in his house, possibly performing an investigation on it and the 'suspects' who found her. He hadn't seen him, the suspects, or her cadaver since the other day, but he assumed they were trying to clean her up for a decent burial. How they would do such a thing, he didn't know.

Regardless, Koopley was right. As soft as he was, Koops' placid attitude often helped him cope with losses. He was an optimistic sort and always figured that if something happened, it must've been for the best... No matter how much he disagreed with it.

"Is Koopie Koo up?" he asked, suddenly thinking about her.

"Not yet. You know how she always wakes up late on the weekends."

The two hadn't spoken much since that day, but Koopley told her everything. Already nauseated by Vivian's death, Koops didn't hang around for her reaction. She had to be the last person in Petalburg he felt like talking to. With so many emotions tugging at his heartstrings, he felt he'd say or do something he didn't want to. He sat up and massaged his temples, feeling a headache was starting to form.

"I'm gonna take a walk..."

Koopley pulled out some coffee. "Okay. You know I'm here if you need any help..."

Answering with a simple nod, he left the house. Outside, he sat on the stairs and surveyed the scene. It usually cleared his senses to hear the nearby babbling brook and watch the Bub-ulbs collect butterflies on their flowers. Instead, he sighed.

The townsfolk went going about their business, watering gardens, chatting, and going on leisurely strolls with one another. One of the things that made Petalburg so popular was its friendly population. This would've been the perfect place for Vivian to stay and learn from a positive environment. It'd help her regain lost confidence and feel better about herself...

Memories of her sadness racked his brain, while recollections of her happiness made his stomach turn. He would've rather had Vivian reject him and live, not have her die and never know what might've come from their relationship...

His wandering gaze soon set on Kroop's hideously pink house. Maybe he should go over there. He felt guilty for not wanting to see her, but was afraid of what to expect. He never got the chance to say goodbye to his mother... Why pass up the chance to say it to Vivian? It was the least he could do after being so negligent in trying to look for her.

She would've done the same for him.

Koops opened the door to the mayor's house and looked around for him. It wasn't before Kroop appeared from another room and realized someone was there.

"Who's that? That blasted burglar again?" He jabbed his cane at the air. "Don't think I'll let you get away with anything, you!"

"No, sir. It's just me."

"Ah, Koops." He stopped jabbing and chuckled. "I didn't even recognize you. I swear, it seems like every other person that comes in here is looking for trouble."

"Yeah, uh..." He took a deep breath. "Kroop, I came to see... a friend."

"A friend?"

"The one you found at the entrance of town..." He paused. "She was a friend of mine. Is she...?"

"Oh. Yes, I see." Kroop nodded. "...Come with me, she's down this way."

Koops braced himself and followed the old Koopa through his and den and down a hallway. It seemed forever before the corridor's carpet ran out, leading to a small guest room in the back.

When they finally got there, the mayor turned to Koops. "I'll leave you alone for now."

"Okay. Thanks."

There's no turning back now, he thought, staring at the door. He had to get this over with. If he let this chance pass by, he'd never forgive himself...

Taking a deep breath, he gripped the doorknob and opened the door, expecting the worst.

...To his surprise, the room itself was a quaint place, only having a bed, two tables, and a bureau. A window was located near the bed and another by a larger table, the smaller one closer to the bed. The place felt nice and cozy; it had the sort of welcoming feeling older people were usually accustomed to. But Koops didn't come to survey the interior. What he focused on was the person resting in bed.

Vivian was placed carefully under the covers, her head, midsection, and right arm neatly bandaged. She lay on her back, head slightly tilted away from the window on her left side. One hand rested on her chest, while the other was buried underneath the cold blanket. Streaks of morning sunlight peaked through the partly closed curtain of a window, reflecting a faint, fuchsia outline along her curvy body. As if that weren't enough, her hair was positioned in the perfect way so that it still kept most of her face covered. Koops smiled sadly at the irony. He hated to admit it, but Vivian looked even more serene in death than she did alive.

There was a lone chair bedside the bed that Kroop was probably using to bandage her. He and the other two made her look nice, washing off dirt, fixing wounds, and even trimming any damaged hair. A now-cold cup of Koopa Tea sat on the nightstand for her in case she ever woke up. Her hat and gloves sat neatly on the larger table across from her. Out of curiosity, Koops walked over and fingered her hat's rim, only to sigh in disappointment. Kroop had even taken the liberty to wash and repair them to the point where they looked brand new. There was no point though, with Vivian being dead and all.

He continued feeling the unbelievably soft texture of her hat when his finger ran across a string of multiple, round things. They were hard... like beads...

Confused, he reached inside and pulled out Flurrie's beloved necklace. It was sparklingly clean, void of any grime or scratches. Amazed, he let it run over his wrists and through his fingers to get a better feel. There was no doubt about it; this was the very same necklace the actress claimed she couldn't live without.

She kept it safe... Whatever calamity she'd been forced to endure, she kept it safe...

What an honorable and unselfish thing to do... She really did trust them. Enough to cherish anything and everything they could've possibly given her. Even at the expense of her life...

Beads in hand, he walked back over, heartbroken all over again. Sitting down in the chair, he looked down upon her lifeless frame through the coveted necklace. Carefully, as if not to disturb her eternal sleep, he lowered the jewelry over her head and onto her neck. Vivian deserved that thing more than anybody; it was only fair she be put to rest with it. He stared at the necklace plaintively until his tears turned it into blurry, yellow beads. He always thought it went so well with her unique shade of skin...

Taking one of her gloveless hands, he gently caressed it, placing her palm against his cheek. Having it rub across his face left a slight tingling sensation, like a cluster of feathers.

It was so soft and smooth... Not a scratch on it. The fingers had an odd, yet alluring smell of cherry and singed skin about them, due to their former flammability.

Letting a tear trickle down a finger, he placed his head on her chest and closed tear-filled eyes. He still held on tightly to her precious hand, as it gave him a sense of security. He didn't know why, but there was something soothing about it that made letting go virtually impossible...

...What was this? This loud thumping noise...? It wasn't exactly pounding, but softer. And air? She heard air. Quiet, hissing air, like from a balloon or something...

It was her heartbeat and her breathing...

Where was she now? Was she still in the desert...? Or had the blazing heat finally succeeded in separating her soul from her body? Was she a... ghost?

Her eyes failed to work, while her body taunted her with the sensing of a changing atmosphere. People were there, then they weren't. She was sinking into sand, then lying on dirt. The settings had changed drastically from searing hot, to freezing cold, mildly windy... then still, moderate air.

Was someone with her? Had she finally been put to rest? Was she in Heaven? ...Or the other place? No, not the other place. The other place was for bad people. She wasn't bad, was she?

Her mind was fraught with worry as the darkness began to fade, revealing a wooden ceiling above. She started calming down upon realizing it wasn't what she thought. Unfortunately, it wasn't Heaven, either.

More feeling was coming back to her body now. It told her that, instead of purgatory, she was in a nice, soft bed that smelled fresh from the wash. A pillow was fluffy on her head and there was the smell of civilization nearby. Something warm was on her chest and someone held her hand. From what she could see, it was either a Koopa or a Doogan, because of its large nose. It could've even been a yellow Yoshi.

Koops continued to lie on Vivian's chest, letting out soft, choked sobs, something he hadn't been able to do since she died. It allowed his pent-up emotions to be released without anyone interrupting with their so-called 'pity'. He didn't want his father, Kroop, Koopie Koo, or anybody else around now; he just wanted to be left alone and enjoy what could possibly be his final moments with her. Another pair of tears ran down his face, one of them falling onto her hand.

"Vivian... I'm sorry," he whispered.

He knew she couldn't hear, but he owed her an apology... For not being there when she really needed him, and for allowing this to happen. Things could've turned out differently if only he had a little backbone and went to look for her to begin with. So what if he didn't like Twilight Town because it was creepy? He'd gladly go there a thousand times if it meant she'd come back...

With more tears burning his eyes, he nuzzled her cheek passionately, allowing a tear to run down her face. All he could do at this point was get it out of his system and try to live life for her. Although doing the latter would be a painful experience...

...Someone said her name...

Her name? How did they know that? Only a handful of people in this world knew her name, and most of them were dead. Maybe she really was dead and this was the entrance to the afterlife. She was almost too afraid to test her theory.

But she didn't want to stay like this forever, laying down on her back, not knowing if she was alive, dead, or in a dream.

"I'm so sorry..." it said again. He said; it was a male. His voice was breaking and she heard him sniffle once or twice.

The way he spoke sounded so familiar. She'd heard a lot of things before, but this voice stood out among any other thing she'd ever remember hearing. It belonged to someone important, someone caring, brave, and strong. Whether she was alive or not, she would always respond to that voice...

"...Koops?"

The Koopa's eyes snapped open at the sound of his name. It was faint, but he knew he heard it. His head slowly began rising and falling in a soft rhythm on Vivian's chest.

What? Breathing? Actual breathing? ...No, Vivian was gone forever; no amount of wishful thinking would ever bring her back.

His head suddenly took a sharp rise as someone coughed twice, then took a few loud gasps of air. Startled, he jumped and looked at her hard. To his surprise, he noticed Vivian's posture had changed direction. From where he sat, she was practically 'looking' at him...

She smiled weakly. "Hi."

"...Vivian?"

Could it be...? Was it true? No, he must've been dreaming! It wasn't possible!

It was like something out of a romance novel; the one where a happy ending came from a sad one! He wanted to pinch himself and wake up from this awful nightmare, teasing him with how realistic it was! But something told him this was the real thing... Then again, nightmares often did that.

He was literally speechless until Vivian yawned, bringing him back to reality. If he wasn't hallucinating...

"Is this a dream?" she asked. Her voice was a weak whisper as she spoke. It faded in and out like a flickering candle.

"I really hope not," he answered, as if he were in a trance.

"...Where am I?"

"In Petalburg."

"Your hometown?"

"Yeah..."

She looked at him thoughtfully. "...Did you bring me here?"

He hesitated, surprised by the hopeful tone of her voice. "No, we found you."

Found her? She frowned. But how? She was in the middle of the desert. How could he possibly find her there? Could it've somehow been a... miracle?

"What happened? I thought you were..." he paused, not wanting to say it. "You know..."

She made a face as she tried to think of a believable response. He certainly couldn't know about her staying out at Riverside Station all this time. It'd only raise questions she couldn't and didn't want to answer. That long, awful amount of time there was not only a period of weakness, but also a disgrace to her already low self-esteem. She wished the entire thing could've been erased from her mind.

"I don't want to talk about it..."

"Oh. Well, I'm glad you're okay..." he paused again before quietly adding, "I was worried about you."

It took a moment for that to sink in. "...You were?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"I thought you forgot about me," she sighed. "Everyone else did..."

"That's not true. We've all been worried. The others have been calling and asking about you all over the place, but we couldn't find you anywhere. I even asked Ms. Mowz to post a flyer at the Trouble Center." Koops spoke with emphasis in his voice for the first time, as he was beginning to realize this wasn't a dream.

"You did?"

"Yeah. We thought you went back home... But, we didn't know what the deal with your sisters was. No one knew where you lived and we had no way to get in touch, so you can imagine how lost we were."

That made perfect sense. What else were they supposed to do? While she was out rotting away in the desert, her friends were breaking their backs looking for her in more logical places. Was it really their fault none of them happened to imagine her being in the one of the bleakest areas on the continent?

...No, it was her fault for putting herself in that kind of a situation. For the first time since she ran away, Vivian was beginning to realize how dangerous and erratic her actions had been. Being a victim of stress often put her in the wrong place at the wrong time. How she wound up in Petalburg was still a mystery, but who ever questioned lucky breaks, anyway?

She nodded. "I understand."

Squeezing out one last tear, he wrapped his arms around her. "I really missed you..."

Vivian closed her eyes and returned the gesture. "I missed you, too..."

It took them a few seconds before they realized what was happening, although they both enjoyed it. When it finally hit Koops, he sat up and coughed loudly. Vivian bit her lip, casually looking out the window.

After a tense silence, he turned away, a blush on his cheeks. "Um... I should probably... get you something to eat... Maybe?"

She played with her hands and responded with a slight nod. With that, Koops abruptly left, awkwardly stumbling on the way out. Seeing him do this, Vivian stifled a laugh. Turning back around, she felt some sort of collar on her neck slide along with her movements. Feeling it, she recognized it as Flurrie's necklace.

Now, how did that get there? She wondered. The last place she had it was in her hat.

The Shadow Siren saw her accessories on another table, noticing the hat's rim was out of place. Obviously, someone had removed it. Koops was the only one there when she woke up, so... did that mean he put it on?

She fingered the necklace with a blushing smile.

Koops nervously slammed the door, leaning against it with flushed cheeks. He felt like slapping himself. What was he thinking?! He wanted to take full advantage of this miraculous event, but that might've gone a little too far.

...Then again, he was happy he'd done it. He'd rather do that and be embarrassed than not at all because she was dead. Even if Vivian never wanted to see him again, he'd be happy she was okay.

Just then, Kroop appeared. "Koops, I really am sorry this happened. Is there anything I can--?"

"Kroop, about Vivian..."

"Yes, I know. It's a real shame, isn't it? I tried my best to..."

"No, she's alive!" He was teeming with excitement, accidentally saying that louder than intended.

"What?"

Embarrassed, he calmed himself down. "Uh... Well... I think she was unconscious, but I just talked to her and... she's okay."

"Really, now? Well, let me take a look at this."

Kroop opened the door to see Vivian daydreaming about something, only to flinch at his entrance.

"Eh? Hm... I must be getting old. I could've sworn she'd... er..." He scratched his head, confused. "Well, no matter. Do you think she'd fancy some Koopa Tea?"

"If you promise not to put twelve Turtley Leaves in," Koops laughed.

The mayor scoffed jokingly and retreated to the kitchen. Koops was about to follow when Vivian worriedly called him. Turning, he asked, "What's wrong?"

"Where're you going?"

"I need to go out for a minute, but I'm coming back."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. I'll bring some food if want."

Well, she was hungry... and thirsty...

She cocked her head. "Promise?"

"I promise."

Satisfied, she watched him leave and close the door. She really wanted him to stay a little longer and talk. Being alone made her sad when she had a lot on her mind. Then again, a nap seemed right for the moment, so she yawned and squirmed uncomfortably under the sheets. Although she appreciated her treatment, the bandages made her itch like crazy. Scratching the best she could, she finally settled down and went to sleep.

Koopley raised an eyebrow. "So, she didn't kick the bucket?"

Koops frowned, not liking how he phrased it. "No, she didn't. She just passed out."

"Passed out?" He laughed. "She was as dead as a doorknob last time I saw her!"

He started to say something else, but noticed his son was making a face that told him he'd said a little too much. Koopley had always been a practical guy, but Koops was easily offended and always made that face whenever his father happened to step on a nerve.

"Okay, okay. I can see I've said too much already, so I'll lay off."

"I just want you to understand that Vivian's very sensitive. Don't do anything crazy to scare her away."

He laughed. "I haven't even met the girl yet, and you're afraid I'll scare her? See, now I'll have to give her a little jolt to get back at you for saying that!"

Koops rolled his eyes just as Koopie Koo entered the room. "What's so funny over here?"

"It's Koops' friend," blurted Koopley. "Seems she's not exactly pushing up daisies like we thought."

"Really?" She turned to Koops, who was busy scowling at his father. "So, the girl... Vivian? She's okay?"

"Yeah. She's a little tired, but otherwise fine."

"Oh, good!" She pulled him into a hug. "It's such a relief she's doing better! I knew you were a little shook up over it, but everything seems to have worked itself out, huh?"

"I guess so..." Koops tried not to show his excitement, but after hearing that, he couldn't stop smiling.

"How's she doing? Do you think she can come over for dinner? I'd love to meet her."

"I'll have to ask her myself. I don't want to push anything."

Just then, the phone rang. Answering it, Koopie Koo handed Koops the phone. "Here, it's for you. It's that Goomba friend of yours."

Goombella! Perfect! He thought. He could finally get the word out about Vivian and everyone could finally stop searching.

He answered. "Goombella?" Upon hearing her, he smiled. "Hey, have I got a surprise for you..."

It was midday out when Kroop opened the door to Vivian's room. She looked at him out the corner of her sleepy eye, seeing him with a bag of medicine and a roll of bandages. Sitting down, he began unwrapping the old ones.

"Time to change these things," he chuckled. "Koops would have my head if I didn't take of his little friend."

She responded with an uncertain smile, not sure of how to start up a conversation. He seemed like a nice guy, but shyness always got the best of her when meeting new people. She'd try and act politely to make a good first impression.

After a few minutes, he asked, "So, I hear your name's Vivian?"

"Yes, sir."

"That's a lovely name. I think it suits you." Finished unraveling, he threw the used bandages away and applied some medicine. She grunted as it stung her wound. He then began wrapping it with new bandages. "You're a bit of an odd sort, aren't you?"

"...Yes, sir," she answered halfheartedly.

"What are you, exactly? I've never seen your kind around here."

"A Shadow Siren."

"Ah, so you're that Shadow thing Koops kept going on about." He nodded. "Why, you look just like Koops said you did, heh heh."

She perked up. "Koops talked about me?"

"Like you wouldn't believe! And if he wasn't talking about you, he sure wanted to. Never knew what the deal was, but he sure seemed serious about it."

"Really?" She smiled. "He really was...?"

Kroop stood at the sound of his whistling kettle. "Oh. Guess I should see if your Koopa Tea's ready." With that, he left, not hearing her.

She sat in silence, looking at the covers in deep thought. Koops had been talking about her? What did he say? How did he say it? Why did he say it? Who did he say it to? It excited her to think about it, but terrified her to find out the answer...

Her thoughts were interrupted by the smell of food and someone's presence. As she turned to face the door, Koops walked in and placed a plate of Mushrooms on the nightstand, accompanied by a tall, cold glass of milk. Vivian's mouth began to water uncontrollably at its sight. It'd been forever since her last decent meal.

"Here." Koops offered her a Mushroom. She literally snatched it from his hand and took a huge bite. "...I guess you were really hungry, huh?"

Popping the remaining bits of Mushroom in her mouth, she nodded and reached for another one. After eating three, he offered her milk. She drank the whole thing in almost two gulps.

"How're you feeling?" he asked, as she set the empty glass aside.

She made herself snug under the covers with a sigh. "Much better."

"Good." He smiled. "You're recovering fast. That's great, considering the way you were a few days ago. I bet it won't be long before you're ready to get up and go, huh?"

Vivian frowned and Koops suddenly realized his mistake. It was obvious she had nowhere to go; why else would she show up in his town, half-dead from starvation?

"Oh. I guess you don't have anywhere to stay, do you?"

"No..."

"Well, you can stay here. In Petalburg... until you find somewhere to live on your own, maybe?"

"But I can't buy a house. I don't have any money."

"Whoever said anything about buying a house?" His eyes softened. "My dad's place has an extra bedroom..."

Shocked, she looked up. "Does that mean I can stay with... you?"

"Well, yeah. Uh, I mean..." He nervously shrugged. "If you really want to."

"Okay. That'd be... nice." She smiled awkwardly, trying to hide her excitement.

"Oh. Good."

Several minutes passed before Kroop returned with two cups of tea, breaking the uncomfortable silence. "I swear, you kids today do the weirdest things! I never knew staring contests would be all the rage!"

"We were only talking," said Koops, standing up. He looked at the Shadow Siren. "When do you think you'll be well enough to come over? Tomorrow? Or--"

"I think tomorrow would be fine."

"All right, then. Uh... I guess I'll see you then..."

"You're not going right now, are you?"

Koops seemed at a loss for words. "Well... you need to rest... I don't want to hang around and..."

"I'm not that tired. You can stay if you want to."

Not wanting to be rude, he sat down and forced a nervous smile. Vivian returned a real one.

"In that case, I guess I'll let you two catch up on... whatever it is you kids catch up on," shrugged Kroop as he left.

Vivian noticed how uncomfortable Koops looked, so she gently urged him with casual conversation. She inquired about Goombella and he jumped at the chance to elaborate on her recent discoveries. Then she asked what they were and he explained them the best he could. It wasn't long before the subject switched to Ms. Mowz, then Boggly Woods, fruit, and so on. Both were so enthralled with one another, they never got around to finishing their tea.

It wasn't until dark before Koops finally decided to go home. Vivian ran out of things to say a long time ago, so she wasn't against it this time. They bid their goodbyes and after saying he'd be back around noon the next day, he left.

With him gone, she suddenly grew tired. Who knew talking about your friends could make you so sleepy? Turning off the lamp, a smooth shade of ocean blue enveloped the entire room, much to the siren's surprise. She never knew how stunning everything looked in this town at night.

Curious, she opened the window and was in awe over the sapphire scenery of outside. Not a light was on in the whole town; the only movement came from twinkling stars above. The grass swayed peacefully in the wind, while blue clouds sped by. Lack of activity amid the quiet night calmed her, not to mention the moon was beautiful. She couldn't remember the last time she saw it so clearly. It always looked so eerie and discolored in Twilight Town, but here in Petalburg, it was the color of ivory, mixed in with a bit of soothing silver.

She reached for her Koopa Tea and drank, only to scowl at its suddenly tart taste. While talking to Koops, she'd allowed it to cool too much, making it cold and bitter. With a scoff, she looked at the cup in disgust until she noticed a strand of steam coming from it. Confused, she put a hand to her face, only to realize it was incredibly warm.

Her pilot light! It'd come back on? Then that meant...

She snapped her fingers a few times to test it, but only made sparks. It'd take some time before her powers were fully restored anyway. She took a small sip of her tea and continued gazing out at the stars. A warm breeze blew in and tickled her face. It felt so fresh and smelled very... outdoorsy. When the wind blew in Twilight Town, it always reeked of straw and made her shiver.

For the first time she could ever recall, Vivian actually felt she was getting what she deserved. She was back with her friends and everything was looking up for a change. After everything she went through, things were finally going her way. Considering the outcome, it was definitely worth it.

She took another sip. It seemed her story wasn't over just yet...

Authoress' Notes: If you think Vivian's recovery seems to be a little too convenient, you'll see why later.