Chapter 6

Hunter examined the huge stained glass numbers in front of him, thinking carefully before selecting the door marked with a number 1. "How about here next?" He asked Moon Walker, who smiled.

"Sure," he said.

They stepped through the door and no sooner did they do so, Hunter saw a blur headed straight for him and he didn't even have time to step back before the blur zoomed around him. "It's him!" A voice cried out happily.

"It's Hunter? Awesome!" Said another voice.

Before Hunter knew it, he was picked up by a wolf while a person on skates came up to them. "Dude, it's awesome to finally meet you!" The wolf said, hugging the young man, who was startled by the friendly welcome.

"Um...how do you know about me?" He asked.

"Our friends have been telling us how you've been helping the inhabitants," the skater one said. "Especially how you got a Negati and a Nega Boss to listen to you."

The young man blinked. "Wow, guess that's what Luz means by word travels fast," he said.

"It does here in Wonderworld," the wolf said. "I'm Tornado Wolf and this is Super Skater."

"How are you enjoying your visit here so far?" Super Skater asked.

"It's been nice," Hunter said with a smile before he face fell a little and he took a deep breath.

"You okay?" The skating costume asked in concern.

"Yeah," the young man answered. "Just...missing a really good friend."

"He's on a quest to find this good friend of his," Moon Walker said. "He's done really good so far. Even Balan, Lance, and Malika are impressed."

Hunter blushed a little at the praise. "Just...trying to do what's right," he admitted softly. "Especially...with my past."

"Hey," Super Skater said, looking concerned. "Don't let those worries weigh you down."

Tornado Wolf smiled. "I think I know what he needs," he said before he caught Hunter in a hug, his clawed fingers wiggling into the young man's sides playfully.

"Hey!" The young man yelped before snickering and trying to escape the playful wolf.

"Yup, he definitely needs that," Moon Walker said. "Mind if I help out, Tornado Wolf?"

"Go ahead," the wolf said.

"I'll help too," Super Skater said.

Tornado Wolf continued tickling Hunter's sides, occasionally tickling his ribs while Super Skater tickled the young man's stomach and Moon Walker grinned at that and kneeled down, playfully tickling Hunter's underarms.

"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GUHUHUHUHUHUHUYS!" Hunter tried to talk through his laughter, but that proved a challenge.

"Tickle, tickle, tickle!" Tornado Wolf said playfully.

Balan, having arrived not too long ago, heard Hunter's laughter and followed it to see the young man was being tickled playfully by the four costumes. "Oh, my. Looks like someone got 'ambushed'," he said jokingly.

Grinning, the costumes let up their friend and Moon Walker helped the young man back up to his feet. "You okay, Hunter?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm good," he said, smiling. "Though you guys are mischievous."

"Us? Mischievous?" Super Skater asked innocently.

Balan chuckled at the playful banter before looking at Hunter. "Have you met Jose yet, Hunter?" He asked curiously.

"No, sir," Hunter said. "Is he the inhabitant of this world?"

"Sure am," came a voice from behind him and the young man let out a startled yelp, jumping forward and crashing into Balan, who caught him as the others tried not to laugh, but were failing. Hunter felt a bit embarrassed, but then heard Balan chuckle gently and that made him smile. The young man turned to see a farmer standing there, leaning on a shovel he had. "Pleasure to meet you, Hunter. Sana and Fiona were telling us about how you helped them."

"And reasoned with a Negati and Nega Boss too," Balan said.

Jose whistled, impressed. "That takes guts," he said with a nod.

Hunter blushed a little and Moon Walker ruffled his friend's hair playfully. "He's one of the bravest people I've met," the costume said.

"Jose! Jose!" A voice called out and they turned to see a rabbit running towards them and he stopped before them. "You got to come see this!" He said excitedly.

They followed Jumping Jack to where a large garden was and many of the costumes were harvesting the vegetables. Hunter's eyes went wide. "Whoa," he said. "I've never seen a garden this big before."

Jose chuckled. "Looks like it's going to be a good harvest this time around," he said. "And it looks like we could use a few more helping hands."

Hunter, though having never picked human vegetables before, was curious. "How can you tell which ones are ready to be selected?" He asked. "And...do you grow them with magic potions?"

The farmer smiled. "While magic potions would be great, this garden was planted by our own hands," he said. "It's a lot of work, but worth it in the end." He then waved to an Elastiplant, who waved back to him. "As for telling which ones are ready for picking, I can teach you, if you'd like."

The young man nodded eagerly and Balan watched as under Jose' guidance, Hunter learned about the garden and how to tell if a vegetable was ready to be picked, carefully following Jose' instructions.

"Moon Walker," Balan said after a moment.

"Yes, sir?" The costume asked.

"How do you think is doing on his quest?"

Moon Walker fell into thought. "He's been through a lot," he said after a bit. "But he really wants to be a better person and overcome his past. I think thinking about his true friends has helped him a bit too. In fact, I think he's got someone special back home that he is falling for."

"Oh?" Balan asked, smiling.

The purple-and-yellow costume nodded. "He's mentioned her a few times," he said.

The Maestro of Positivity smiled. "With positive thoughts, he's sure to succeed," he said.

"Especially with you guiding him, Dad," said Malika as she appeared beside him. "Everyone's been hearing about Hunter and the others from the worlds he'll visit soon are eager to meet him."

"They've heard of Hunter's bravery and are curious," Lance said, also appearing, a smile on his face. "The boy reminds me very much of Leo and Emma when they first arrived to begin their quest."

Jose came up to them, Hunter beside him and the young man was carrying a basket of vegetables. "Hunter picked these for you all," he said to the three Maestros.

"I was wondering what to make for dinner," Balan admitted. "Looks like fresh vegetables are on the menu tonight."

Hunter looked curious. "Balan...do you think...could you teach me how to cook these?" He asked.

"Of course, my boy," the Maestro of Positivity said.

They headed back to the theater and before Jose went back to his world, he placed something in Hunter's hand. "This is for you," he said.

The young man glanced at the item, noting it to be a seed. "It's a mustard seed," the farmer explained. "It's a sign of faith."

"Faith?" The boy asked.

Jose nodded. "Have faith in yourself, Hunter," he said. "And you won't fail in your journey."

Hunter pondered those words as he helped Balan in the kitchen, preparing the vegetables as the Maestro had shown him. Lance was setting the table and Malika was getting the desserts ready. The young man remembered when Belos had made it to the human world and attached to him and he almost hurt his friends. But even though that had happened, his friends hadn't lost faith in him. He slowed down on cutting the carrots, which Balan noticed and turned to him, noticing the young man was lost in thought. "Hunter?" He asked. "Are you alright?"

He blinked and seemed to snap out of the daze he had been in. "Yeah, sorry," he said. "I was just...pondering the item I got from Jose and...about how my friends didn't turn against me after Belos...took control." He felt tears begin to fill his eyes. "I...I almost hurt them and yet...they still stuck by me. Why?"

"Because that's what true friends do," Malika said, going to stand beside him. "Hunter, your friends knew that you wouldn't hurt them and that you were struggling to get control back from that horrid man. Because of their faith in you, you were able to repel the monster. He may have escaped to your home realm, but I know you and your friends will find him and stop him."

Hunter looked at her. "Do you really think we can?" He asked.

"I know you and your friends can," she said reassuringly, hugging him and he returned the hug, starting to feel better. Balan joined in the hug, rubbing the boy's back gently.

"Don't lose faith in yourself, Hunter," he said. "We believe in you."

The young man smiled and nodded. "Thanks, guys," he said before noticing the carrots still needed cutting. "Well, the vegetables aren't going to cut themselves, right?"

Both Maestros laughed in amusement at his joke as they continued to get dinner ready as the day started to turn to night.

Looks like Hunter is gaining more confidence with each step of his quest. :)

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