Chapter 6

Bad News

"I'm aching all over," Susie complained, massaging her back while Kris worked her shoulders. "I can't believe we had to tear open the entire orchestra pit and fight all those musicians to get our hands on this one stupid key piece!"

"I hope they're doing alright," Noelle said softly, finally awake from the magical, drunken stupor placed on her by Fruit Fist. "I mean, we broke the spell and everything, but they looked so shocked and sad about their party being all one big lie."

"Well, Kris did explain everything to them," Ralsei comforted. "Remember, Darkners exist to help Lightners. All they need is to find their purpose and they can do a whole lot of good and have all the happiness and fulfillment they want!"

"But it still makes me wonder what they're all doing here in a Dark World created by The Dude," Susie said, frustrated with their lack of information. "I mean, what does a surfer bro need with a bunch of snacks and a super-sugary drink?"

"Surfing is a physically demanding sport, Susie," Noelle said. "You need to consume lots of food to keep up your energy! Though those are snacks that would certainly rot the teeth and brain!"

"Perfect for a surfer, then," Susie replied with a smirk.

Kris thought about it. Susie had a real point. Every journey to the Dark World had served them and their friends to discover something about themselves to overcome their different problems. Learning about family, becoming friends, finding inner courage, being true to yourself. All of those lessons had come thanks to the many adventures, puzzles, and shenanigans made possible by the Dark World and its people.

But so far, the different creatures they had come into contact with were borderline fatalistic, or in some cases downright suicidal. The Relics gave Kris the biggest creeps. What could they mean for The Dude, or worse, for one of Kris' friends? Crab Cakes had been a being that likely embodied anger and an unsatiated hunger. The Reefers were drifting aimlessly through life. Fruit Fist had forced everyone into a party that was all hype and no real substance.

What did it mean? What horrible thing was going on in a person's life for the Darkners to be this messed up?

Susie noticed Kris lost in thought and gave them a playful shove. "Don't sweat it too much, Kris. We always figure things out in the end! It's going to be the same with this adventure! Besides, we still have a lot of people to save! Hopefully we'll find Berdly and Catti all nice and safe!

"Uh… We didn't actually say where we were going to meet them, did we?"

"Um, no… Berdly was being kind of pushy," Ralsei mumbled.

Kris suggested they make their way to Seaweed Head's tackle shack. It would be a good place to wait. Besides, the map said that Berdly was still across the sea trying to save Catti. It probably wasn't the best idea to split the party, but hopefully this would pay off.

"Of course, it will," Susie said, smiling reassuringly.

"Yeah, it's best to have faith in others," Noelle agreed.

The party eventually returned to the old sandcastle that had been transformed into a thriving little town. The heroes now found it full to bursting with people and activity. All of the anthropomorphic snacks were now setting up new homes in and around the sandcastle. Many of them were letting the old residents feast on them.

"Ugh… What are they doing?" Susie wondered aloud.

"How did they beat us here?" Noelle gasped.

"Um, maybe we should ask?" Ralsei suggested.

The four heroes entered the village and began asking around. The snack people recognized them instantly.

"Thank you for freeing us from that party! We stumbled across these people and saw that they needed some nutrition. And they let us stay! How nice is that?" one snack explained.

"I don't think you provide much nutrition," Noelle muttered out of the corner of her mouth. She hastily added, "But I'm sure you are a very sweet person!"

"You bet!"

"How did you beat us here?" Susie asked.

"Snacks go where they are needed most," another explained.

"And we have a great propensity to fall right into the sandiest spots!" a third snack laughed.

"I guess that kinda makes sense," Susie said slowly. "Woah, Kris! Look over there! It's Fruit Fist!"

Sure enough, the busted can-man now in the village square and acting as part of the fountain, water bursting from the hole in his head. The Fun Gang hurried over, ready for trouble. However, Fruit Fist smiled and waved to them.

"Thank you, friends, for freeing me from the influence of that peculiar drink. I'm normally more into health drinks. Gotta take care of both mind and body and soul!"

"That's three things," Noelle said behind her hand.

"But something happened, and I suddenly wasn't myself. Well, I guess that makes sense. This beach world has been getting cluttered by all kinds of junk. Some more potent than others, eh? It's been driving some people crazy! My time was coming eventually."

This comment intrigued Kris. They asked Fruit Fist what they meant. What was cluttering this world exactly?

"Broken dreams, forgotten things, and moldering ambitions," Fruit Fist replied vaguely. "But it's all good now! I'm feeling better and we're all doing our part! Trash no more but making people happy!"

"Very interesting," Ralsei said in a low voice. "I wonder if that means that we're going to have try extra hard to avoid beating The Dude. I know! I know! We must fight some people! But what if this surfer king is really suffering from something? We might be able to help him out somehow."

"We can help him out alright," Susie growled. "An axe to the face can works all kinds of wonders!"

Noelle laughed nervously. "Are you sure about that?"

"The guy attacked a poor Reefer without any real reason! He trapped us all here and is holding Temmie prisoner! The Dude is a monster, even if he is human, and we go to deal with him!"

"Another human!" Noelle gasped.

Kris quickly caught her up. Fruit Fist surprisingly added some useful information, informing them how The Dude wasn't just a human, but he was the sole sovereign in these lands. He had a fascination with hidden things. He was employing his people to uncover all the junk lost among the sands and to excavate the ancient castles to be used. To what end was a mystery to the people, but they found purpose in it.

"Perhaps he's responsible for polluting his own beach?" Susie suggested.

"No, no! The garbage had been here for a long while already!"

Kris shivered, remembering Spamton and their adventures through the garbage of the Cyber World, seeing what had all been thrown away. If this beach world turned out to be like that, then they would be poking around some truly dangerous stuff.

"Anyway, speaking of garbage and things you don't need anymore, here's a bunch of Dark Dollars! A fountain doesn't need money! Because everyone is bringing theirs to me!"

Kris accepted the cash, which turned out to be a small fortune. They thanked Fruit Fist and moved, checking out the rest of the revamped village. It was certainly becoming bright and sweeter with all the candy around. The heroes dropped by the old weapons shop to get Noelle a bell that amplified her magic. A bunch of the snack gave pieces of themselves to the heroes.

"Uh… Thanks?" Susie replied.

"Take it! It'll heal you up really nice!" they said together.

Susie finally relented, but Noelle muttered, "It almost feels like we're getting ready for a major boss fight. You always get a drop of equipment and buffs before a big challenge."

"Don't jinx us!" Susie hissed. "I prefer ending our quests with as many spare items as possible. It's fun watching Kris sort through the junk in their pocket afterwards. Hahaha!" Kris patted their swim trunks and grinned.

The four friends finally made their way out of the makeshift town and followed the now deserted road back to the shoreline. But as they approached, a change came over the map. Catti was freed, which was great news, but there was a problem. A new symbol appeared, swirling around Berdly and Catti.

Hurrying up to the crashing waves, the Fun Gang spied the distant barge-transformed-ship under attack. A large sea serpent was harassing the vessel and shepherding it back to the distant prison.

"Well, I guess we should have predicted this," Susie grumbled.

Kris pointed hurriedly to the tackle shop. They needed to check if there was any supplies they could use to make a new ship or buy a boat altogether. They needed to get out there fast and save their friends!

After a mad dash, they stumbled into Seaweed Head's store, heaving and panting. Kris managed to ask if the shop owner had the materials for a ship or perhaps a boat they could buy. The Reefer stared back at the them and said, "Of course… I have a ship… It's expensive, though…"

"We've got cash!" Susie said, holding Kris upside down and shaking them. The Dark Dollars fluttered onto the counter.

For the first time, the Reefer showed some real emotion. Shock. "Wooooah… That's impressive, dudes…"