Chapter 12

When they arrived in Bruce's world, Hunter was amazed to see it, but also a bit saddened to see that there was a bunch of trash around. "Oh, no," Moon Walker said. "Some of the wind storms must have blown some trash to over here."

"That and some people are just littering again," came a voice and Hunter didn't see anyone around them, looking at Moon Walker in confusion.

"Oh, it's Invisible Man," said another voice and Hunter turned to see a costume that was floating and looked similar to an official one would find in a church.

"Hi, Fixer-upper," Moon Walker greeted him. "Another mess again?"

"Yeah, and a big one this time," the floating costume said. "Bruce is pretty bummed out about it. He's been working so hard to have people see it doesn't take much time to properly throw away trash."

Someone else appeared before them, hauling a bag of trash. "This is going to take forever to clean up," he said. "We're going to need a lot of help."

"We can round up the other costumes," Moon Walker suggested.

"Already did that and those that were available are helping, but it's going to take a lot more than just them and us," Fixer-upper said.

Hunter fell into thought before slipping away from the group, finding an old man putting up flyers about throwing away trash properly. He then had an idea and grabbed more flyers, walking down the streets and handing the papers to people. "Look what happens when trash isn't properly thrown away," he said to them. "It means no one can properly enjoy these places. Would you want to be walking on old soda cans or glass bottles? What if some where broken and someone got hurt?"

That got people's attention and they began gathering around to hear more. "What can we do?" Someone asked.

"It's not pleasant, but if we can help pick up the trash and make the areas clean, then we can enjoy them better," the boy said. "Come on, everyone. If you don't want your kids to be in danger while playing, then help us make these areas safe for them and for you, your friends, your family, and your animals."

The group of people had grown significantly by then and they all nodded, following Hunter back to where the costumes were still picking up trash. The costumes were surprised to see the people coming to help and everyone was pitching in.

Bruce couldn't believe it when he saw it and he smiled at seeing Hunter, the young man he had heard much about from the costumes. "You're the young man making headlines," the eldery man chuckled.

"Headlines?" Hunter asked in surprise.

"In other words, everyone's talking about you and how you've been helping all of us," Invisible Man said, smiling.

"And why wouldn't they?" Balan asked as he appeared with a smile. "Hunter has been working hard on his quest."

"And he's almost at the finish line," Lance said, smiling.

"Am I really?" The boy asked in shock.

Malika giggled as she appeared and nodded. "Out of twelve people, you have successfully helped eleven of them," she said.

Hunter smiled before looking around. "Well, almost eleven," he said. "We still got to clean up all this area."

With that, he began picking up trash too and the Maestros stepped in to help too. Even Midnight and Stardust arrived to help out, having been impressed with Hunter's determination to help spread to word about Bruce's mission.

A big, bulky Negati was watching, seeming surprised, as did another Negati that looked like a Triceratops. Hunter saw them and he noted that some of the helpers were trying to move some logs, but the logs were heavy. He went up to the Negati. "Hi," he said to them. "Could you guys help us lift or move those logs? We need to clear them out so that they are not a hazard."

Both seemed surprised and seemed to look around before looking at the boy with questioning looks as to what they could do. "You seem pretty strong," he said to the bigger Negati, who nodded and seemed to puff up in pride at that. "How much weight can you lift?"

The Plenti walked over to the logs and lifted up five of them in one arm with no trouble, walking over to a pile of logs and setting down the ones in his arms. The people were surprised, but accepted the bulky, Negati's help all the same.

Hunter looked at the Gachigachi. "Can you get that section to break apart so it's easier to remove?" He asked. "It's kind of hard to get anyone of that trash loose because it's so tightly packed."

The Triceratops pawed at the ground towards the section the boy pointed out and galloped at it, crashing into the wall and actually dislodging a good portion of it, making it easier to tackle.

By the end of the day, Bruce's world and the areas around were clean and everyone was expressing how amazing it looked. Bruce was so happy that tears were in his eyes. "Thank you, young man, for everything," he said.

"I didn't do it alone," Hunter said. "It's a team effort to keep our world clean."

"You're correct," Bruce said before giving the boy a glass marble. "I found this a while back and wondered what to do with it. I think you should have it."

Hunter gazed at the marble in awe. It was so smooth and there was a wave of red in it. "Thank you," he said to the elderly man.

Lance came up to them. "Hunter, do you have a side mission to befriend my Negati?" He asked. "Because the Plenti and Gachigachi can't stop talking about you."

The boy looked a bit sheepish, but saw Lance was smiling, which mean the Maestro of Negativity was just messing with him. "I just asked if they'd help us since we did need some help with some of the trash," he admitted.

He gasped in shock as the Plenti picked him up and hugged him, squeaking happily before setting the boy down and the Gachigachi came up and nudged the boy's hand gently, asking for a head scratch. Malika giggled. "Yup, you've definitely befriended them," she said. "Gachigachi don't just ask anyone for head scratches."

"Nor do Plenti give hugs to just anyone," Balan said, smiling.

Moon Walker grinned. "I just knew you were going to do great when we first met," he said to Hunter.

Just then, Hunter gasped as he felt someone lift him up and he looked to see it was Invisible Man and Fixer-upper, both costumes supporting him on their shoulders. "Let's hear it for the kid!" Someone called out and everyone began cheering, making the boy blush a bit in embarrassment. Malika floated up beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"If Flapjack was here right now, he'd be so proud of you," she said.

"I agree," Midnight said, smiling.

"You deserve all that praise, Hunter," Stardust said.

"But I can't take all the credit," the boy said. "It was a team effort by everyone."

The cheers were louder at that, making Hunter feel like they were all on top of the world.

Later on, Hunter stood before the door to World 10, wondering what mission awaited him there. He had already decided he'd go into it the next day, but now he was feeling a bit nervous now that he was near the end of his quest.

Someone suddenly scooped him up and he yelped before laughing as fingers playfully tickled his stomach, someone chuckling in his ear. "I could sense your nervousness a mile away," came Lance's voice as he stopped tickling the boy and held him protectively.

The young man smiled. "Sorry, guess I'm just wondering if I'm truly ready," he said. "I mean, World 10 is the last world before my final challenge."

"If you weren't ready, then Balan or myself would know, Hunter," the Maestro of Negativity said soothingly as he began walking back to the theater and into the dining room. Malika saw them and smiled.

"You feeling okay, Hunter?" She asked.

"Yeah," he said. "Just a bit nervous."

"Aunt Lucy is really nice," the Maestro of Reassurance said kindly.

"That's not what I'm really worried about," the boy admitted.

"He's worried about being near the end of his quest," Balan said, smiling gently. "It's alright, Hunter. You have nothing to worry about. We all have every confidence that you will succeed."

Hunter looked up at them. "You guys really think so?" He asked.

"We know so," Lance said, giving Hunter a gentle boop on the nose before smiling and looking up at his counterpart and niece. "Balan. Malika, I think Hunter could use a little more cheering up."

"Of course," Balan said, pulling the young man into a hug and tickling his sides, making the boy laugh and letting him escape, but Malika then caught him and tickled his neck, making him squeak with giggles before she let him up and hugged him.

"You're going to succeed, Hunter," she said. "Don't ever doubt yourself, okay?"

He nodded and hugged her back before hugging Balan and Lance, who returned the hugs warmly before they all sat down to eat and then head to bed, looking forward to tomorrow.

Hunter is nearly finished his quest. :)

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