A/N: Before we begin, I need to clarify something: Dreamland will be a world in this story. The reason Dedede is not among the rouge's gallery is because of his own status as a villain. It's always been in a strange gray area. I apologize if I elicit any confusion. That's not my intention. lol Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 10: Departing for Adventure
Bowser wandered the dark, empty hallways of what was presumed to be a castle. His thoughts meandered along with him, visiting different areas of his mind to reflect on today's events. But there was an uncomfortable mark that refused to leave his chest: his obsessive feelings for Princess Peach. From day one he was infatuated by her beautiful golden hair, her blue eyes that sparkled in the sunlight, and her warm personality.
Then the mark grew hot like a stove, as he played the image of Mario snatching her away again in his head. It was an endless cycle he could never break. But the feeling in his chest subsided when he realized that Mario wasn't around to stop him this time. Sure, Sora and his friends could be minor potholes on the road to his goal, but he didn't see them as a serious threat. Especially Luigi. He was Mario's frightened shadow that refused to emerge from the ground.
Content, the Koopa King kept walking until he saw movement out of his peripheral vision. His heart bounced like a ping pong ball in surprise, and he turned to face the mysterious hooded figure that encountered Riku earlier.
Exhaling in relief, Bowser said, "Y'know, there's a thing everyone has called a voice box. How 'bout using that next time instead of trying to scare me right out of my shell?!"
"My apologies," the hooded figure said. His voice was calm, and yet there was a hint of sadness littered throughout his tone. "I assumed you were in deep thought.
Ridley flew by in a state of uproarious laughter. "Pff! Him actually thinking!? Hahahaha!"
"Can it, Flyboy!" Bowser shouted at him. "Before I turn you into buffalo wings!" He turned back to the hooded figure. "What do you want? I got things to do."
"Well, I found a wanderer outside of the castle," the hooded figure said. "Had no clue how he arrived here. Seemed frightened. He's currently resting in one of our beds."
Bowser groaned. "Ugh. If there's one thing I can't stand its visitors running amuck in this castle. We ain't a resort here. This is an EVIL lair; for EVIL things. What did I tell you to say to trespassers?"
The hooded figure grunted, as if he was reluctant to utter the next sentence in embarrassment. "Welcome. No one's home. Now scram – and don't come back."
"Exactly! Why is that so hard for you to understand?"
"For one thing, the statement is clearly contradictory. How could no one be home if 'someone' mentions it?"
Bowser blushed. "Erm, well, I was just trying to be clever. Don't bring logic into this conversation."
You rarely do bring logic into a conversation, the hooded figure thought.
"Anyway, throw the bum out," Bowser said. "Unless he'd like to dust this entire castle. That'd scare him off."
"There's something unique about this stranger," the hooded figure said. "I can sense an untapped power of darkness lying within him. Most who hold this power would be consumed without a thought. But he's managed to hold onto his body. There's potential in someone who is immune to the darkness' lethal side effects."
Bowser mulled over the figure's assessment.
"Hmm, you know, for an emotional stump you sure know how to grab someone's attention," Bowser said. "Guess it wouldn't take a hurt to see what this guy can do. What else do we know about him?"
"Well, he's a teenager," the figure said. "Well built for his age."
"A teenager?" Bowser said, with a hint of disappointment. "Great. Because the darkness is known to work so well with overemotional, overbearing crybabies."
"He says he's searching for his friends," the figure continued. "Says their names are Kairi and Sora."
Bowser froze in surprise upon hearing the second name. Sora. The Keyblade Wielder! His indifference towards the visitor suddenly backpedaled towards wild intrigue. Ideas were sprouting into a garden of endless possibilities. He couldn't help but grin in sinister delight.
"Well, well," Bowser said. "Talk about the mother of all coincidences."
If there's one thing Sora loved to do on his island, it was run. Not even the aches from running so much made him stop. There was nothing better than letting the playful howls of the wind breathe on your face. Or feel the sand tickle your feet. His and Riku's laughter consolidated with the joyful screams of children that echoed in the sky.
The two boys appeared to be younger in this moment: Sora was wearing a plain white shirt, red shorts, and sandals; Riku wore a sleeveless yellow vest and black shorts that reached past his knees. While growing up introduced a plethora of changes to both the body and mind, their strong competitive nature remained still within the sands of time. They were in the middle of an exciting game of tag.
"C'mon Sora!" Riku said with a smirk. "When are ya gonna actually start running!? Last I checked, that's how chasing someone works!"
"I'm just humoring you!" Sora said. "Giving you some time to enjoy being the non-tagger."
"Well, I AM finding much humor in this!"
Sora stumbled over and fell face first into the sand. Riku hurried over to see if his friend was okay. Sora lifted his head, spitting out the fine minerals trapped in his mouth. Sand was sprinkled around his lips like a five o'clock shadow. Riku couldn't help but snicker as he helped his friend up from the sand.
"Aw, what's wrong, gramps?" Riku asked in a teasing tone. "Your back goin' out already? Want your cane?"
Sora grabbed a handful of sand and splat it across Riku's upper lip, giving him a moustache.
"Maybe after we give you some warm oatmeal and put you to bed," Sora said with a grin.
Riku got Sora into a headlock and disrupted his split ends with a noogie. The two laughed from their antics. It was another wonderful day in paradise. But something significant was about to happen; and it was going to take their lives in an exciting new direction. Out of the corner of his eye, Riku saw someone row up to the docks. He noticed it was a woman – someone he recognized.
"Hey, isn't that the mayor's wife?" Riku asked.
Sora turned to notice her as well. After tying the rope of her boat around the dock, she held her hand for someone still residing in the boat. It was a little girl with long red hair wearing a white shirt with a pink skirt. Her shy blue eyes glanced around the island with intrigue, but she was afraid to leave the safety of her boat.
Her mother's gentle voice offered words of encouraged, and she found the courage to step into the sand. The whole time she held onto her mother's smooth, comforting hand, refusing to loosen her grip in the slightest. They walked towards the two boys, with the little girl continuing to stare in awe at the sheer size of the island.
"And isn't that the new girl?" Riku asked.
Sora's eyes were focused on the girl; they haven't met yet, but already he wanted to be her friend. He hurried over say hello, with Riku joining him after he brushed the sand from his face. The little girl noticed the boys approaching them, and she hid behind her mother's legs. They both stopped right in front of the mayor's wife.
"Hello, boys," the mayor's wife said. "How are you doing today?"
"We're great," Riku said.
"Good to hear," she said. "Would you like to meet someone special?"
"Uh-huh," Sora said in eager anticipation.
The mayor's wife once again used her encouraging voice to help coax the girl out from behind her legs. While still refusing to loosen her mother's grip, she glanced at the two boys.
"H-Hi," the little girl said in a soft voice. "My name's Kairi."
Sora couldn't contain the excitement in his feet, and he hopped up and down like an out of control spring.
"Hi, Kairi!" he said. "It's so nice to meet you! What do you think of our island? You like it? Where'd you come from?"
Kairi, feeling overwhelmed from being bombarded by questions, hid behind her mother again.
Riku had to subdue Sora's motor mouth with another headlock. "Cut it out! How can we be friends with her if you're just gonna scare her away?"
Sora rubbed his head in guilt, and turned back to Kairi, this time speaking with a much calmer voice.
"Sorry," he said. "Didn't mean to frightened ya. I'm just really happy to meet someone new!"
Kairi leaned out from behind her mother's legs to glance at the boys. She saw a welcoming gleam in their eyes. Their smiles were warm and pleasant. She felt something trustworthy about them, and soon found herself moving out from behind her mother. It was as if she was drawn to their amiable energy like a bee to a flower. A feeling of comfort started to wipe the shy stain off her face.
"My name's Riku." He gestured towards Sora. "The excitable puppy here is Sora."
"We were in the middle of playing tag," Sora said. "Want to join us?"
Kairi just now noticed the sand on Sora's face. Her lips formed into a smile, which then released a small giggle. From there, it evolved into laughter.
Sora glared at her in confusion. "What's so funny?"
Riku pointed at his lips. Sora laughed upon remembering the sand and wiped it off his face. Both he and Kairi continued to laugh; and its contagious, pleasing sounds affected Riku. Soon, the three couldn't stop laughing.
"I would love to play!" Kairi said with enthusiasm in her voice.
Kairi's mother was both relieved and pleased to see her daughter opening up to people. When Kairi first arrived, she was a reclusive butterfly who refused to leave her cocoon. And who could blame her? She had no memory of her past; every face she met was foreign to her. Overloading the mind with so much new information could cause a surge of anxiety.
But now, Sora and Riku were pulling away at the cocoon's layers, helping her take that first step into the light.
"Then you better watch out," Riku said. "Sora's currently it."
He felt Sora's finger tap at his cheek, and he continued poking with a huge grin on his face. Riku narrowed his eyes at him.
"Tag your it times one," Sora said. "Tag your it times two."
Kairi burst into laughter again.
"Poke me again and see what happens again. Please."
Sora did so. Riku cracked his knuckles.
"You better start running!" Riku said.
Sora grabbed Kairi's hand and said, "Come on! Let's leave him in the dust!"
Riku chased the two across the beach – their laughter echoed into the clear blue sky. Kairi's mother almost wanted to warn them to be careful, but she saw how happy Kairi was with them. There was no point in having a grown up put a foot down to halt their fun, especially when it was getting started. A parent's greatest aspiration was to make their child happy; she was content in having achieved that goal.
So she left her child in the safe hands of the two boys.
Throughout the day, Sora and Riku showed their new friend every inch of the island. Not a spot was glanced over. Kairi ran, climbed, and crawled through various areas, seeing new, exciting locations. She was allured by the peaceful island and all its wonders. But the greatest part of her day was exploring this place with her new friends. They talked, laughed, and played. It was one of the best days of their lives.
Unfortunately, time was their greatest nemesis. Having so much fun made them forget that the sun was descending towards the horizon. The three spent their remaining time sitting in the sand, watching the beautiful sunset, and listening to the gentle sounds of waves crashing onto shore. People claim there is no such thing as perfection, but, as this day had shown, they've been proved wrong.
"I had such a great time," Kairi said. "Can we do it again tomorrow?"
"Absolutely!" Sora said.
"And we should go swimming, too," Riku said.
"Sure," Kairi said. "I'll ask my mom."
"This is gonna be the best summer ever!" Sora said, stretching his arms into the air.
Ever since first hearing about Kairi, a single, nagging question had been bothering Riku. They were friendly with each other now. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask. "So Kairi, where'd you come from?"
"Oh, I can answer that," Sora said. "It's when mommies and daddies have so much love that that they end up making us!"
Riku shook his head. "I meant Kairi, dude."
"Well, I'm sure her mom and dad love each other very much, too," Sora said.
Sora found himself once again on the receiving end of a noogie.
"You drive me crazy sometimes," Riku said with a playful smile.
"I understand what you mean," Kairi said. She glanced out the horizon, searching deep within her memories. "I don't really remember. I just…ended up here. Someone found me, and I was adopted by the mayor and his wife. Really nice people. They feel like my family. I love them so much."
The boys couldn't believe what they were hearing. She just appeared out of nowhere. How? But more importantly, from where? Sora and Riku had always wondered what lay beyond the horizon. Right now, imaginations ran rampant throughout the beach with endless possibilities.
"Do you remember anything about your old place?"
Kairi shook her head. "It's all blank to me. I…feel really bad, too. It's like you've lost something important, but can't remember what it is. That's the worst kind of feeling."
Riku brushed his hand through the sand; he started to regret asking. It was never his intention to make her feel sad. Perhaps, just like Sora, he was too excited.
"Sorry," Riku said.
They were surprised to see Kairi's face light up with a smile.
"Don't be," she said. "If there's one thing I won't be forgetting anytime soon, it's meeting you two. That'll keep me happy."
The two smiled back, relieved to hear she didn't take their questions personal. Kairi felt the sadness drain from her body; her day with Sora and Riku was so memorable that nothing else mattered. She hadn't experienced so much joy in her life. Before, it was being afraid of her new surroundings. But it had evaporated thanks to them.
Kairi's mom called to her. Their happiness was deflated; they wished the day didn't end. But they knew that their time together had only begun. There would be many more blissful days ahead of them.
Kairi stood up from the stand. "Well, I better get going. Oh, and Sora?"
"Yeah?"
Her voice changed to a male baby-like voice. "It time to get up!"
"H-Huh?" Sora asked, startled. "Y-Yoshi?"
Sora woke up from his peaceful, sentimental dream, and saw Yoshi's oval shaped eyes staring right at him. Startled, he felt out of his bed. The dinosaur couldn't help but giggle at his mishap.
"Sora fall down and go boom!" Yoshi said.
Sora sat up and rubbed his head, groaning. He was half-awake, and wished for the other half that slept to fill the entire pie. Yoshi wagged his tail in excitement; he was ready to face the unknown challenges that lay ahead for them.
"How did you get in here?" Sora asked, still lethargic.
Yoshi thumbed the interconnecting door behind him. "You left door unlocked."
If Sora could moan any louder, someone would've mistaken him for a police siren. He slammed his face into the soft mattress.
"Come back later," Sora said; his voice was muffled beneath the sheets.
"But we have adventuring to do!" Yoshi said. He walked over to the window, which slept behind the curtains. "C'mon, it beautiful day. The sun is—"
He drew back the curtains to see the same night sky staring him right in the face.
"O-Okay," Yoshi said, somewhat confused. "Apparently sun just as big a sleeper as Sora. But let's go! Worlds waiting for us!"
He turned back to notice Sora had escaped into the catacombs beneath his sheets. Yoshi glared in annoyance at the giant lump containing Sora. He refused to wait any longer for their adventure to start. His excitement was ready to burst like a giant bubble. Yoshi walked straight into the bathroom, brushed his teeth with meticulous care, and then leaped onto the bed.
After pulling back the covers to expose Sora's familiar bushy spikes, he started licking his face, with no intention of stopping. Sora felt the rough, wet bumps slide up and down his cheek. He tried ignoring the feeling, but Yoshi was relentless. Soon, Sora broke into laughter; he couldn't withstand the overpowering tingle that rolled around his cheek.
"Okay, okay!' Sora said; he sat up in the bed, pushing Yoshi back. "You win! I'm up! I'm up!"
After shaking the tired feeling out of his head, he turned back to face Yoshi, who had the biggest smile on his face. His tail wagged even faster; so fast that Sora would've mistaken it for a propeller.
"Man, you're really looking forward to this journey, huh?"
"Well, that, and there breakfast buffet in hotel," Yoshi said. "That bring Yoshi to full attention. Isn't Sora excited to see new worlds?"
Sora smiled. "Of course! You have no idea how long I've been waiting for this. My friends and I have always dreamed of seeing other worlds."
Saying that sentence felt like a punch to the stomach. He hated reminding himself that Riku and Kairi were still missing. Sometimes he wondered if there was a point in being excited; he wanted to share every moment with them.
"Just wish they were here with me," Sora said.
"Me know what you mean," Yoshi said; there was a sympathetic haze in his eyes. "Yoshi wish Mario here. Me miss him so much. But we have each other. We going to work together and find our friends! Having more than two eyes help, yes?"
Sora felt himself absorbing the positive energy emanating from the dinosaur. Yoshi reminded him of a younger version of himself: wide-eyed, idealistic, and not afraid of the future. Sora still had those qualities now, but as a teenager, the harsh truths of reality would try sneak up and restrain his optimistic outlook on life. In this situation, it had been hard to even force a smile; loneliness can sometimes transform us into a hideous, pessimistic beast.
But being in good company pulled him back towards that confident light. Yoshi's boundless cheerfulness had put a smile on his face.
"Yep," Sora said. "And we'll use those eyes to search every last world if we have to."
"Good!" Yoshi said. "Then let's go wake Luigi up….Yoshi style."
"Ew! I ain't licking his face!"
"No," Yoshi said; he rubbed his hands together with a devilish grin. "Me have a better idea."
Luigi was enjoying a peaceful sleep. Pleasurable images waltzed through his head like a breathtaking ballet.
Content words escaped his mouth between each snore. "Ah, spaghetti. Ah ravioli. Ah mama-mia."
But a dark cloud started to loom over his head, planning to shatter the tranquil solitude of his dream. And that cloud was in the form of two shadows, whom belonged to Sora and Yoshi. They crept into the room, leaving the door open just enough for them to see, and approached him.
Sora held out his hand. He counted down each digit: 3…2….1. And they pounced right on top of him. Luigi felt the sudden air leap from his mouth, and he sat up in a panic.
"Ahh! The blue shell – it got me! It got me!"
Luigi felt the panic drain from his body upon realizing that he was in the safe comfort of the hotel room. And once he saw Sora and Yoshi's grinning faces, that feeling was replaced by irritation.
"Was that really necessary?" Luigi asked.
"It totally was," Sora said.
Yoshi laughed. "Luigi should've seen his face!"
"You two better get off," Luigi said, growing angry, "or you won't like seeing the face I make next."
The two, unfazed by his threat, continued chuckling as they crawled off the bed. Luigi turned on the light, rolled over onto the edge, and rubbed his eyes, mumbling (and mourning) over the loss of his perfect dream. Before he could speak, there was a knock on the door. Yoshi opened it, revealing Isabelle; she stood in the doorway holding her journal.
"Is everyone okay?" she asked. "I heard a commotion."
"Oh, there was a commotion alright," Luigi said. "It was the sounds of my nightmares coming to life."
"We just woke Luigi up with good old dogpile," Sora said. "Beats drinking coffee any day."
"Can I respectfully agree to disagree?" Luigi asked.
"We'll be out soon," Sora said.
"No problem," Isabelle said. "I'll be out in the hall. Already have everything I need."
"Wow, Isabelle," Sora said. "You seem to be prepared for anything, huh?"
Isabelle blushed. "Well, thanks. As the princess' royal chronicler, it's my duty to make sure I write about everything that happens on this journey. You always need to be prepared for the unexpected."
She opened her journal and started writing in it.
"And you've already provided my morning material," Isabelle said with an eager flick of her wrist.
Luigi glared at her in bewilderment. "And why is writing about these two ruining my beauty sleep so important?"
"It isn't," Isabelle said with a giggle. "But I'm sure it would give the princess a good chuckle."
"Heh, I like her already," Sora said.
Luigi resumed his mumbling as he forced everyone out of the room. As the door closed, he took a deep breath, regaining his composure. Today began the long and treacherous journey to find his brother. Not even an irritable mood could bring his persistence to a halt.
After breakfast (in which Sora was amazed by Yoshi's colossal appetite, as he devoured ten pancakes in one bite) Peach and the Toads accompanied Sora's group outside to say good-bye; for a moment, Peach didn't want to let those words climb out of her mouth. She hated the idea of seeing her loved ones travel into parts of unknown.
But she did her best to suppress those troubled feelings. Luigi and Yoshi were capable of handling themselves, and from watching the video feed with Isabelle, Sora had proven himself as a stalwart ally. She had to keep hope cradled within her arms.
"Best of luck in your endeavors, boys," Toadsworth said. "Make sure to stay in top form."
"Yes, please be careful," Peach said. "I hope you find the missing Star Spirits; and Mario along with them."
"You bet we will," Luigi said. He turned to the Blue and Yellow Toads. "Keep a close eye on her. That dashing imposter of me is still out there. If history is repeating itself, then there's no doubt he'll try capturing her."
The Toads responded with a salute.
"And I hope you find your friends," Peach said to Sora. "Thank you for your assistance yesterday."
Sora rubbed his head with pride; never in his life would he have imagined being honored by a princess. He couldn't wait to share his achievement with Riku and Kairi. After good-byes were passed around, Sora and his friends left for the First District.
Upon arriving, they saw that the streets were no longer congested by heartless; instead, a steady flow of people meandered throughout the district, feeling safe and confident in visiting the various stores. Sora was glad their efforts from last night weren't in vain.
But a tingling sensation pricked his finger like a thorn. Whether it was from his own intuition or the Keyblade, he couldn't tell. All he knew was that the Heartless would return soon, and he couldn't relax. The best thing to do was focus on the now instead of the then. He needed to keep his spirits elevated, especially since he had become part of a team.
Luigi didn't feel any better. Minor apprehension flew around his face like dust, as he felt people were still giving him suspicious looks. He lowered his cap to avoid making eye contact with them. While descending the stairs, Sora's face lit up upon seeing Leon and his friends sitting around a table at the café, drinking freshly brewed coffee.
Sora called out to them, and hurried over to say hello; the others followed right behind him. Aerith and Yuffie turned to him with big smiles. Leon, however, continued staring at the dark liquid slowly spinning around inside his cup.
"Good morning!" Aerith said.
"You guys seem in top form," Yuffie said. "Heading out?"
"Yep," Sora said. He noticed Leon's somber demeanor. "Leon?"
Leon snapped out of his thoughts and spun around to see the group.
"Oh, good morning," he said, sounding crestfallen.
"Everything okay?" Isabelle asked.
"Well, Squall's just worried about these friends of ours," Yuffie said. "They're living in that shack at the Second District."
Leon cleared his throat. "Call me Leon."
"Oh, you mean Captain Olimar and those Pikmin things?" Sora asked.
"You've met them before?" Yuffie asked. "Good. Then you probably know what's going on."
Sora place both hands in his pockets. "Yeah. I feel bad for them."
"Pikmen?" Yoshi asked.
"It's a long story," Sora said.
"And they're called Pikmin, silly," Yuffie said with a small chuckle.
"Sora, we know you have a lot going on," Aerith said, "but would you mind keeping an eye out for the remaining pieces of the captain's ship, as well as the Pikmin, during your travels?"
"No problem. You guys have been a big help. I probably wouldn't be visiting other worlds had I not met you. Although our first encounter could've done without running from fireballs."
A faint smile appeared on Leon's face; he was relieved to hear that Sora was willing to extend a helping hand. Reliving the past was like rolling down a hill with sharp rocks; each memory he crashed into was sharp and painful. Losing another life would only increase the quantity.
Leon stood up from his seat and turned to the group. "That would mean the world to us. So you're heading out then? Make sure you're prepared for the journey ahead. We don't know how far the Heartless have spread."
"Check out the shops here," Yuffie said. "They've got some pretty neat stuff!"
Aerith pulled something out of her pocket. "This is from all of us. It's called munny, the town's currency. Spend it as you see fit."
She handed Sora what looked like miniature beachballs that had yellow and blue stripes. He pocketed them.
"That's really nice," Luigi said. "You didn't have to do that."
"We're all part of the same team now," Leon said. "Our goals are one in the same."
"Best of luck out there," Yuffie said. "We're rootin' for ya. And so is Leon. In his own unique way of course."
Leon rolled his eyes with a smile.
"And I hope everyone finds their friends." Aerith said.
"I'm sure you'll encounter many challenges," Leon said. "But remember to look out for each other. Keep your spirits up."
With another round of good-byes exchanged, Sora and his friends walked back towards the center of town.
"They've been such a big help to us," Isabelle said. "That munny was awfully generous of them."
Sora grinned. "Well, it looks like we're in the 'munny' now. Huh? Huh?"
The entire town went silent from Sora's joke.
"Touch crowd," Sora said, rubbing his head.
"Young ones," a voice said from above.
Everyone recognized the gentle voice immediately. They looked up to see Eldstar descending towards them.
"It is good to see all of you again," Eldstar said. "I have kept my word and have returned."
"How's everyone in Star Haven doing?" Luigi asked.
"Everyone is in good health," Eldstar said. "No further damage has been done."
Luigi sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."
"Indeed," Eldstar said. "My old heart would've collapsed in despair if those savages harmed the children. But now is not the time to dwell over what could've been. I'm here to give you a gift that will help you during your perilous endeavors."
"With what we had to deal with last night," Luigi said, "any help would be much appreciated."
Eldstar nodded. "The gift I bring is the power of fire. Use it to incinerate foes, but also as a light source through the darkest corridors. I can sense that two of you are capable of using it." He faced Sora. "And you are one of them. I believe we've not been introduced."
"I'm Sora. Luigi filled me. I'm more than happy to help you out."
"For that I'm grateful," Eldstar said. "I can sense a strong, righteous heart inside of you. And so, I grant both you and Luigi the power of fire. Step forward, young ones."
Sora couldn't believe his ears. He would be able to cast magic! The thought sent his five-year-old self into an impressive display of cartwheels. It was as if his childhood fantasy stories had leapt out from their colorful, static pictures. He was ecstatic. Meanwhile, an envious pressure of air inflated Yoshi's cheeks.
"Hey, why Yoshi get no fire spell?" Yoshi asked, upset.
"Because while someone as youthful like yourself contains boundless energy," Eldstar said, "you are also inexperienced. It takes time and skill to master the ways of our magic."
Yoshi lowered his head in disappointed.
"But do not be discouraged," Eldstar said. "I sense great potential in you. There's no doubt that one day you'll be proficient in casing our spells."
Eldstar's kind, encouraging words lifted Yoshi back onto his feet; he felt better knowing that'd he would get the opportunity one day. For now, he would rely on his greatest asset: his long, slimy tongue - an innate skill he held with pride. Eldstar asked Sora and Luigi to raise their weapons, and he closed his eyes to concentrate.
A beautiful assortment of red sparkling energy filled the night sky. It descended like gentle rain, and merged into the two's weapons. They were overcome by a warm, gentle feeling. It reminded Sora of being embraced by the wind back on his island.
"You now possess the power of fire," Eldstar said. "As you continue to hone your skills, its power will grow in both size and strength. But, given the malevolent foes you will be encountering, the element of fire alone will not be enough. You must seek out the other Star Spirits, as they contain useful spells that will aid you in your quest."
He continued: "Now, I must return to provide guidance to the star children. In times of crisis, they need someone to inspire courage in them. Farewell, my friends. May good fortune follow you throughout the stars."
He ascended into the sky and disappeared into the endless dark void. The group next decided to stock up on supplies for their journey.
"There's an item shop right over there," Sora said. "I've been there before. Owner was super helpful."
Everyone followed Sora into the store; they, too, were impressed by its immaculate shine and meticulous care to every shelf. Isabelle felt a small itch of familiarity in her paws; something about this perfect setup reminded her of a place she visited back home. Sora noticed Tom Nook stacking some toys on a shelf; a sign at the top read: 'Non-specific action figure – half off today!"
"Hey, Mr. Nook!" Sora said.
Tom Nook spun around to see him. "Oh, Sora! Good you see you again, hm?"
Isabelle almost dropped her pen in shock. Was she staring at an illusion? The chances of running into him seemed impossible. But the impossible had proved her wrong. She could feel the tears start to form in her eyes.
"M-Mr. Nook!?" Isabelle asked.
Tom's eyes widened in surprise. "Isabelle!?"
Screams of joy echoed throughout the store as the two ran into each other's arms with a tight embrace. Their emotions ran laps up and down the aisle; they couldn't believe the other was alive. When one tried to speak, the other overlapped, turning their voices into a garbled mess. Sora assumed that they knew each other. He was happy for her.
A hint of jealousy tried scratching the back of his ear; it would've been wonderful to see his friends now, and experience the same euphoric emotions. But he held onto Leon's words: "Keep your spirits up." If Sora ever wanted to see them again, he had to give it one hundred percent. Storing those negative feelings away would cause an excessive buildup of despair. Tossing those discouraging thoughts away, he once again felt happy that Isabelle found an old friend.
After they regained their composure, Isabelle turned back the others.
"I guess you figured out that Mr. Nook comes from my world," Isabelle said with a small chuckle. "Used to own the general store. Still, I can't believe I found you."
"Same," Tom said. "Come! Stay awhile! I want to hear to all about how've you been. Tommy and Timmy are here, too. They'll be happy to see you, too, yes, yes?"
Isabelle's smile faltered. "Afraid we can't. I'm on a mission with these three. We have a lot of worlds to visit."
"Hey, you should hang out with him for a bit," Sora said. "He's your friend, after all. Bet you have a lot to catch up on. We'll gather the supplies."
"You mean it?" Isabelle asked in surprise. "Well, okay. I suppose it wouldn't hurt."
"Splendid!" Tom said as he clapped his paws together. "Please feel free to browse around, my friends. We have many wonderful items on sale. You may find something useful for your journey."
Sora wandered through the store, picking out various foods, drinks, and other miscellaneous items he deemed useful. Before long, he strolled over to the register, where Isabelle and Tom were engaged in a conversation, reminiscing about life back home, and catching up on current events in their lives. They both stopped upon noticing Sora.
"So, any luck finding your friends?" Tom asked.
"Not yet," Sora said. "But I'm going on this journey with Isabelle to find them."
"Well, that's good to hear," Tom said. "It's a step in the right direction, hm? Just make sure to keep a stiff upper lip, my boy!" He turned back to Isabelle. "How about you? Have you seen any of our friends?"
"None." Isabelle hesitated for a moment, as if she didn't want to utter the following sentence. "Not even Digby."
Sora noticed Isabelle squeezing an uncomfortable shoulder; it was like saying this person's name caused her great distress. He almost didn't want to ask, but his curiosity threw logic off a balcony.
"Who's Digby?" Sora asked.
"He's my twin brother," Isabelle said. She pulled out a picture of him, and handed it to Sora.
It was delightful photo; Isabelle and her brother stood outside of a small, simple house. They both had their arms around each other. Digby's resemblance to his sister was unmistakable; he had the same amiable oval shaped eyes. Unlike her, his fur was a light brown. He wore a red buttoned shirt with a yellow tie, and blue jeans. They were happy together – a perfect pair of siblings.
"He's not just my brother," Isabelle said, "he's my best friend. We've been through so much together, and, despite life's up and downs, we've always had each other's backs. I..I can't imagine waking up every day to find that he's not here. I miss him."
"I know what you mean," Sora said. "One of my best friends has always been like a brother to me. Funny. Seems like we're all searching for someone. And maybe that's why we've been brought together: to help each other find them! So don't you worry. As long as you've got our backs, we've got yours. You're not alone anymore."
Isabelle felt her chest deflate in relief. "Thank you, Sora. That's so nice of you to say. Right! I won't give up! We'll find out friends. I'm ready to head out now!"
"Sure thing," Sora said. "But where are the others?"
Everyone heard growling coming from behind them. They turned to see Yoshi had bitten down on a backpack that was in the shape of a cheeseburger. Luigi was holding onto the straps, trying his hardest to yank it out of his mouth.
"Let go!" Luigi said, grunting. "You wanna get in trouble!? Just because it looks like a cheeseburger doesn't mean you should eat it!"
The two saw a furious Tom Nook leap over the counter; he ran right for them.
"Stop that! Digesting the product is going cost you an additional 20 munny!"
Many interesting things have happened over the course of a day: he was separated from his island, arrived in a strange new town, fought a man with gun-like sword, and defeated ruthless creatures with a giant key. Yet, despite every bizarre encounter, he had a strong hunch that Luigi and Yoshi were going to make this journey even more interesting.
After settling Yoshi down and paying for their items, the group left the store. All the while, Luigi scolded Yoshi across the entire district with a furious tongue.
"You're lucky he let your little fiasco slide this time!" Luigi said.
"But Yoshi was hungry."
Sora gave Yoshi an incredulous look. "But you just had breakfast."
"Sora, you have no idea how far the belly of this green dino goes," Luigi said. "Just you wait."
Sora wasn't sure if the thought either intrigued or horrified him. Either way, he had a feeling that Yoshi only showed him a fraction of his eating prowess. Right now, though, guilt had filled the dinosaur's stomach.
"Me sorry," Yoshi said.
Luigi patted his head. "Well, just try not to eat the Labo ship, just because the blocks look like candy."
"The what?" Sora asked.
"That our ship!" Yoshi said. "It so cool! Wait till Sora see it!"
"Wait nothing!" Sora said. "I want to see it now!"
"Well, if everyone's ready, let's head over there," Luigi said. "The docking bay is behind that door."
"Welcome aboard the Labo Ship, kiddo," Luigi said with pride.
Sora's eyes went numb from the swarm of incredible machinery at work. He had never seen an array of mechanical pieces work in union to power a large ship. It was like being in a museum; questions about the ship's innerworkings spun around his mind like a record. As he meandered throughout the ship's interior in wonderment, Sora's subconscious commanded his fingers to slide against one of the giant cylinders.
Meanwhile he had a startling realization: it would've been impossible to reach another world using a raft. Riku was going to have a heart attack when he heard; all those strenuous hours working on the raft, which have molded his poor arms into gelatin, were for naught.
Sora continued touching every surface of the ship's innards in fascination. But his fun came to a sudden halt when Telly Vision flew right into his line of sight. If robots could express emotions, then, right now, he was livid; his monitor was tinted red.
"Do you mind not touching the engines?" Tell Vision asked. "Honestly, you humans – we work hard to keep things in tip top shape, and then you come along to rummage through everything, ruining our hard work!"
Sora rubbed his head. "Sorry. First time inside a ship. Can't keep my hands to myself."
He was talking to a flying television now; it was going to be a long while before he could adapt to every strange encounter. Was it still too late to rule out this being an extensive fever dream?
"Sora, this Telly Vision," Yoshi said. "He and Chibi Robo mechanics on ship."
"Who's Chibi Robo?" Sora asked.
The answer tapped him right in the leg. Sora looked down to see the little robot waving to him. He placed his hand on the ground, allowing Chibi to hop right into it. Sora brought the robot up to his eyes; he needed confirmation on what he was seeing.
"Wow," Sora said. "Are you a robot? You're so…tiny."
"Small, but incredibly efficient," Telly Vision said. "He excels in maintenance work, and will keep the ship in top form. No one is more reliable!"
Sora patted Chibi's head. "Then keep up the good work."
Chibi gave a thumbs up in response, and leaped off his hand. Luigi closed the hatch door and instructed the robots to prepare for launch. The time for exploration was drawing closer and closer. Sora couldn't contain his excitement.
"Let's head to the cockpit," Luigi said.
"Okay, me call shotgun," Yoshi said.
"No way!" Sora said. "This is my first time flying. I call it!"
Yoshi smirked. "Then you have to beat Yoshi there!"
"Bring it!"
The two hurried towards the ladder, trying in desperation to push the other aside; but it was all in fun, as their laughter drowned out the electric humming of the ship. Fighting against Yoshi reminded Sora of his numerous competitive streaks against Riku. The running, the screaming – that adrenaline filled rush filled the hollow hole in his chest with elation. It reminded him of a simpler time when their biggest concern was figuring out what game to compete in next.
He needed to make sure that those feelings of joy didn't slip between his hands; it's what kept him from being stuck in a constate state of worry for Riku and Kairi. Their laughter continued over to the ladder, as Yoshi tried pulling Sora off it.
Luigi's hands were on his hips. "I'm starting to get the feeling those two have the same brain."
"I think it's cute that Yoshi has someone close to his age to hang out with," Isabelle said, smiling.
"I suppose," Luigi said, shrugging. "It'll keep him happy. By the way, I know your first-time flying wasn't the most pleasant experience, but—"
"I'll be okay," Isabelle said. "Can't let that discourage me from the mission."
"You're right," Luigi said. "As much as I'm trying to not freak out over this whole thing, we've gotta stay focused. So let's get going."
"Right," Isabelle said. She chuckled. "Besides, I'm curious to see who just claimed the chair of victory."
Isabelle walked over to the ladder and began her ascension. Luigi glared up at the entrance to the cockpit. His nerves ascended the ladder alongside Isabelle. Much like everyone else, he didn't know what they expected to find out there. Countless worlds were concealed within the shining stars; on the outside, they were all a sight to behold, but hidden behind that light could be an unsettling, precarious landscape that would threaten their lives.
Like he said before: do it for Mario. It didn't matter how many worlds he visited; he would never stop searching for his brother. Mario and Luigi's bond made the strongest metal break in half like paper. Nothing would keep them apart; not the Heartless, not Bowser, and not even the monumental distance between each world.
If you wish to support my work, please visit my YouTube page: channel/UCTt8bVl63VokPqhTXg2xRKQ
Check me out on social media:
Twitter: kingdomkey23
Facebook: kingdomkey23
Instagram: kingdomkey23
Deviantart: kingdomkey23
Twitch: kingdomkey_23
Cover Artist's Twitter: jitart1