Chapter 25: Brawl in the Town

Yoshi felt the harsh air from each of Guard Armor's punches; sometimes they were dangerously close. The Heartless was far more aggressive this time around; Yoshi couldn't even find an opening to counter. At one point, he was able to run towards the Heartless, but onc of its feet halted his progress.

Yoshi rolled backwards, avoiding it, but his back collided with a wall. He was cornered. The metal clanking of Guard Armor's feet grew louder, along with the dinosaur's nervous heartbeat.

Luigi continued staring at the spot where Peach was taken. He still couldn't process what had happened. His inner critic returned, vitriol, like an enraged teacher: how could you let this happen? Your Mario's brother – you're supposed to be strong like him. Now they're both gone. What are you going to do? Each self-deprecating though drilled into his skull harder.

But then he heard Yoshi's cries for help. Luigi spun around, seeing the dinosaur cowering in the corner like a homeless animal, unable to defend himself from the abomination looming over him. Suddenly, Luigi's inner critic spontaneously combusted into flames of anger. He had never felt this furious before.

No, he thought, Bowser is the source of every problem. Why did he have to cause so much grief? All because of his one-sided, unhealthy love for Peach? It only made him angrier. His usual timid demeanor crumbled into dust. He launched a fire spell right at Guard Armor's back, causing it to flinch. The Heartless turned around to see Luigi holding his hammer; his blue eyes stared down the creature, unblinking, furious.

Yoshi felt the heat of Luigi's anger hit him like a tsunami. He had never seen him filled with such hatred. Luigi leaped off the edge, landed, and ran straight for the Heartless in silent fury. Guard Armor threw a punch; Luigi pushed it away with the head of his hammer; he then blocked the opposite punch with the other side of it.

One of the feet tried to crush him, but he hopped to avoid it. He retaliated by bringing the hammer straight down on the foot; the blow was so fierce that it left a dent. Yoshi watched in stunned silence as Luigi continued his relentless assault, pounding against the Heartless' metal skin. He was unstoppable. The Heartless couldn't escape his wrath. More dents were left on the creature, making it appear akin to a crushed soda can.

Finally, Luigi used his fire punch to send it flying into a wall. It fell onto the floor; body parts were scattered everywhere, like useless scraps of metal. But Luigi refused to stop. The adrenaline moved aggressively through his veins. He continued slamming his hammer into its chest, forming dents that appeared like craters on the moon.

Yoshi shivered in fear. He hated seeing Luigi this violent – so full of seething anger. It was upsetting. Finding his courage, he hurried over to Luigi; he called his name, hoping to douse the angry flames. Luigi spun around, holding the hammer over his head.

"It me!" Yoshi said, cowering in fear.

Seeing a familiar face was able to quell the rampant storm. Yoshi's innocent disposition put Luigi into a state of calm. He lowered his hammer, taking slow, deep breaths, filtering out that unstoppable anger.

"Oh, man," Luigi said, once he was composed. "Sorry, Yoshi. I-I didn't mean to go off like that. Honestly, that's what I needed just now."

"L-Luigi wasn't himself," Yoshi said. "He was scary for a second there."

Luigi let out a small chuckle. "Me? Scary? Never thought I'd have that distinct honor."

But then the memories returned – sadness poured through the gates. Luigi glanced back at where the princess disappeared.

Yoshi could sense that a part of him was still broken. "You okay?"

"Strangely, I feel like Bowser Jr. right now." His eyes were still focused on the spot." There's a huge hole inside of me. The princess has always been like a sister to me." He glanced down at the ground. "And now, both her and Mario are missing. I feel…empty. Alone. Overwhelmed."

He closed his eyes, reflecting on those words. What was he going to do? Self-doubt was his worst enemy. The odds seemed to pile onto his back, pushing him into the earth. Sometimes Luigi wished he could return to that humble lifestyle of a plumber in New Donk City – where he and his brother would spend every hour working on pipes, talking, laughing, and just enjoying each other's company.

He was drifting deeper into a tunnel of depression; no light would be waiting at the end. Just perpetual darkness. But then he felt Yoshi wrap his arms around him. He felt a comforting warmth shield his body from the sadness.

"You're not empty," Yoshi said in a whisper. "Yoshi fill that void."

Luigi relaxed; his thoughts became clear. Amidst the disarray, he forgot that Yoshi was still with him; to help him find that tunnel's exit. The journey ahead would be difficult – that much was apparent. But he had Yoshi – and his new friends – to keep him balanced on the precarious, narrow path.

Luigi smiled. "You're right. Thanks."

"Me promise never to leave you, Luigi."

"That's Mama Luigi to you."

Yoshi chuckled as he released his grip from Luigi. The stuffy, tense air had disintegrated. Luigi petted Yoshi's head, grateful for his help.

"So, what we do now?" Yoshi asked.

"First, let's find our friends. They probably need us."

The sound of metal rattling interrupted their conversation. Turning around, they saw Guard Armor vibrating, finding its second wind. The Heartless' body parts flew into the air; its limbs reformed. Soon, Guard Armor was whole again, and it landed on the ground, glaring at the two; revenge wiggled through its sharp claws.

Yoshi gasped. "Heartless back up!"

"No big deal," Luigi said, tapping the head of his hammer, confidence. "We already took care of him once. We can…"

The Heartless slammed its hands into the ground, startling the two. It performed a handstand; every part of its body had become inverted. The hands were now the feet, and vice versa; its torso was upside down. The toes of its feet curved inward, forming the fingers. Guard Armor's faceplate dropped down, revealing its pitch-black face; those soulless yellow eyes remained unchanged.

It floated above the two, preparing to strike back with a vengeance.

"…take care of him again?" Luigi finished in a slow, frightened tone. He hid behind Yoshi. "I took a crack at him last time. I'll let you have some fun now."

Yoshi rolled his eyes. "Well, someone back to normal."

While Sora was fighting against the mysterious figure, Aerith and Yuffie managed to sneak by with Leon, and head for their home. However, Isabelle and the Toads stayed behind in the cave. Mainly because Toadsworth refused to move; he was laying on the floor, lamenting over the princess' abduction. He still cared for her like a daughter. Stress crawled over his body like a group of spiders; they moved faster the more he worried.

"Oh, mercy me," Toadsworth said, with a dramatic arm over his eyes. "How could this have happened? My poor princess. She must be frightened. Is there any operatic music I can listen to? My nerves need comfort."

"Um, we're in a cave," Yellow Toad said. "Besides, you know she gets kidnapped regularly, right? Every time this happens, you get into one of your funks. It's gonna be fine."

"Funk!?" Toadsworth asked, giving him an angry glare. "I asked for operatic music, not some trite!"

Yellow Toad turned to the Blue Toad with a flat, defeated expression. "Well, I'm done comforting him. You're up."

Right now, the Toads were nothing but background noise to Isabelle. She was focused on the Wii Stream, watching Luigi and Yoshi battle against Guard Armor's new form. They were struggling. Somehow turning upside-down enchanted its strength. Every strike was more deadly than the last. The two were forced to defend themselves like a helpless turtle retracting into its shell.

Isabelle tapped the edge of the Wii Stream, growing more anxious. Her acute ears then tuned into the battle outside of the cave; blades continued to cross paths in a never-ending struggle. Neither side seemed to grow tired. But, at the rate Luigi and Yoshi were going, they would soon succumb to the body's limits.

They needed Sora's help; it was their only chance to win. She wanted to warn him, but fear kept her feet imprisoned between the rocks. Interfering could be dangerous. The figure may even try to attack her. But she couldn't watch Luigi and Yoshi suffer – just like she did her brother.

Courage loosened the trepid shackles around her legs. She wouldn't let history engrave regret into her chest again. It was time to make a difference. After standing up, she took a deep breath, and stepped into the water.

The figure was shocked; Sora's attacks had become more aggressive. In fact, there were moments where he found himself on the defense. Sora prepared to bring his blade down; at the last second, he made it vanish, catching the figure off guard. Taking the opportunity, Sora punched him in the stomach. The figure gasped from the sudden release of air.

Sora tried to thrust, but the figure raised his blade towards the sky, knocking the Keyblade upward. Then, he tried throwing a punch, only for Sora to lean backwards, avoiding it. Sora retaliated by bringing his blade straight down, but the figure side stepped the strike. The figure went on the offense with a diagonal strike; Sora spun around, swung his Keyblade at a horizontal angle, and caught the blade.

For a moment, the two pushed against each other; neither side budged. It was like their feet were stuck in cement.

"How did you improve so quickly?" the figure said, grunting as he fought against Sora's weight.

"Just followed your advice!"

After releasing his grip, the figure spun around, and swung his blade inward. Sora – using both hands – brought the hilt up towards his chest, holding the blade at a diagonal angle, which allowed him to catch the attack.

"As I said, I discovered your flaws as well," Sora said. "You're constantly on guard; makes your attacks come across too stiff!"

He kicked at the stranger's lower leg, then followed up by elbowing him in the shoulder.

"That means your movements become slow and predictable!" Sora said, and he swung the Keyblade at him.

The figure leaped back at the last moment. Upon landing, he noticed something surprising – he was catching his breath. Life had thrown a hurdle in his path. Although he might've been responsible for building that hurdle. His speech might've worked too well. Still, Sora was inexperienced with the Keyblade. How was he growing stronger?

Sora lowered the Keyblade; there was a sincere glare in his eyes. "You talk about always taking things seriously. In a way, you're right. But at the same time, if you never stop to enjoy life for a moment, you'll always be suffering."

"How can you say that?" the figure asked, baffled. "Like me, you've lost everything. And now you're stuck with new people you hardly know."

"That's true," Sora said. "Things can get scary. Especially when someone or something you cherish is gone. But life moves on. You always have to find those little cracks of joy hidden in the sadness. It'll get better. It has to."

"That's ridiculous," the figure said. "You honestly believe such nonsense?"

Sora heard Leon's comforting words whisper in his mind. "Yes. A friend of mine inspired me to never give up despite how bleak things are."

This optimistic view made the figure's stomach churn in annoyance. He was suffering. Every day he struggled to regain his memories; they were lost in an endless maze. Each corner lead to a dead end. It was frustrating. How could it get better, when his search was everlasting?

The figure clinched his fist in anger; a dark, purple mist enclosed his fist.

"Your friend is as thickheaded as you!" he said.

The figure launched a dark ball of energy. Sora countered with his spiral beam at the last second.

Isabelle arrived on the scene, greeted by an intense explosion. She covered her face from incoming debris; the world trembled beneath her feet. Or, maybe that was her trembling in fear, second guessing this idea.

Just stay on that one track, she said. Never switch at the junction of ideas. Stay strong. When the smoke cleared, Sora and the figure were revealed to be unscratched. Somewhat tired, but, as long as they drew breath, the fight would continue.

Despite Sora's inane words making him vexed, the figure couldn't help but admire Sora's resilience. "Must admit: you've made incredible progress. Just like him."

"Who?" Sora asked.

"Sora!" Isabelle said.

They both turned to see her. The figure's entire body froze. That same uncomfortable warmth started to expand again – this time at a startling rate. It all collided against him so fast. He wasn't sure how process it. His chest became tight, as if being squeezed by a vice. And it grew stronger.

"What are you doing here?" Sora asked. "It's dangerous!"

"Luigi and Yoshi are in trouble," Isabelle said. "They need your help! Go to the Second District!"

Sora hesitated for a moment. "I'd help them if I weren't stuck fighting Mr. Grim Reaper over here."

His eyes soon met with no one.

"Huh?" Sora scanned the alleyway. "Where'd he go?"

He had vanished. Why? Sora shook his head. Now was not the time to speculate. The others were far more important. Although that stranger certainly was bizarre, he thought.

Sora turned back to Isabelle with a confident expression. "I'm on it! Just get everyone back to the hotel. We'll meet up later."

"Right," Isabelle said. "Go get 'em!"

Isabelle watched with a content smile as Sora hurried towards the Second District. She made a difference in someone's life, and would carry that pride on her shoulders forever.

Luigi and Yoshi leaped back, starting to feel exhausted from the battle. Guard Armor hovered over them; its body wriggled in an uncomfortable manner, eager to shred its sharp claws through their skin like potatoes.

"You know," Yoshi said as he caught his breath, "scary Luigi would be good right now."

Luigi sighed. "Sorry. You squeezed most of it out of me. Hindsight can stink sometimes."

Guard Armor flipped its torso sideways (so that the bottom was facing them), grabbed its feet, and stuck them together at the hips. It was like the creature had become a makeshift cannon. And its sights were set on the duo. A ball of purple energy crawled out from the hole, and it was about to fire. Sora swooped in, slashing the creature aside; it crashed into a nearby wall. Luigi and Yoshi were relieved to see their friend.

Sora turned to them with his famous grin. "Miss me?"

"More than that Heartless at least," Luigi said.

Everyone turned back to see Guard Armor had recovered, and was floating in the air. It shook violently, expression its frustrations for being denied hearts. But the three weren't afraid – their teamwork was like a battleship. No amount of firepower could ever sink it.

"C'mon!" Sora said. "Let's finish this!"

The Heartless lunged at the group, but they ducked underneath it. Upon standing up, Sora leaped into the air, preparing to bring his blade down on it. The Heartless blocked the Keyblade with its left hand. After landing on the ground, Sora rolled left to avoid getting stomped by its foot.

Yoshi threw an egg right into Guard Armor's face, blinding it for the moment. This allowed Luigi to swing at the torso, knocking it backwards. Guard Armor shook the egg off its face, and threw a punch, which Luigi blocked with the middle of his hammer. Although Luigi pushed it back, the fist flew at him again. This time, Luigi knocked it away with the head of the hammer; then, he dove onto his stomach, just avoiding a kick.

Sora hurried over to attack the head and torso. The hands flew in front of him, spun around each other, and formed a deadly fan that would shred him to pieces. Sora felt himself backing up as the fan pursued him.

Yoshi wrapped his tongue around the head, pulled it towards him, and knocked it aside with his tail. Frantic, and panicked, the torso fired another blast; Yoshi leaped back onto the ledge to avoid it. From there, he leaped onto the torso, and delivered his butt stomp on it; they both crashed into the ground.

Sora launched an ice spell to freeze the creature's hands. He cut the first hand in half, turned to the second, and hit it with a fire spell. Despite being made of metal, the hand convulsed in pain. It flew at Sora like a raging comet, but he leaped backwards, allowing the hand to hit the ground. With one slash, Sora destroyed it.

Meanwhile, one of the feet tried a sideways kick. Luigi leaped up, avoided the attack, and landed on it. He launched a fire spell at another one coming towards him, knocking it backwards. Then, he leaped straight up, charged his fist, and slammed the other foot straight into the ground. A giant fissure tore through the metal like paper.

Before the other foot could assist, Sora slashed right through it. Every limb had been shredded into worthless scraps by the group. Only the head and torso remained. Guard Armor, a weakened mess, backed away, experiencing the same dread it had elicited earlier. It was cornered. Desperate, it fired more blasts, but the group dodged it.

Luigi leaped above the torso, and slammed it into the ground with his hammer. Next, Yoshi rammed his head into it; the Heartless flew into the wall. It was defenseless from their combined strength. All the Heartless could do was accept its fate. Time seemed to move slow as Guard Armor felt Sora's Keyblade shred through its metal skin.

It lay on the floor as a broken pile of metal – immobile, unable to find any strength. Sora and his friends tore away at every ounce of its vitality. Nothing else matter now as it was consumed by a glowing yellow light, and vanished into thin air. It would never prey on innocent hearts again.

The group leaned over to catch their breath. Sora looked around the vicinity – silent, tranquil. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

Sora chuckled between breaths. "Two big battles in one day? Gonna need a nap after this."

"Yeah," Luigi said in a curious tone. "What happened to that guy you were facing?"

Sora shrugged. "Dunno. Vanished without a trace. Was really weird. Not my problem, though. Allowed me to help you guys finish off that metal monstrosity."

"Hopefully Heartless no come back with another form to twist into," Yoshi said.

"Oh, so what happened to Princess Peach?" Sora asked.

Luigi winced; it was like a fire ant bit his scalp. Recounting what happened was difficult. The image of Peach being abducted was burned into his retinas – it would never fade. Still, he filled Sora in on what happened.

"Oh, man," Sora said in a sympathetic tone. "I'm so sorry, guys."

Yoshi whimpered; to say he was crestfallen would be an understatement. "Me miss her already."

"I know the feeling," Sora said, petting the dinosaur's head. "Are you two going to be alright?"

Luigi sighed. "We'll manage. Sure, she gets kidnapped on a regular basis. But she's still family to us; her abduction isn't a happy occasion, you know?"

"Of course," Sora said. "Guess that's one more person for us to find, huh?"

Luigi frowned. "I was trying to not to think about that."

"Sorry," Sora said, covering his mouth.

"Don't worry about it," Luigi said. "Things are going to get harder; I know." He smiled. "But at least I have you two knuckleheads to trudge through the storm with me."

Yoshi's cheeks puffed in slight anger. "Who you calling knucklehead?"

"Is that so?" Sora said, placing both hands on his hips. "Well, just you wait until we wake you up next time. These knuckleheads might put their 'knuckles' to good use."

Luigi groaned. "For someone who needs a nap, your terrible puns are in top form."

"Gee, thanks," Sora said in sarcasm, as he wrapped his arm around Luigi.

A bright light flashed in their peripheral vision. They turned to face the fountain. Above it was a mural, which had pictures of beautiful pink flowers on a red background. But a giant Keyhole had obstructed its view.

Sora smiled in excitement. "Sweet! Least we get something for our troubles."

He sealed the Keyhole. Traverse Town wouldn't suffer the same fate as his island. Sora glanced at the Keyblade; a metric ton of responsibility cornered him in a small, dark alley. It was overwhelming. But he kept repeating Leon's words in his mind. He had to keep fighting. Like Luigi said, they had each other for support. The alleyway seemed less cramped.

Everyone headed for the hotel to regroup. And hopefully, they would hear good news about Leon's condition.

They didn't want to lose another friend today.

The walls of the dark hallway spun in a slow clockwise motion – he was exhausted; his mind was numb. Nothing made sense anymore. He was bombarded by arrows containing various thoughts. Why did he have a strong reaction to that dog's presence? Did he know her? Was she the key needed to unlock his past?

He felt himself slide against the wall as he walked along. His rapid breathing echoed throughout the room; it was the only noise he heard. But soon, it was accompanied by giant footsteps, which disturbed the walls with a powerful rumble. The figure turned to see Bowser approaching him, still carrying that smug smile on his face.

"Well, well," Bowser said. "Look who was eager to return home. The heck happened down there? You had that kid right where you wanted him."

"That dog that's with them – she feels familiar to me. I couldn't continue fighting. Maybe she's one of my missing friends."

Bowser hesitated for a moment, absorbing this new information, figuring out how to convert it into a proper response. Despite the figure's, at times, aloof attitude, he was still useful to his plans. They didn't want weakness to crawl through the castle. It could be infectious. Just look at what happened to Ridley and K. Rool.

"Dude, it seems to me like that kid wacked you brain every which way," Bowser said.

The figure clutched the warm feeling on his chest. "No. I may not know who she was, but…it feels like my heart did. They were real. How could they be fake?"

"C'mon, there's no way any of your friends could've survived being taken by the darkness. You must've imagined it."

The figure grunted, as if hated being reminded. "But then how did I survive and end up here?"

"Since the beginning, you've been able to bend the darkness to your will with little effort. Not many people have that distinct gift. Everyone else perishes by its overwhelming power. That kid you've been training is the only other person I know that managed to survive its awesome power. The chances that someone else could survive are slim to none."

"Are you sure?" the figure asked, still skeptical.

"Yeah. Besides, maybe that mutt reminded of you someone else. Not everyone can have an entirely different face."

The figure rubbed his head; it was throbbing, as if multiple drums hovered around each area. "Perhaps I need to rest. That battle wasn't as easy as I anticipated."

"I'll say," Bowser said. "Man, you should've seen how that kid humiliated you." He grinned. "Oh, wait. You were there!"

He guffawed at his own joke. It was grating. His laughter echoed throughout the hall. That didn't help matters. He heard the figure growl in annoyance.

"Just a joke, Mr. Sunshine," Bowser said. "Clearly this kid is a fast learner. He's starting to tap into the Keyblade's full potential. I think we need a different approach to slow him down."

"What do you mean?"

Bowser smirked. "None of your beeswax. Can't believe I'm going to say this, but you deserve a rest. You allowed Jr. to successfully capture the princess, so I think you earned it."

The figure bowed his head in appreciation and left the Koopa King alone. He continued pondering to himself as he walked down the empty hallway. Something about Bowser's words didn't seem right. Each inflection feigned authenticity. After all, he was known to be deceitful. Even to his own son.

He couldn't let this go. Problems don't vanish if ignored. In fact, they grow stronger. And only he could liberate it from his heart. There was only one solution: he needed to see Isabelle again. Maybe she held the missing piece to his past.

Meanwhile, Bowser stood in the hallway, smiling with pride at the new plan he formulated. It would dull Sora's glowing confidence. He was heading to Traverse Town.

But he wasn't going alone.

Everyone regrouped in the hotel room, and sat around to recover from today's hectic events. Sora drummed his index finger on the table; they haven't heard anything about Leon yet. It worried him. He couldn't stay in his seat. The nerves pushed at his feet; he stood up, and walked out to the balcony. Some fresh air might clear his mind.

Toadsworth sat up on the bed, staring at the wall, trying to process everything that happened. He was calmer, but still dispirited.

"Is Toadsworth going to be okay?" Yoshi asked in concern.

He sighed. "I suppose. No use in lamenting over her abduction. Our focus should be on devising a rescue operation."

"Exactly," Isabelle said with optimism. "I'm sure the guys will save her from that monster. And I'll continue to write extensively about their journey. I'm sure she'll look forward to that after they rescue her."

Toadsworth face lit up somewhat. It was good to have support, he thought.

"So Toadsworth no worry," Yoshi said. "Why not take a break and enjoy the sights of the town?"

Toadsworth looked at him as if he said something bewildering. "Me? Take a break? Poppycock! That's something I never do. Work is my number one priority."

"Gosh, you're starting to sound like me," Isabelle said, blushing. "Yoshi's right. A break will serve you well. You do so much. Have some time for yourself."

Toadsworth stroked his moustache in thought. He felt the pent-up tension stretch his muscles out like an elastic band. His old body didn't need any more discomfort.

"Perhaps you're right, young lady," Toadsworth said. "Some recreational time would be ideal." He turned to the other Toads. "Boys?"

They stood up simultaneously. "Yes, sir!"

"Later I'm going to partake in an exhilarating moustache trim," Toadsworth said with glee. "Will you accompany me?"

The Toads glared at him in confusion. "Um, sure?"

Isabelle and Yoshi looked at each other, just as perplexed.

"It's a start, I guess," Isabelle said with a shrug.

Sora continued staring off the balcony. There were so many thoughts to unload. It seemed endless. What do you analyze first? But, as he tried rifling through the pile, his thoughts kept returning to Leon.

"Hey, he's going to be okay." Luigi joined him on the balcony. "Guy's tougher than a Thowmp. He'll pull through."

"A what now?" Sora asked.

"You should take the princess up on her offer to visit us," Luigi said. "I couldn't even BEGIN to describe the strange creatures that live there. Some of them are even inanimate."

"I believe it," Sora said. "Well, I'm trying to stay positive about that. Just been thinking about other things. Like that guy I fought. He didn't seem like anyone that's a part of Bowser's crew. The way he spoke to me: it seemed like he was teaching me how to fight better."

Luigi rubbed his chin. "That is odd. Normally anyone working with Bowser has a one-track mind: kidnapping. But you shouldn't be concerned. We don't know this guy. He's our enemy. It's because of him that we're worrying about Leon."

"Yeah, I get it," Sora said. He glanced out at the balcony again. "Sometimes after all the excitement, you really stop and think about how it all played out, you know?"

Their discussion was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sora's eye lit up in excitement. He hoped it was news on Leon.

"Me get it!" Yoshi said in eager tone.

Sora rushed by him faster than a cheetah. "Too slow!"

"Aw," Yoshi said in disappointment. "Me said it first!"

Sora opened the door to reveal Aerith.

"Sora!" she said. "Thank goodness you're alright." She looked around the room at everyone else. There was a relieved flicker in her eyes. "And it seems everyone else is in one piece, too."

Luigi walked up the door, rubbing his arm in an uncomfortable manner. "Not exactly."

He explained what happened to Peach. That relieved flicker faded into sympathy.

"I'm sorry," Aerith said. "If there's anything I can do to help, please, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thanks," Sora said. "How's Leon?"

Aerith smiled. "Oh, he's fine. One attack wasn't going to slow him down."

Everyone in the room felt their bodies sink from the sweet release of alleviation.

"Still stubborn as ever," Aerith said, shaking her head. "Keeps insisting he's ready to fight again. Was trying to get out of bed. Luckily we convinced him to rest before Yuffie tried knocking him out."

Sora scoffed in disbelief. "C'mon. She wouldn't do that."

"You don't know Yuffie like I do."

Sora chuckled. Fair enough, he thought.

"Then we'll let him rest for now," Isabelle said. "We can visit him later."

"But we needed to ask him something, remember?" Luigi said in a somewhat urgent tone.

"Oh, right!" Sora said. "I almost forgot!"

"Maybe I can help," Aerith said.

Luigi showed her the Labo piece they found. She studied it for the next few moments. Unfortunately, judging from her puzzled expression, her conclusion was going to be less than favorable.

"Afraid I wouldn't know," she said.

The group looked disheartened. Finding out the block's function was about as easy as searching every world for their friends; it was long, overwhelming, and never-ending.

"That's more of a question for Cid," she said. Everyone beamed up with optimism. "He's more versed in the inner workings of a Labo Ship."

"Who Cid?" Yoshi asked.

"Owner of the Accessory Shop," Sora said. He turned back to Aerith. "Okay. We'll pay him a visit. Had no idea you were friends."

"Oh, we go way back," Aerith said. She remembered first meeting him; if not for a selfless act he made, she may not be standing here right now. She was forever grateful for his kindness. "Might have a fuse shorter than a receding hairline, but he has a good heart."

Luigi gulped. "Sounds promising?"

"Oh, Sora!" She pulled out something from her pocket. "Before you go. Leon wanted you to have this."

She held out a softball-sized, translucent ball. A lime green mist hovered around inside of it. Something about the way it moved in a slow, clockwise motion was mesmerizing. Sora felt the metal against the tip of his fingers; it was warm. Comforting even. Then, he felt it pulsated, which startled him.

"What is it?" Sora asked.

"The stone is said to contain mysterious power," Aerith said. "Leon held onto it for luck. He wanted you to have it. In his eyes, his respect for you has gone from meh to adequate."

Yoshi gave Sora a hearty pat on the shoulder. "Sora made it! Congratulations!"

"Heh. I'm honored," Sora said. "Any idea what it does?"

"No clue," Aerith said. "But maybe you can find our during your travels."

Sounded like another challenge for the group to tackle. They already had a long list to complete. But, unlike finding their friends, it didn't seem imperative to uncover this charm's secrets. He was just appreciative of the gesture. It was a sign of goodwill. A part of Leon would always be there to encourage him through the murky waters of his journey.

The Accessory Shop was barren. Not a soul stepped through the door. Only the fire crackling in the fireplace engaged in a one-sided conversation. Cid sat behind the desk, drinking tea, and reading the newspaper. The lack of customers was disappointing, but he didn't care. It was tranquil – a nice way to spend the afternoon.

The doors flew open. A loud, roaring engine disturbed the serene atmosphere. Even the fire's crackling shrunk to a timid whisper.

Cid spat out his tea in surprise, which went all over his newspaper. "My funnies!"

A man riding a red motorcycle drove into the room, spinning around to face the shop owner. He wore a red jumpsuit and helmet to match the motorcycle's aesthetic. Cid slammed his paper on the ground in anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you!?" Cid said; any second a blood vessel would exploder faster than a rocket. "Did you miss the memo on how to use common sense and not bring your hunk of junk into my store!?"

"Listen, gramps," the biker said, not intimidated by him, "I'm in a hurry. Gotta a race soon. Need to pick up my new parts."

Cid's brow lowered; he tried in desperation to control his temper from leaping at the biker. "If you weren't one of my highest paying customers, I'd would've thrown you and your bike into the nearest dumpster for the gramps comment."

After applying the new parts, the biker started his engine, revving it a few times; it growled like a youthful tiger.

"Thanks, dude," the biker said.

Cid frowned. "If you come back here on that bike, I'm going to give your tires a free shot courtesy of Dr. Spear."

"He really needs to come up with better names for his weapons, kupo," Moogle said, who he had been watching from the supply closet.

Cid grumbled to himself as he opened the door, allowing the biker to drive out into the streets. He drove by Luigi, startling him, which made him fall onto the ground.

"I'm beginning to miss being chased by wild Pokémon," Luigi said in a wistful tone. They could never get a second to relax. Something always put them back on edge.

Cid smiled at Sora. "Well, well. Look who it is. Glad to see you still have your head on after fighting Leon."

"Nice to see you, too, Cid," Sora said, putting on a smile, trying to ignore the comment.

Luigi glanced back to hear the biker's engine fade into the distance. "What was that about?"

"Just a guy who's trying to make my day a little worse," Cid said, annoyed. "Come on in." Once everyone was inside, he asked Sora, "So, how's the hunt for your friends going?"

"About the same." He smiled at Luigi and Yoshi. "Things are a little better now that these two are with me."

"Yep," Cid said. "Leon filled me in about your escapes. You boys need anything?" Luigi showed him the block. He looked thrilled to see it. "Hey! Well, if it ain't a Labo Block!"

"What this one do?" Yoshi asked.

Cid scoffed at them in disbelief. "You're joking, right? The three of you are flying around in a rare but powerful spacecraft, and yet you don't know nothin' about its inner workings? Bunch of pinheads. Interspace ain't no playground."

"There's a lot we don't know," Sora said in an upset tone. "So what! We have to use the Labo Ship to go to other worlds. We don't have a choice."

"Whoa, easy," Cid said, holding up his hand, trying to defuse Sora's temper. "Didn't mean to get you all riled up."

Yoshi remembered what Aerith said about Cid's personality earlier. He turned to Luigi, whispering, "Aw, Cid don't seem that bad."

"No hard feelings, all right?" Cid said. He brought the block up to his eyes, examining it further. "Anyway, this thingamajigger here upgrades your coordinate database for locations in known interspace. Lets ya' go places where no man" —he looked at Yoshi, struggling to find the right words—"and whatever that lizard thing is, has gone before."

Yoshi learned into Moogle, whispering, "Me think he talking about you."

Moogle just shook his head at Yoshi's obliviousness.

"So how do we install this thing?" Luigi asked.

Cid grinned in pride. "You leave that to ol' Cid." He cracked his knuckles. "Been meaning to stretch these muscles out anyway."

"You mean it?" Sora asked.

"Like I said from the beginning: you ever run into trouble, you come see me," Cid said. "But this ain't a free job. Gonna need you boys to do me a favor."

Yoshi moaned in disappointment. Then, he noticed an enraged volcano hovering over him, preparing to explode into a string of long, harsh sentences.

"Ever hear of the principle of the equivalent trade, kid?" Cid said in restrained fury. "You better shut yer noise tube if ya know what's good you."

Terrified, Yoshi ran behind Sora, whimpering and shivering.

"Cid!" Sora said

Cid leaned back, took a deep breath, and regained his composure. "Woo. Sorry about that. My ears are allergic to laziness. It causes my blood pressure to rise rather quickly."

"Yoshi's brain might've made an error in judgement," Yoshi said, whispering to Luigi again.

Luigi responded with a look that said, "ya think!?" written all over it.

"Look, it's no problem," Sora said. "We can take care of it. Might kill some time."

"Now that's the answer I was looking for." Cid walked behind his desk, leaned over, and pulled out something from one of the drawers. It was a book with a red hardcover. The spine was coated in a faded golden color. Etched in the middle of the book was a mushroom. It appeared akin to the mushrooms found in Luigi's world.

But the book's condition was subpar. It was as if a vacuum inhaled the vibrant colors; they were dull. Tiny scratch marks were sprinkled throughout the cover; a rat probably tried digging into the book, to make its new home.

Cid handed it Sora. "Need you to deliver this book for me."

Luigi glared at it in surprise; the book wasn't the only one that lost its vibrant colors. He looked pale, as if witnessing a sick friend in a hospital bed.

"Can I see that for a second?" Luigi asked.

Sora handed him the book. Luigi scrutinized every detail; he felt his jaw drop in complete shock. The lighting in the room had to be deceiving his eyes.

"I…can't believe it," Luigi said, flabbergasted.

"You've seen this book before?" Sora asked.

"More than that." Luigi hesitated, unsure of how to explain. "You might find this hard to believe."

"Try me," Sora said. "I've seen it all these past few days."

"This book leads to the Paper World," Luigi said.

Sora's expression went blank. Perhaps he was a bit too overconfident in his assumption of adapting to the surreal nature of this journey.

"Paper World?" Sora asked in bewilderment. "You mean worlds can reside in books? How does that even work? Why is this a thing I'm questioning? That nap is starting to sound good."

"Whatchya yabbering on about?" Cid asked.

"To make a long story short," Luigi said, "this is a magic book that has chronicled my brother's most perilous adventures. Every story and person based on us exists in here. In this world, though, everything is a bit flatter."

"Me remember," Yoshi said. "They come to our world once, right?"

"Yeah." Luigi turned to Cid. "How'd you find it? Better yet, how'd it end up here?"

Cid shrugged. "Not sure. This old guy brought it into the store. Book was practically falling apart. Too beat up to restore it to the way it was. But overall, I did a decent job puttin' it back together."

Luigi thought his heart was frozen in a block of ice. Living people resided in that book. Real lives! They had feelings and emotions, same as any other person. And to hear the book had been mangled was horrifying. He didn't even want to know how it affected everyone inside.

"I need to know if they're okay!" Luigi placed a gentle hand on the edge of the book.

"Careful," Yoshi said. "Remember what happened last time."

"I know," Luigi said. "Paper Toads scattered everywhere. I'll be careful."

Luigi felt his fingers tremble as he turned the page. Blank. He turned the next page. Blank. And the next page. Blank. He started to frantically move through the pages. Some, he noticed, were torn straight from the base. Luigi's legs were weak. Nervous propellers spun around in his stomach.

"No, no, no," Luigi said, panicked. "This can't be happening. What does this mean? Are they gone!? My heart can't take it."

Sora placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. "Luigi, take it easy. Let's try and think this through."

"I suggest you boys deliver it," Cid said. "Maybe the guy who brought it in will know what to do."

Luigi took a few deep breaths, applying the breaks on the anxiety. "Good idea. Where do we go?"

"The old house past the Third District," Cid said. "Look for the big fire sign."

Luigi turned to the others with an urgent tone in his voice. "Then let's get moving! Off we go!"

Captain Olimar was tinkering with his ship's innerworkings, keeping himself busy. It was all he could do; their impending fate drew closer like thunder, hidden within the dark clouds. But Olimar wouldn't be deterred. He refused to loosen the belt of hope around his waist. It gave him comfort.

Although sometimes he would reminisce about his family. He missed them more than anything: his wife had always been supportive of him, despite knowing the perils of space travel; and his kids wanted to be explorers just like him. He felt proud for leaving an impact as a parent. Stay focused, he thought. Never let hope slip through your fingers.

He looked over his shoulder to see Louie on the floor, in the fetal position, rocking back and forth. It seemed he had given up ages ago. A red Pikmin walked over to his helmet, looked at its reflection, and started posing.

Olimar sighed. "Come now, Louie. As accredited explorers, we must keep a level head about our predicament."

"I can't help it," Louie said in a distressed tone. "Time is running out. We're never going to make it."

Olimar walked over to Loue and helped him onto his feet. "You're being absurd. Panicking is not the way to rectify our situation. We need to be proactive. Hopefully the parts Cid provided us will suffice."

"But what if they don't work?" Louie asked; his nerves were spiraling out of control. Breathing became difficult. "I don't want to take my last breath here. What even happens when we die? I can't bear the thought."

Olimar tried slapping him across the face. However, he forgot Louie was wearing a helmet, and ended up hurting his hand. The impact shook Louie's helmet, producing a loud echo that slammed against his eardrums. He placed both hands against the helmet to quell the noise.

Olimar rubbed his hand. "How'd I forget about the helmets? Anyway, why not be proactive and help me fix the ship?"

He foresaw Louie's bumbling lead to a catastrophe that'd shorten their lifespan further.

"On second thought," Olimar said, "why not partake in an activity to take your mind off things? I know! Why not give the Pikmin names? They're going to need them. The Hocotate Government is going to acknowledge each one for partaking in this mission."

"O-Okay," Louie said, feeling a bit at ease. "I can try. Let's see." He looked at a red one. "I'll call you Steve." Then, a yellow one. "You Logan." Next, a blue one. "Gonzo fits you." He studied the heavy exterior of a purple Pikmin. "How about….Reggie?" Upon facing another red one, his mind started to push against a wind tunnel, struggling with a proper name. "I'll call you…Other Steve?"

Louie's anxiety resurfaced. "C-Captain! I'm running out of names!"

"How can you be running out of names?" Olimark asked, becoming annoyed. "There are millions of different ones to choose from."

There was a knock at the door. Louie screamed in fear, grabbed a purple Pikmin, and held up like a shield.

"It's the Grim Reaper!" Louie said. "He's found us! Protect me, Reggie!"

Olimar shook his head at this pathetic sight. How was Louie certified for intergalactic travel?

"Come in," Olimar said.

The door opened to reveal the familiar spiky hair of Sora. While entering, he heard Luigi say from behind, "Be quick. I want to get that book over there as soon as possible."

"You got it," Sora said.

He heard curious voices approach from below, and looked down to see a group of Pikmin gathering around his feet. Their inquisitive minds spun faster than a wheel as they analyzed every detail of the visitor.

Sora chuckled. "Well, hi there. You guys are just as friendly as ever."

"Ah, good to see you again," Olimar said. He was relieved to be talking with someone else for a change. "Sora…was it?"

"Uh-huh," Sora said.

"What brings you by?" Olimar asked.

Sora opened the door and gestured for Lakitu to enter. "I've been visiting other worlds. And, well, I've come across a few things during my travels. Pretty sure they belong to you."

Laktu placed the missing parts of their ship and the Pikmin on the table. Olimar and Louie stared at them in stunned silence, as if unable to believe this was real. It had to be a dream. The chances of finding even one part seemed slim. Practically impossible. But Sora refused to integrate that word into his vocabulary.

The rescued Pikmin looked around at their surroundings, afraid at first. But then they were greeted by their brethren. Everything was okay. There was nothing to fear. They were reunited with their family.

"My stars!" Olimar said, still stuck in a ditch of amazement. "You actually found them! I never would've imagined….I…I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to us."

Sora let out a modest smile. "No problem at all. Figured I might as well keep my eyes peeled, right?"

"This is too good to be true!" Louie said, overjoyed. "Thank you so much!" He grabbed Olimar's shoulders. "I'm so happy I could…"

He tried kissing Olimar, but their helmets ended up colliding with each other; they both ended up on the ground.

Olimar sighed. "We really need to remember that we're wearing helmets."

"Think that's enough?" Sora asked.

Olimar stood back up, brushed himself off, and examined the missing pieces. Then, he glanced at the recovered Pikmin. His eyebrows lowered in disappointment. "Afraid not. By my estimate, we have at least half the parts. And in the same vein, we're still missing quite a few Pikmin."

Sora wasn't discouraged. He needed to stay positive. For their sake. He couldn't forgive himself if something happened to them.

"Then I'll keep looking," Sora said; determination sprung from his throat.

"Much obliged," Olimar said, feeling renewed confidence leap into the soles of his feet.

"Hurry!" Louie said.

Olimar beckoned Sora over to the table. The boy leaned over, and Olimar whispered in his ear. "Yes, please do. Don't know how much longer I can put up with Louie's mental break down. The Pikmin are thinking more rationally than him."

Sora blinked in confusion; guess that was a good incentive? He said his good-byes, reunited with the others, and they hurried to the Third District, hoping that the innocent people living in the book didn't vanish along with the pages.

A/N: So I kept Guard Armor's name the same from a story perspective. It felt strange to just to suddenly change its name. That's why I did that. Also, just to remind everyone: this Sunday will be the conclusion of ACT I. The story will be going on hiatus until ACT II is complete.

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