Chapter 28: Hyrule in Peril

A dreary, uncomfortable silence smothered the usual happy-go-lucky atmosphere seen in the Labo Ship's cockpit. Isabelle was fixated on the journal (Luigi, at one point, suggested for her to take a break because of the earlier incident, but she refused. "I promised the princess to record every detail of your journey. And I will do so until it ends," she had said).

Meanwhile, Sora was staring out at the stars, trying his hardest to focus on them. But not even the endless beauty of space could keep him distracted from his vexation about Riku. Luigi and Yoshi felt the heat of sadness slide across their skin. They needed to dilute the thick fog of concern. Yoshi suggested that he recounts their match with Leaf for Isabelle.

Excited to add new information to the journal, Isabelle placed her pen against a blank page. Yoshi reenacted every moment of their battle, encouraging Sora to chime in on occasion. The dinosaur's enthusiasm was contagious; Sora found himself joining in on the fun. The depressing fog soon cleared as Isabelle watched the two roughhouse with each other.

Luigi smiled as he glanced over to see the madness; he needed some levity, too. Every now and then those dispiriting thoughts about his brother and the princess crossed his mind. It's was hard not to worry about them – to wonder if they were safe and sound. But being with his friends put him at ease. He felt happy. And the others would agree with that sentiment.

They were thankful to be in each other's lives.

Soon, their time of leisure slowed to a crawl; thanks to Cid's handywork, they had been able to travel further into space. Luigi heard the familiar beeping noise of the 3DS, and opened it to reveal a Star Spirit nearby. Soon, they approached a brand-new world. Despite Sora's solicitude for Riku, he was always thrilled to visit a new place.

The world was covered with lush green grass, dirty pathways, various medieval towns, and clear blue water. It was beautiful. Everyone prepared to disembark.

They were about to become a part of a legend.

The marketplace – the heart of the prosperous kingdom of Hyrule. Everyday hundreds of friendly people coursed through its veins like healthy blood cells; it was always busy. The marketplace was a huge circular area located near Hyrule Castle. In the center was a beautiful fountain; the centerpiece contained a statue of a giant bird, spreading its wings in pride.

Encircling the fountain were medieval style buildings that served as either stores or homes for the citizens. Sprinkled throughout the market were outlet stores covered with colorful awnings. Crowds of people were gathered around them, fighting over an item they desired. Children could be heard laughing in the streets, chasing each other around the fountains.

It seemed like a perfect world – carefree. There was no worry about war, disease, or famine. Everyone loved to visit the marketplace and stare in awe at its wonder.

At least, that's how everyone remembered it.

Now, it lay in ruin, completely abandon. Leaves rustling across the ground were the only remaining forms of life. Buildings had been demolished, exposing their frames. Dark pink clouds hovered menacingly over the town, refusing to let even a glimmer of sunlight peek through.

Everyone managed to escape the events that lead to the town's destruction seven years ago. But the memories continued to weep from the horrors they witnessed, as their beloved town burnt to the ground in flames.

Ganondorf and Bowser walked into the town, glancing at its remains.

"So, is there a reason you keep this huge dump around?" Bowser asked. "Why not scrap it and build something cool?" He grinned. "Like a theme park – the most diabolical theme park this side of Hyrule!"

Ganondorf continued staring at area. A small fragment of light did manage to creep into the through. But it belonged to the evil king's eyes. And they were filled with satisfaction.

"Sorry," he said. "I prefer to be subtle when it comes to subjugating a kingdom."

Bowser rolled his eyes. "Yes. Clearly the dark clouds looming over us show how subtle you are. And don't get me started on the floating castle over the lava pit."

"I leave this town in ruin as a memento for the denizens of Hyrule," Ganondorf said, continuing to admire his handywork. "For the rest of their lives – whenever their eyes lay upon this wasteland – they will carry the burden of failure with then. Even long after their breath is silenced."

Even the Koopa King felt a small chill from that statement. "Dude, that's cold." He then smirked. "I like your style."

"Cold?" Ganondorf asked, confused, finally facing Bowser. "The temperature has been adequate today."

Bowser sighed in annoyance. "Is everyone in this land living in the past? Get with the twenty first century."

"I assume your presence here isn't for menial conversation," Ganondorf said, frowning. "Our dialogue is always cut short after one of us throws an insult at the other."

"Any luck on the keyhole?"

"The Heartless are searching for it now. I'm certain we'll find it soon enough. Now all I need are the remaining pieces of the—"

Two glowing orbs appeared in front of the kings. One was colored orange, while the other was a light blue. They soon materialized into witches riding on broomsticks. The two were twins – their green skin was wrinkled; they had pointed noses that curved downward; and their red eyes bulged outward.

The only difference between the two were their glowing hair – one was colored fire red, the other an ice blue. They touched down on the ground, disembarked from their brooms, and bowed before Ganondorf. They were Koume and Kotake – two of Ganondorf's most loyal servants. But they also served as the king's surrogate mothers.

Pride seeped through their protruding eyes as they stood before their master; he had grown into a force that the entire land of Hyrule trembled under. They knew his wrath would continue to spread across the world, until eventually it was consumed by his power. The sisters marveled at the prospect with glee.

"Ooh," Bowser said in intrigue, "you've got two Kammy Kooopas!"

"Indeed," Ganondorf said. He turned to the twins. "What news do you bring?"

"We regret to inform you, my liege, that our attempts to locate Princess Zelda have led us to an impasse," Koume said.

"After all this time, that girl still proves to be a nuisance," Ganondorf said in a disappointed tone.

With a teasing grin, Bowser placed his giant arm around the king. "Looks like you've got everything under control, buddy."

"Remove your scaly arm from me if you wish to ever use it again," Ganondorf said with a dark, vicious glare in his eyes.

Bowser, still grinning, complied. "Oh, snippy, are we?"

"This is no ordinary child," Ganondorf said, growing irritated. "She's imbued with the power of Hyrule's goddess. What's your excuse for being bested by two fools who tinker with metal tubes?"

Bowser paused as he realized something. "Wow. We really can't carry out a pleasant conversation."

"Sire," Kotake said. "There is a tidbit of information you may find useful. That Sheikah warrior that has been assisting the Hero of Time – rumor has it that he may know where the princess is located."

Ganondof's expression brightened with a smirk. "Interesting. I'll have to request an audience with him, then. You two must return to the temple and keep the last Sage safe. Who knows when that foolish boy will arrive."

The two bowed one last time and vanished behind a puff of smoke. Ganondorf glanced at a temple (which appeared akin to a church) in the distance. Somehow, despite the incredible destruction he brought upon the town, the temple remained unscathed, like a lone dandelion among cut grass. His lips formed a scowl; he envisioned perfection in his plans, but blemishes continued to stick out like weeds.

"Seems like you've got your hands full," Bowser said.

"Nothing I can't handle," Ganondorf said, glancing at Bowser. "Seven years ago, two annoying brats tried to stop me. They failed. And I plan to make sure history repeats itself. I will need Zelda for a short period of time. How important is she to you? Surly we can locate the keyhole without her."

Bowser's expression turned sincere. "We need all seven Princesses of Heart to open the final door. Any fewer is useless."

"I see. I'll make sure to double our efforts, then." Ganondorf snapped his finger and humanoid looking Heartless appeared. They wore purple slack pants and purple vests. In their hands they held large scimitars. They appeared akin to Ganondorf's own race, which is why he had dubbed them as: Gerudo Thieves. "Find the one called Sheik. Extend a humble invitation that he simply can't refuse."

The Heartless, holding the swords in the air, ran off as per their master's instructions.

"Need to give you credit," Bowser said. "You know how to command the Heartless well. But don't let it go to your thick skull. The Heartless consume the careless."

Ganondorf laughed. "Never thought I'd hear concern uttered from your giant maw."

"N-No," Bowser said, blushing. "As someone who knows how to control the Heartless, I thought it'd be useful to you. Maybe one day you'll be as awesome as me." He paused. "Actually, maybe's too strong of a word."

"Threat not. Your advice is hardly necessary." Ganondorf glanced down at his hands, and formed them into fists. "All my life I have felt this strong sense of hatred course through my veins. It is the force that drives me to take over this world. These brainless creatures don't intimate me."

Bowser shrugged. "Whatever you say."

They departed from town, unaware that someone nearby was watching their every move – a mysterious man wearing a mask that covered his mouth and head. Only his blue eyes and blonde hair remained exposed. He focused on the giant turtle-like creature accompanying Ganondorf – whoever it was, he knew that the situation was about to get a lot worse.

The countdown to Hyrule's destruction had just accelerated.

Sora felt like an insect as he stared out into the vast area of Hyrule field. It was massive. There didn't seem to be an end in sight. You could walk for days and still find new places to explore. Everywhere the group looked led to more grass, more dirt pathways, and various towns. It was calming. A gentle breeze brushed through Sora's spiky hair.

Sora stretched his arms. "Man, what I wouldn't give to lie down in a nice field like this."

"No time to be a lazy bum," Luigi said, as he glanced at the 3DS. "There's a Star Spirit afoot."

Sora chuckled; for a fleeting moment it was like being on the sandy beaches of his island again. "Heh, now you sound like Kairi." He noticed Luigi giving him an uncomfortable expression. "What?"

"Ooh, ooh!" Yoshi said, raising his hand in enthusiasm. "That make me Riku, then?"

Sora gave him a daring grin. "Think you can do a good impression?"

"Watch!" Yoshi said in confidence. He leaned against a tree wielding an impassive expression.

Sora chuckled. "Not bad. You need to cross your arms." Yoshi did so. "And look out towards the horizon like you're thinkin' about something important." Again, Yoshi complied. "Now say something deep."

"Race car can be spelled both forward and backwards," Yoshi said in earnest.

For the first time in a while, Sora howled in laughter. After being concerned about Riku, it was nice to feel a rush of joyous air circulate through his chest again

"Well, two outta three ain't bad," Sora said between breaths.

Luigi turned to the others in annoyance. "Guys! Come on! This Star Spirit can't be saved if we're fooling around!"

Sora and Yoshi rolled their eyes. Same old Luigi, they thought. Wouldn't be an adventure without him trying to complain about something. They continued following the signal; it was growing stronger.

Luigi felt a rush of excitement tickle his moustache. "We're getting closer. Looks like the Star Spirit is located…"

His eyes widened upon shock upon what he witnessed – the entrance to the dark, abandoned marketplace. The group noticed the drawbridge had been destroyed; its final resting place was in the small mud filled lake. Luigi started trembling in fear; he could already picture a creature of undistinguishable horrors ready to pull them into the shadows with its long, grim filled claws.

Luigi banged the 3DS against his forehead. "Of course! Of course! Of course!"

"Self-infliction isn't going to make things better," Sora said.

Luigi moaned. "Why do our adventures always have to be fraught with danger? Can't we visit a world that is nothing but comfy pillows?"

"Luigi right," Yoshi said. Even he was intimidated by the marketplace's appearance. "This way too spooky for Yoshi."

Sora agreed; he could sense something sinister within its walls. Still, the Star Spirit was alone in there – probably distressed. It wasn't right to let it suffer.

"Well, we gotta try," Sora said, keeping the courage from slipping off his waist.

Luigi noticed the sunset. "Not today. If it's dark in there, it'll probably be pitch black when the sun goes down. We should probably call it a day."

Sora thought this over for a moment: between everything that transpired at Traverse Town, the tournament, and Digby, today had been eventful. He could even feel residual pain linger in his body from fighting Venusaur. Although a bit hesitant, he knew that continuing would tighten the stressful chain that encircled all of them.

"You're right," Sora said. "Guess we better head back." He started to walk away from the castle. His foot stepped on top of something. He glanced down to see what appeared to be a wooden, heart-shaped object; two yellow spikes were on the top, while the four were on each side of it. "Huh? What's this?"

Intrigued, he picked up the object, giving it a thorough inspection.

"Appears to be mask of some kind," Yoshi said.

His observation was correct. How'd it end up here, Sora thought. Either way, there was something off-putting about its appearance: two giant eyes stared right back at Sora, as if peering into his very essence. Its design was akin to something an ancient tribe wore; the colors around its eyes were a mixture of reds, purples, and oranges.

Luigi was daunted by the mask's presences, as if it were a cursed relic. Any moment it would awaken from being constantly tampered.

"I don't like how it looks," Luigi said, wrapped in a vest of concern. "Maybe you should get rid of it."

Sora gave him an incredulous look. "Dude, it's just a mask. Somebody probably lost it or something." He flipped it over to look at the back.

His body froze. The clouds' shadows covered the grass, forming a wave of darkness. It consumed his vision. Everything was pitch black. Breathing became difficult. He couldn't move. It was as if a giant hand squeezed his body together. What was happening? Darkness continued to dominate his vision.

Then, he heard whispers, and they exploded into endless screams of agony. Images started to flash before his eyes; each one was covered in a red tint. Tiny scratches cut in and out of the images like an old film grain. First, a giant face appeared; it had a perpetual grin, and stared right into Sora with similar eyes to the mask.

He was terrified; he couldn't feel anything. Did he no longer exist in the real world? What nightmare did he enter? As more images appeared, the screaming grew louder. Practically deafening. He saw the moon crash into a wooden tower; witness an inverted version of the mask staring more intensely at him.

Then, it started growing vine-like arms that were covered in veins. Sora heard cracking sounds mix in with the screaming. It lunged both arms at his vision. The world started to become redder, until there was nothing less.

But a light shattered the blank red wall. A comfortable warmth wrap itself around Sora's chest. Feeling started to return to his body.

He heard a gentle female voice whisper, "I won't let you."

His vision returned. He was back in the field of Hyrule. Everything was calm. Except for himself. To say he was overcome with terror would be an understatement. His breathing was rapid; every part of his body trembled. Cold sweat from his forehead glistened in the sun's rays. Without another thought, he threw the mask straight into the river.

Luigi and Yoshi hurried over to check on him. He was pale, as if the mask itself sucked up his color like a ravenous vampire bat. It was unnerving to see the once cheerful teenager in such a shaken state.

"Are you okay!?" Luigi asked. "What happened!?"

Hearing Luigi's voice reassured him that the nightmare had ceased. Trying to regain his composure, Sora said, "I…I…I don't know." He took a few deep breaths. "I saw some weird things when I looked at the mask."

"Seriously?" Luigi said. His face was now being drained of color. "And they say you should never judge a book by its cover. Whoever said that was full of themselves."

Yoshi put his arm around Sora, in hopes of helping him regain serenity. The gentle warmth of his friend's presence reminded him that everything was fine. No one was going to harm him. After a minute of deep breaths, the nervous tension crumble into the ground, where it was carried off into the calming wind.

"You okay?" Yoshi asked.

Sora inspected himself. "I think so. Don't feel any different. But those images – so bizarre."

"Now we know why someone didn't want to carry it around," Luigi said. "Thank goodness you got rid of it."

Sora nodded. "Hope we don't run into anything else messed up when we come back here tomorrow."

"Oh, I completely forgot," Luigi said, wincing, feeling the nervous pressure in his stomach again. "Thanks for the reminder."

"Let's head back," Sora said.

"Sure you're okay to make the walk?" Luigi asked, still concerned.

"I'll be fine," Sora said.

Luigi remained unconvinced. "Just in case, we're going to keep an eye on you tonight."

"Aw, don't do that," Sora said with an uncomfortable look on his face. "That's just going to make things awkward. I swear I'm okay!"

Everyone noticed the sun continuing its descent; the air became cooler. A lone wolf howled in the distance, greeting the incoming moon. But something wasn't right. They couldn't explain why. It felt like the ground was pulsating. Luigi heard digging coming from behind him.

Spinning around, he was greeted by a reanimated skeleton – it had sharp red nails and wore a cingulum militare. The creature's massive head appeared in contrast to its small body. But, with a giant mouth exposing its sharp, rotted teeth, the creature was ready to bite Luigi's nose clean off his face.

With a horrified scream, Luigi slammed his hammer on the skeleton making it fall to pieces. Soon, two more appeared in front of Sora and Yoshi. Despite the alarming number of questions orbiting their heads, they had to deal with these creatures first. They were not friendly. To their surprise, the skeletons collapsed into pieces with one focused strike.

Everyone regrouped, with Luigi being the first to speak: "W-What the heck were those things?" He glared at Sora. "Why'd you go and make that mask angry!?"

"I-I wasn't trying to," Sora said in a defensive tone. "You'd throw it in the river, too, after the strange things I saw."

Luigi opened his mouth, but paused upon realizing that Sora's assumption was correct. "Either way, this place is getting weirder by the second! Cursed masks? Spooky scary skeletons? Samus' world was safer than this!"

"Let's get outta here!" Yoshi said.

Before they could run, the trio heard a female voice screaming for her life.

"Now what!?" Luigi asked, growing aggravated, in addition to being scared witless. "I'm not listening to the entire chorus from the children of the night!"

"No," Sora said, following the sound with his ears and eyes. "Sounds like a person. Maybe they need help."

"I don't know," Luigi said, knees buckling. "I'm not sure I trust anything in this world."

But that familiar heroic expression was glued to Sora's face. It could not be pried off with best tools money could buy. "We should go check! That voice sounded real to me. I'm going!"

"Sora feel up to it?" Yoshi asked, still worried about his friend's state of mind.

Sora grinned. "Yep. Told ya before: I'm fine. Come on!"

Yoshi was invigorated by Sora's confidence. He always knew how to inspire someone. Ready to help, he and Sora left towards the voice. Luigi sighed – still always running into a fight without thinking. But he had gotten used to it. Sora was never one to stand by when trouble tunneled itself out of the ground, like the skeletons.

He heard the scream again; it sounded genuine. Sometimes he needed to stop overthinking things and act. Taking a deep breath, he hurried after the others.

A young woman with long red hair and pointy ears was cornered by the skeletons. She sat on top of a brown horse with black hair, neighing with fright. The woman held on for dear life as the steed stood up on its hind legs. She shared the same feelings as her companion – cornered, alone, unable to call for help.

"Stay away you horrid creatures!" she said in a loud tone, hoping to intimidate them.

The skeletons remained undaunted. They were walking closer, preparing to tear at the woman and her horse with their boney claws; and pull them into the earth below, where their cries would be silent. Her heart pounded faster; she couldn't bare the inevitable. It made her think of everyone she'll leave behind.

Especially her father.

Before the skeletons could strike, a row of them were cut to shreds by the Keyblade. The woman was surprised to see three mysterious strangers running in front of her and the horse.

"Quick, get to cover!" Sora said. "We'll hand them!"

While unsure of who these strangers were (or why their appearances were bizarre), she complied without question. After leaping off her horse, the woman grabbed the rope attached to it, spoke in a soothing voice to calm her companion down, and led them both away from the fight. Much like before, Sora and his friends had an easy time disposing of the skeletons. One strike made them collapse faster than a tower of building blocks.

Once the skeletons were disposed of, the group breathed a sigh of relief. Probably the easiest fight they had all day.

Except, it wasn't over yet.

The earth beneath them rumbled. They watched in utter shock as a giant skeleton emerged from the ground, staring them down with its lifeless eyes.

Sora's jaw dropped in astonishment. "Someone's been watering the grass with milk."

Luigi groaned. He didn't know which was worse: fighting a giant skeleton monster, or enduring another quip from Sora. Either way, he was in for a bad time. Mustering up courage, Luigi leaped into the air and brought his hammer down on the skeleton's skull. No effect. Not even a small crack. Its head served as a helmet – it seemed indestructible.

But Sora had a plan. He instructed the two to distract the giant skeleton. His best chance to win was using one strong, focused attack on its body. It was an unstable building; Sora would be the wrecking ball. He closed his eyes, searching deep within the Keyblad's essence for power. It was swimming deep below the sea – if the sea was filled with overwhelming light instead of darkness.

Then, he felt a new power surge through his hands, as if it were traveling through his veins. With a fierce shout, he commanded the others to move. He ran over, delivering a flurry of attacks on the skeleton's body. Pieces of bone chipped away like saw dust. It would not survive.

Unlike his other attack, in which he finished with small spiral lasers, Sora felt himself exert more strength into his arm, and delivered heavier swings. With each strike, the Keyblade glowed brighter than the sun, unleashing more power. Then, Sora performed a front flip and ended the creature's fleeting resurrection with one final strike.

Everyone watched as the creature collapsed into a harmless pile of bones. Along with its smaller brethren, the bones burst into blue flames and disintegrated into the earth, where they'd return to their endless, restless slumber. Just like the skeletons, Sora and his friends couldn't rest either. They kept their eyes wide open for anymore. There was no more rustling in the ground, just the sound of the trees in the wind. Everything was calm.

Sora exhaled in relief as he lowered his guard. "That wasn't too hard. One thing's for sure: they weren't Heartless."

"Yeah," Yoshi said. "Heartless give us more trouble than this."

Luigi gave Yoshi an anxious expression. "Don't say that! They might come out now and try to prove you wrong!"

Sora turned his attention to the woman they rescued. She was stroking the horse's neck, speaking in a low, gentle voice. The horse, at first, shook its head, snorting; apprehension prickled at its hair like thrones. But, as the woman continued speaking, those feelings were washed away by a stream of serenity.

"Hey, are you alright?" Sora asked her.

The woman turned to him. Despite feeling safe, nerves were still clamped to her chest. "Y-Yes. I'm fine now. Thank you so much. Those little monsters were more aggressive than usual."

"Than usual?" Luigi asked in concern. "You've seen them before?"

"They come out every night to cause nothing but trouble," she said. "That's why most of us stay indoors around this time."

Luigi thought the hairs on his back were going to fall off from standing so tall. Maybe he was right about Samus' world being safer.

"Then why are you out here?" Sora asked.

"I'm more of an outdoors person," she said. "I thought I could squeeze in a few extra minutes to ride on my horse." Her face tightened in dismay, as she reflected on the past few minutes. "But they wouldn't give me the chance. We…we were ambushed." The horrible memories made her emotions climb up stairs frozen in a sheet of ice. "I..I was frightened. Thought I'd never see my father again. He means the world to me."

Unable to contain her feelings anymore, the woman pulled Sora into a hug, startling the boy in the process.

"Oh, thank you again!" she said

Sora blushed from an awkward tingle in his spine. He didn't except such an overblown form of gratitude from a stranger. Didn't even know her name. But there was something comforting about her hug. He hadn't experienced these feelings in while. It reminded him of being secure within his mother's arms – that the world around him didn't seem vast and endless. It was…a nice sensation.

Luigi and Yoshi, meanwhile, exchanged sly grins with each other. After the woman pulled away, she said, "It seems you weren't aware of them. Are you new here?"

"You can say that," Luigi said. "We're just a bunch of travelers."

The woman gasped in shock. "Then you mustn't stay out here! It'll only get worse! Please, come stay at our ranch tonight. You'll be much safer there."

"Oh, man," Sora said with a guilty tone in his voice. "We don't mean to intrude."

"Don't be so modest," the woman said with a smile. "It's the least I can do for you saving my life. You must be tired. And hungry. We have plenty of food."

Yoshi could already feel the saliva forming. "You had Yoshi at food."

The trio thought it over for a moment. It was getting late. Their ship was still far off in the distance. The stars would be their only guide, and they could not illuminate the shadows where vicious creatures lurked. Given their unfamiliarity with this world – and the strange anomalies they've encountered thus far – there didn't seem to be another option.

"I suppose it wouldn't hurt," Luigi said.

"Okay," Sora said. "We'll accept your offer, Ms…"

"I'm Malon," the woman said, in a much chipper mood now that she was at ease. "Nice to meet you."

Once introductions were exchanged, Malon grabbed the rope and guided her horse back to the ranch, beckoning the others to follow.

"Alright," Sora said, turning to his friends with enthusiasm. "Who's up for some grub?" He noticed the two smirking at him. "What?"

"Gee, Sora," Luigi said in a playful tone. "You always seem get along well with red heads, don'tchya?"

Sora's face blushed even brighter than before. Luigi half expected steam to come out of his ears like a geyser.

"Wh-What's that supposed to mean?" Sora asked, flustered.

Luigi placed both hands in his pockets, walked by him, and, with a teasing smile, said, "Oh, nothing."

Sora stammered as he tried to think of an appropriate, cohesive response. But his throat was cluttered with random words. Yoshi walked by, giggling the whole time. Were they alluding to his relationship with Kairi? Just the mere thought of taking that next step made his emotions spin in a blender.

"You guys!" Sora said. They didn't respond. Realizing there was no point in pursuing the topic further, he groaned and hurried after them.

Lon Lon Ranch was a small farm located northeast of the abandoned marketplace. Quiet, humble, it was a place where one could go to escape the congested villages scattered throughout Hyrule. When the group arrived, they were sandwiched between a barn on the right, and a two-story house on the left. Ahead of them was a massive stable, where horses could roam freely, and not feel like prisoners behind the wooden fence.

They heard livestock chattering to each other in peace. Malon loved hearing those noises. It reminded her of when she was a child – she'd run around chasing cuccos (this world's version of chickens), feed the cows, and groom the horses. It was a simple life – one she wouldn't dare leave behind.

Which is why she couldn't be more thankful to be alive.

"Nice farm you've got here," Luigi said.

"Thanks," Malon said. "There's no better place to be. Don't worry about those skeleton monsters. They never come around here."

The livestock's chatter was interrupted by a boisterous growling sound. It was so loud that the soles of the group's feet shivered.

"Ooh, that sounds like one hungry piggy," Yoshi said.

Malon looked at Yoshi in confusion. "We don't have a pig."

They heard the sound again – it was even louder. Luigi winced at each vibration that rumbled through his ears. They followed the sound, and found the source.

"Ugh!" Malon said, exasperated. "Not again! All he does is sleep!"

Lean against the barn, fast asleep, was a middle aged, corpulent man wearing blue overalls and a red shirt. He had a long brown moustache that connected to his sideburns; on top, he was bald, although he had hair on the side. Luigi and Yoshi were startled, having to adjust their eyes; for a fleeting moment, they thought it was Mario. The resemblance was uncanny.

Malon walked over to the man and shouted, "Dad, wake up!"

"Tarnation!" Her dad jumped up in surprise, and he looked around the ranch in a panic. "What's happening!? Has the chicken invasion finally begun!? Where's our makeshift nests? We're going to fool them good!" His eyes then met with Malon. There was a long frown on her lips. His eyes sunk towards the floor, feeling foolish. "There's no cluck uprising, is there?"

"You were sleeping on the job again," Malon said, crossing her arms, not letting that frown falter.

"I'm sorry darlin'," the dad said. "How could I not? Especially on a beautiful evening like this."

Malon began chastising her father with unrelating anger; all he could do was lean against the wall like a meek little puppy being punished for chewing on the slippers.

Yoshi leaned towards Luigi, whispering, "Lazy man look like Mario."

"I know!" Luigi said, still surprised. "I was thinking the same thing! How weird." His shoulders lowered in sadness. "Maybe whenever I see a mustache like that, it reminds me of him."

So much for running on happy faces, Luigi thought. The longer the journey took, the more Luigi worried and started to wonder if he'd even see his big brother again. Peach's abduction added extra weight to the despair. Sora pat him on the back; he understood the feeling. Although, given his situation with Riku, maybe he would've been better off not knowing his whereabouts. It just seemed to make him more discouraged.

"Sweetheart, I promise I'm going to get my act together," Malon's father said in an assuring tone, trying to quell his daughter's anger. "This barn ain't gonna run itself, ya know."

"Well, not now." Malon gestured towards the trio. "We have company."

Upon noticing Sora's group, Malon's father stood up straight, cleared his throat, and put on the biggest smile he could muster. "Howdy, fellas! Welcome to Lon Lon Ranch, home of the finest milk this side of Hyrule Field. Milk so fresh and pure that it will make your bones start dancing. Well, not like those skeleton guys out there, but, you know what I mean. Name's Talon. What can I do for you?"

"These three saved me from those skeletons," Malon said.

Overcome with massive worry, Talon faced his daughter again, looking over every inch of her head. "Those things attacked you!? You okay, sweetheart!?"

"I'm fine," Malon said with a reassuring smile. "All thanks to them."

Sora noticed Talon running towards them with outstretched arms. Foreseeing crushed ribs, he placed Luigi in front of him.

"Hey!" Luigi said.

Talon picked Luigi up and gave him the biggest bear hug. "Thank you, boys! My little girl means the world to me! Don't know what I'd do if something happened to her pretty little face!"

Luigi groaned in pain as he was squeezed like a bottle of toothpaste. The prominent smell of body order didn't help matters.

"Very touchy-feely family, huh?" Sora asked.

"Look at you being the observant one," Luigi said in agony.

After placing Luigi down (in which it took a moment for him to regain feeling in his body), an appreciative Talon said, ""How can I ever repay you boys? Anything you need? Just say the word!"

"Well, it seems like these three have been traveling all day," Malon said, "and they have no place to stay. Could they crash here tonight?"

"Not even a question," Talon said with a big smile.

Suddenly, a high pitched, coarse voice said, "Then I'll answer her question: absolutely not!"

Everyone turned to see a slender gentleman approach them. A look of perpetual disdain accompanied his fowl attitude. He wore pink overalls and a green shirt. Much like Talon, he had a thick brown moustache, though it didn't connect to his sideburns; he also had short brown hair. Luigi was now uncomfortable, as this man looked like him in appearance. Did they jump into a mirror world of the Mushroom Kingdom?

"It's bad enough that I, the great Ingo, do everything around here, but now I have to take care of guests!?" the man said, appalled. "This isn't some inn! We don't have room for filthy travelers!"

Luigi lowered his cap over his eyes. He had gained a sarcastic tongue over the years, but this guy was downright cruel. How'd he end up working with an easygoing family?

Talon pulled his associate aside, hushing him in the process. "Keep it down! They can hear you! You have to work on your ethics with the customers."

"No!" Ingo said, practically snarling. Talon could feel the hot saliva on his face. "I'm putting my foot down on this one. I spend all day sprucing up this cesspool of a place, and now you're letting freeloaders in to mess it all up?"

As the two men argued, Malon turned to the group with a guilty expression. "I-I'm sorry. Ingo's heart is in the right place." She paused upon realizing what she said. The words almost made her hiccup in disgust. "No, not really."

"We getting kicked out?" Yoshi asked, saddened.

Sora glanced at the exit. "We can't go back out there now. There are probably more skeleton creatures. And what if the Heartless show up? Isn't there a way we can change this guy's mind?"

Luigi pondered this dilemma over. At first, every idea that crossed his mind was about as inspiring as Ingo's customer services. But then, he found a shining diamond in between a pile of vapid rocks. Thrilled with the idea, he hurried to Yoshi and whispered it in his ear.

The dinosaur turned to Luigi with an aghast expression. "Is Luigi nuts!? You realize what you ask of me? Yoshi's gift should only be used in dire circumstances!"

"Yoshi," Luigi said in an encouraging tone, as he placed an arm around the dinosaur's back, "have you ever heard of the saying: 'With great power comes great responsibility?' Well, your responsibility is to get us a free meal and lodge."

Yoshi stared blankly at his friend. "Me sure that not what saying mean."

"You're getting foot out of it," Luigi said in annoyance. "Can you just do it?"

Yoshi sighed in defeat. Food always made him weak. Whether from being hungry or just hearing the word, he wasn't sure. "Fine. Make sure everyone a safe distance."

"What are you up to?" Sora asked.

Sora was startled to see Luigi run right towards the edge of the barn. "No time for questions. Grab Malon and follow me! He's going to go off at any second!"

While confused, he could hear an urgent tone in Luigi's voice. Sounded serious, he thought. Sora hurried over to Malon, grabbed her hand ("I'll explain later," he said), and followed Luigi to the edge of the barn, where they hid in silence. Interested in what Yoshi was going to do, Sora stuck his head out to see.

"Don't look directly at him!" Luigi said in cautious tone. "You may not survive!"

Sora raised an eyebrow – that only made his curiosity want to get a closer look at the action through binoculars. The two men continued arguing until they saw Yoshi appear in their peripheral vision. Upon facing him, they were greeted to the most precious begging face imaginable: the dinosaur's eyes glistened in the sunset; he clasped his hands; and quivered his lower lip.

"Pwease, mister," Yoshi said a sweet, baby-like tone." It dark, cold, and scawy out there. Don't throw us out. We just need a warm, cozy place for tonight."

Talon was entranced by Yoshi's adorable expression. Every impulse wanted to squeeze the dinosaur's head straight off his neck. He was that irresistible.

""Awwww, ain't you an adorable little fella," Talon said, petting Yoshi's head. "Come on, Ingo! One night won't hurt."

"Don't be fooled by such a ruse," Ingo said; his stone-cold demeanor refused to crumble before such an adorable visage. What we have here is nothing more than a manipulative little brat. You can't fool me with your cuteness."

Yoshi gave him a serious expression. It seemed he'd have to try harder. He cracked his fingers, physically and mentally preparing for his countermeasure.

"Alright, if that you want…." Yoshi took a deep breath in, and then shouted, "CUTE COMBO ATTACK!"

He started performing various poses – his eyes became brighter and larger each time: first, he raised his right arm, then winked; next, he performed the peace sign; then followed by squeezing both cheeks together….and it only got more intense with each posture. Ingo tried averting his eyes, but, an invisible string of temptation forced him to stare right at the dinosaur.

Talon's mind was already numb from the overwhelming imagery of cuteness; every function stopped working. He was hypnotized. Even Ingo's iron heart was softening from the heat of the dinosaur's irresistible display.

"No!" Ingo said, overwhelmed. "Make it stop! I can't stand this much cuteness! Alright! You can stay! Have mercy!"

Sora and the others glanced out to see Yoshi's handiwork, and were left in stunned silence. Ingo was a shriveled mess; Talon had collapsed onto the floor.

"The cuteness…it's too much…" Talon said.

Yoshi exhaled, satisfied. "Yoshi's work here is done."

"Ho-How'd he do that?" Sora asked, after taking a moment to recuperate from the shock.

Luigi closed his eyes. "Even I don't understand his ways. Such a power could make any person tremble."

"You don't need to be dramatic about it," Sora said, raising an eyebrow.

"It's because you haven't experienced it for yourself," Luigi said, still speaking in a theatrical tone. "You'll realize that his face is a force to be reckoned with."

"Can we eat now?" Sora asked; he was starting to lose his patience.

"Okay," Luigi said in his normal voice, with a smile, as if nothing had happened.

As the two walked towards the house, Malon was still frozen in bewilderment, trying to piece together what she just witnessed.

Inside the house, everyone but Ingo (who retreated to the barn, performing a mental triathlon to rid himself of Yoshi's cuteness) sat at a long wooden table. Malon and Talon had brought over plates of stunning food: country fried steak, corn on the cobb, mashed potatoes, just to name a few. Yoshi's eyes were wild with hunger; any moment he was going to devour the whole table. Even Sora admitted – it's been a while since he had a home cooked meal. The succulent smells were pulling him forward like a dog on a leash. After a rough day, this was well deserved.

"Dig in, boys!" Talon said.

It wasn't long before food vanished off the plates from the starving group. The pleasant sounds of silverware clanking echoed throughout the room.

"So, Malon tells me that y'all are passin' by," Talon said. "Where ya headin'?"

Everyone stopped midbite to think of an excuse. Luigi was quick to answer: "Oh, wherever the trail takes us."

"Free roamers, huh?" Talon said. "You should check out Lake Hylia. Great fishin' spot. Too bad I miss the bites on account of me dosin' off a lot."

Malon groaned. "Dad."

"Actually, there's something we're wondering about," Sora said after swallowing some mashed potatoes. "What's up with that abandoned town?"

In an instant, the bright, jovial atmosphere morphed into a bleak sheet of discomfort. Talon and Malon looked at each other, both saddened and confused.

"Y-You don't know?" Malon asked.

Luigi shrugged. "We don't get out much."

"Wow," Talon said, baffled. "What ditch did you boys crawl out of? How long has it been, sweetie? Seven years?"

Malon sadly nodded. Sora felt uncomfortable pressure spin in between his full stomach. It wasn't his intention to make them recall a painful memory for them to stare at again.

"Dang," Talon said, leaning back in his seat, letting that revelation settle in his mind. "It feels like only yesterday. That there town used to be the heart of Hyrule. Home to the royal family. Our King was such a standup guy. Ruled with strength in his noggin, but love in his heart. Yep. Times were good until Ganondorf came along and caused a ruckus.

Yoshi gulped in fear. "G-Ganondorf?"

"He's the King of the desert people," Malon said. "One day he showed up in town and left it ruin. How one man could do all that is frightening to think about."

Luigi's eyes bulged out in horror. The name was threatening enough, but destroying a whole town? He'd be considered overqualified on a resume for power hungry dictator. "I'll say: Hey, guys: who wants to expand that ditch we're living in? I heard the world's core is burning hot this time of the year."

Sora elbowed him in the shoulder.

"Now he's taken over the entire kingdom," Talon said. "Heard he lives in the castle. Has remodeled the place. I ain't brave enough to go look."

"But what's strange is that he hasn't attacked any of the other towns yet," Malon said. "It's as if he's waiting for the right moment."

Sora squeezed the glass of his cup, and then eyed the others. It seemed their mission to rescue the next Star Spirit would pose an incredible challenge, like swimming against a current; every stroke would be painful. From what Malon and Talon described, Ganondorf could wipe out an entire village with little effort. And that was being generous.

There was a mist of uncertainty blinding their optimism. If they were to confront Ganondorf, he may prove to be their most dangerous foe yet – making the likes of K. Rool and Ridley appear pleasant by comparison. But the night was still young. Perhaps it was imprudent to assume the worse outcome. Their teamwork seemed to be just as unstoppable. They just need to form a plan in hopes of combating this new threat.

"Sounds horrible," Sora said. "Must be hard to sleep at night knowing he could attack at any time."

Malon smiled. "It's a scary thought, but we try to live our lives one day at a time."

"Last I checked, we still breathin', right?" Talon said. "Ain't no point in sitting around waitin' and worrying. You just gotta go about your business. It puts your mind at ease about the bad times goin' on around ya."

Malon turned to him, impressed. "Very insightful of you, dad."

"Well, I think about these things while I'm sleepin'."

Malon chuckled. "Guess your excessive sleeping is good for something?"

The group had a good laugh. It was nice to have some time of levity. Sora and his friends needed it. For when the sun rose tomorrow, they would be trudging through a place where it could not follow them.

Sora glanced out the window to see the moon's pale light cover the ground like a blanket. Night had come. He was ready to drift into a peaceful sleep – to leave today's taxing endeavors behind him. Although Sora's concerns for Riku lingered throughout his mind; it was like an annoying insect had crawled through his spiky hair.

Malon arrived to inform the group that they only had one spare bed. With an apologetic look on her face, Malon said that she could grab some hay and turn it into a makeshift bed.

"That's fine," Sora said in his usual chipper attitude. "The three of us will figure who sleeps where."

After Malon left, the trio came together to solve this problem in the most rational and diplomatic way possible:

"Well, I totally deserve to sleep in the bed," Luigi said in an argumentative tone. "I'm the oldest!"

Sora scowled. "Not by much. That's a horrible reason!"

"After everything that's happened to me on this journey," Luigi said; his voice grew louder. So much for rational and diplomatic, "I SHOULD get it. I've been framed by a snotty little turtle kid; been crushed by an overweight Pokemon; fell out of the Labo Ship; got chased by a Rhinoceros..."

Five minutes later….

"…and almost crashed into a meteorite by someone who's name shall not be mentioned," Luigi said.

Sora and Yoshi felt like their heads had dove into a bucket of ice; they were so numb from his complaining.

"Alright, alright," Sora said, irked. "You win. Didn't need your whole life story. Come on, Yoshi. You and I can sleep under the stars. Who needs a cramped bedroom anyway?"

Yoshi wagged his tail in excitement; he loved the idea. "Okay! Me want to see how many stars are shaped like hamburgers."

"Never stop being you, buddy," Sora said with a chuckle.

Luigi stretched his arms out as he sat on the bed. It felt like stressful sand had exited his pours, releasing all the tension from today. For once, he was glad to be sleeping in a bed, instead of on the ship, listening to Sora and Yoshi's synchronized snores. He was about to jump in and sink beneath the covers when he heard clucking.

A lone cucco managed to enter the room through the window. Somewhat annoyed, he walked over, picked the bird up, and placed it outside.

"Go find your flock, little guy," Luigi said in a faux pleasant tone. After closing the window, he prepared for a hasty retreat to the bed when the bird knocked on the glass with its beak. Some of the stressful sand seeped back to his skin. He opened the window and shooed the bird off the windowsill.

He slammed the window shut, leaped into his bed, and started to slide under the covers. Another peck at the door. Even louder this time. His patience was shrinking faster than the temperature outside. He swung the blanket off him, ran over to the window, opened it, and told the bird to "scram!" It responded by pecking his nose. He threw the bird with all his might, hoping it wouldn't return.

Luigi slammed the window and walked towards his bed. Before he could even sit, there was an even louder bang at the window. He almost fell onto the bed from being startled. Now beyond aggravated, he rolled up his sleeves, marched towards the window, and opened it again.

"You're going to be poultry in a sec you—"

A whole flock of cuccos flew into the room, knocking him over in the process. Some of their feathers ended up in his mouth, causing him to cough from the tickling sensation. Standing up, his room was covered by a white bed sheet of clucking birds. Some started pecking at his shoes. Luigi stood there, shoulders slumped, exasperated.

"No, no," Luigi said in a depressed tone. "This is fine."

Malon managed to construct a haystack that would be comfortable enough for Sora and Yoshi. They both lay on the stack and found that, while it wasn't a cozy mattress, it would be enough to drift into a peaceful sleep.

Malon walked over to them with a huge blanket. "Sure you two be alright?"

"Yep," Sora said. "Nothing can go wrong as long as we've got each other, right?"

"Right," Yoshi said.

Malon looked relieved. "Glad to hear it. I'll be over by the fence for a little while if you need me. Other than that, good-night."

She handed them the blanket and wandered off towards the stable. Sora felt the warm blanket hug his chest. It's been forever since he slept underneath one. Last time was at the hotel. While he was secure physically, on the inside, his mind was lost, having nothing to hold it in place.

Sora gazed at the moon; a thick haze covered its full, radiant glow. Least he could gaze at the stars. He started to imagine himself back on the island. As he told Yoshi, on beautiful nights, he, Riku, and Kairi would sleep together on the beach. But when Sora turned to face Riku, he was gone. Then, turned to Kairi; she was looking out at the horizon, silently weeping to herself.

He couldn't believe Riku was on Bowser's side. Was it something he did? Even though Luigi intervened with their reunion, Riku should've know that Sora would come to his defense. In a heartbeat!

Every thought just added to Sora's anxiety. He wanted everything to be perfect – him, Riku, and Kairi back on the island, watching the sunset. Kairi's weeping grew louder. How would this affect their relationship if she knew of Riku's betrayal? Would she grow distant from them both? He was frightened.

Yoshi noticed the distressed look in his friend's eyes. He could hear his breathing become rapid, like an out-of-control steam train. It hurt to see your close friend in such a broken state of mind. Yoshi nuzzled his way onto Sora's chest. The boy looked down at the dinosaur; there was a reassuring glow in his eyes.

Sora stroked his back in response. The dinosaur felt a sense of a tranquility with each rub. He pressed his head against Sora's chest. Soon enough, he closed his eyes. Sora listened to Yoshi's slow, rhythmic breaths. It was such a soothing sound.

Inhale….exhale….

Sora found his own breathing in sync with Yoshi's. Every overwhelming thought was sucked into a vacuum of emptiness. Only peace remained. Overthinking the situation was pointless. Like Talon said: "Ain't no point in sitting around waitin' and worrying. You just gotta go about your business. It puts your mind at ease about the bad times goin' on around ya."

He knew Riku better than anyone. There had to be a way to reach out to him. And he would never give up until the chain reformed. Not just for his sake, but for Kairi's too. However, it seemed a new chain was connecting. While Luigi and Isabelle were great friends, his bond with Yoshi was strong. They had a deep understanding of each other, despite their age gap.

Yoshi always knew how to make him laugh, and Sora always knew how to support him, like a big brother. While no one could ever replace Riku, he was glad to have someone that was like a missing piece of his island. Sora glanced up at the moon again; the haze was gone. They then heard Malon sing a beautiful melody.

It reminded them both of when they were younger: when their mothers (in Yoshi's case, Princess Peach), would lull them into a peaceful sleep. Right now, history was repeating itself – life didn't seem massive. They didn't have to worry about the past, the present, or the future, just their time of respite.

Sora was the first to fall asleep. Yoshi listen to his friend's heartbeat; it was just as comforting. Before Yoshi drifted away into the land of unconsciousness, he could've sworn he heard a strange echo follow each beat. It didn't matter, regardless. He was happy to have a great friend like Sora in his life.

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