A/N: After much delay, it's time to continue ACT II. I want to apologize. Like everyone else, I felt the adverse effects of 2020. There were some struggles, too, in 2021. But I persevered, and finished the next act up, despite various roadblocks. Thanks again for sticking with me through all of this! You guys are the best! And hopefully ACT III will follow sooner rather than later. Again, new chapters every Wednesday and Sunday.

Enjoy!

Chapter 33: Welcome to Tortimer Island

Facing him with cold indifference were metal bars. Behind him cobblestone walls. Regret was the only thing that kept him company.

He was alone.

Well, unless you count Heartless guarding the cell. But they weren't people – just empty, apathetic carapaces that wandered the living world. In Digby's case, they stood as a reminder for his immoral actions – how he used them to hurt innocent people. Especially the girl.

Ever since learning his name, strong feelings had flooded his heart. He remembered that he had a strong relationship with the girl. And it made him realize how much suffering he brought upon her. Those feelings of empathy started to return. He had thrown them away when he lost his memory. He was alone – a nobody. Why bother with them?

But, now, overflowed with these rich emotions, he felt horrible for every atrocity he committed. Especially taking the princesses away from their homes. Right now, he imagined their loved ones wandering an endless cavern of dejection, unable to find inspiring light that brought them joy.

He had hurt so many people. Perhaps being a prisoner of the darkness was a fitting punishment.

Digby's ears rose upon hearing a struggle. One of the voices belonged to Bowser Jr, while the other seemed to be an adult man. He heard a loud thump in the cell next door.

"And stay there, ya cheapskate!" Jr. said in a huff.

Digby heard the cell door slam. The man started groaning from landing on his stomach. He wore a small black hat, a short waistcoat under his blue shirt, baggy beige pants, and sandals.

"Little bugger!" the man said as he stood up, brushing the dirt off his clothes. He spoke with a Cockney accent. "Can't appreciate the hard work us traveling salesman do! This is a fine mess! How am I supposed to start me empire from here?"

"H-Hello?" Digby said with a bit of a reluctant tone.

The man was startled. "Well, if me ears aren't having a bit of fun! Seems like I ain't the only one stuck in this rancid hellhole! You've gotta a name there?"

Digby paused; he never had a name upon arriving at the castle. It's what made him feel like nothing more than a footnote in life. But then he remembered the name uttered by the girl:

"D-Digby."

"You don't sound so sure of yourself, lad," the man said in a confused tone.

Digby leaned against the wall, sighing. "It's a long story."

"I be O'aka XXIII, salesman extraordinaire!" the man said, cheerful. "At your service!" He then frowned. "That is, if I had me gear."

"Why are you here?"

"I tried selling some items to the owner of this castle. Hated the prices I was offering. Thought they were too expensive." O'aka face was riddled with angry flush, insulted. "Too expensive!? My prices are always affordable! And this nitwit lives in a castle!"

Digby couldn't help but chuckle. "Gets angry over the most trivial things? Sounds like something he'd do."

"I take it you know that repulsive lizard," O'aka said as he sat on the cold, concrete ground.

Digby let out an uncomfortable grunt. "Unfortunately. I was in alliance with him. Mostly because of desperation." His tone shifted to plaintive. "And desperation can be the result of a stupid decision."

"Oh, I'm sorry," O'aka said, sympathetic. "Being in a jail sale ain't going to brighten anyone's mood, but it seems you've got other issues there, lad. Why not tell ol' O'aka about it? Salesmen need to listen just as much as letting their mouths run rampant. Get what I mean?"

It didn't seem right to share useless information with a stranger. What good would come from it? Eventually, its filtered through the mind like unnecessary particles of dust. But neither of them had anywhere to go. His chest felt tighter than a loaded briefcase. Perhaps he needed to unload everything, freeing himself from the pain.

And so, he talked for what felt like forever. He started with how Bowser found him a year ago. The Koopa King saw potential in him, as he survived being swallowed by the darkness. But he had no memory of his past. It was a terrible sensation, and only made him feel miserable. Somehow, the sorrow allowed him to control the darkness. Or, at least he thought it did. Even now, he felt the darkness nibbling on his heart, as if wetting its appetite before consumption.

Bowser allowed him to stay at the castle, and promised he would help in regaining his memories. In return, he had to disrupt the delicate balance of the world order. Any sane person would refuse this offer, but any compassion he once had made a comfortable home for itself within the darkness. All he cared about was finding his past. But as time went on, he never found it. Perhaps it was lost forever. Or, maybe, it never existed in the first place.

But then: "It wasn't until yesterday I met this girl. She felt so familiar to me. Her reaction said it all: it seems like we were close. I learned that she's with a group that is opposing Bowser." He clenched his fists. "Now I wonder if she thinks I'm a traitor. Even if I see her again, would she shun me?" He grew furious. Talking just seemed to make things worse. "I'm so stupid! How could I let this happen!?"

"Calm down, my friend," O'aka said in a steady tone. "Everyone does stupid things. That's the way life works. We all wish for a perfect world where every decision is the right one. But there's nothing we can do about it. The scar will never go away."

"That's comforting," Digby said in sarcasm.

"I'm not done yet," O'aka said, firm. "Sure, the scar will never go away, but how you at least mend that scar can make a difference. So, let me ask you a question, Digby: are you going to sit around and let it bleed, or are you going to heal it?"

Digby's ire started to subside as every word sat next to him on a tranquil bench. Hearing another point of view started to make him see things in a new light. So maybe he could never atone for his actions. Forgiveness is never guaranteed, especially if it involved hurting others. Memories will never leave. But, at the very least, he could make the girl and her friends lives easier.

He may never get a chance to be with her again, but she'd be happy.

"I have to make things right," Digby said. His spirits rose from a sunken chest of self-loathing. "At the very least, I can put the past behind me by helping her."

"That's the spirit, lad!" O'aka said in encouragement. "Can't hurt to try, right?"

"Yeah. Thank you."

"Normally I charge by the minute for advice," O'aka said, playful, "but I'll let you have this one for free."

Digby smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. "I appreciate your generosity." He glanced out to see Heartless marching back and forth near his cell. "Only problem is escaping now. I can easily get out of here, but the Heartless are keeping a close eye on me."

"Leave that to me." O'aka hurried to his feet. He had a bold smirk on his lips. "Luckily that little imp ain't the brightest crayon in the box. Didn't thoroughly check me over." He pulled out a paper clip and straightened it. Then, he aligned it with the keyhole. "This oughta do the trick. I'll distract those creatures while you escape."

Digby gasped in surprise. "A-Are you sure!? What about you? They still have your supplies."

"A good salesman always has backups," O'aka said, beaming with pride. "And I know right where they are."

Digby felt touched by a stranger's gesture, but was puzzled at the same time. "O'aka….you're willing to do this for me? Why?"

"Sometimes you don't need a reason, "O'aka said. "You sound like a decent person. Why should I enjoy my freedom when I know someone else is still suffering?"

These sensations of kindness – they were familiar, as if he used to bring happiness to everyone else. And it inspired him further to help the girl. He knew there was only one course of action; it may come at a great sacrifice. He didn't care; all he wanted was to make this girl happy. In his eyes, he'd find some form of redemption – a satisfying feeling he'd go hand in hand with into the afterlife.

"Alright," Digby said, gaining his confidence. "Thanks for everything. Please, be careful."

O'aka peeked through the bars to make sure no one was in sight. "Don't worry about me. Just move your tail as soon as I distract them!"

Digby started drawing a blueprint in his head. In the middle of his plan, highlighted with a big circle, was a Star Spirit hidden in the castle. He knew its exact location. It wouldn't be too difficult; with his cloak and dark fur, he would blend into the dimly lit halls as a prowler from the shadows.

O'aka opened the bars, taking slow, cautious steps into the wild, where his heart was vulnerable to a hungry pack of Heartless. But he didn't care; he sacrificed everything to start an empire, and refused to be consumed by regret. A few Heartless walked by him.

"Hey, brainless dopes!" O'aka said in a mocking tone. The Heartless turned to him. "Think you can tell the difference between your feet and hands and catch me!? I wager me life that you won't!"

He started running without a second thought, not once turning around. A cacophony of multiple running feet echoed along with his own. They were in hot pursuit of him. Digby took the opportunity to create a portal and escape.

Good luck, kid, O'aka said in his thoughts. I hope we both find success in our future.

Digby moved throughout the corridors of the upper level at a slow place, peering around each corner, being aware of anything that moved. So far, it was only his shadow – a comforting sight. But the sound of his nervous heartbeat was deafening – it bounced from ear to ear. He took deep breathes, trying to quell the intolerable noise.

Upon reaching a corner, he heard footsteps, and retreated to a dark area of the hallway, where the naked eye could not see beyond its thick layers. He watched as Black Shadow walked by him, on his cell phone, looking visibly furious.

"What do you mean you lost it!?" Black Shadow asked; his powerful, enraged voice caused the walls to rumble. "Get out there and find it now! I'm in no mood to hear him ring me out with that fat mouth of his!"

Digby waited as Black Shadow's hard steps grew softer. Not sure what he's riled up about, Digby thought. But it was immaterial. Stick to the blueprint. He pressed his body against the wall, continuing his advantageous use of subterfuge. The process was long and tedious, but he wanted the plan to succeeded. Like O'aka, he hadn't come this far to quit now.

Finally, he reached a door to a small study. The walls were painted with multicolored books of various subjects. To his right was a wood grain desk with shelves. Loose papers had been strewn across its surface. Some of them contained sketches of the Heartless symbols; others of what appeared to be doors of various shapes and sizes.

Digby knew Bowser didn't have the artistic talent to draw them, but, again, it was irrelevant. He closed the door behind him, approached the desk, and rummaged through the drawers. Soon, he found the Star Spirit, Muskular, imprisoned in a card, and shoved it in his pocket. Digby scrapped the blueprint, and started planning a storyboard for when he me the girl again.

How was he going to approach her? What was he going to say? 'Sorry' was nothing more than a word; it couldn't physically reverse the damage he caused. Plotting a scenario was more difficult than sneaking through the castle. But, due to being lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice someone had appeared behind him.

He swung his massive claw across the dog's back, making him howl in pain. Digby caught himself on the desk as he fell forward. Spinning around, his eyes met with the vicious glare of King Bowser Koopa.

"Boy, you're quite persistent for a submissive little puppy," Bowser said. His sharp, angry teeth brightened the dark study.

Despite the intense pain, Digby rose to his feet, defiant. "Shut up! I never bowed to you!"

"Yeah, yeah," Bowser said, waving a dismissive hand. "You're doing it because your heart tells you – blahady, blah, blah. Well, guess what? You made a choice to stay here, and you can't go about changing your mind on a dime. My house, my rules. That was the deal. We clear?"

Digby tried striking with his blade, but it met a magical force field that flashed every color of the rainbow.

"Predictable," Bowser said, unimpressed.

He grabbed Dibby and threw him across the room, where he crashed into some chairs. Bowser launched a large orange fireball from his mouth. Digby rolled to his right to dodge it, then ran straight for the exit. The Koopa King stomped the ground, producing a powerful earthquake that made Digby lose his balance.

Upon regaining it, he turned to see the Koopa King hurrying over, clenched both fists over his head, and prepared to slam them on him. Digby leaped out of the study, just missing the chance of becoming crushed like a tomato. But the Koopa King was quick in his pursuit; he caught up and threw a punch. Digby leaned his head back to avoid it.

Then, he tried thrusting, but Bowser activated the shield, and caught the blade's tip with the palm of his hand. He wrapped his fingers around the blade, pulled Digby forward, and punched him straight in the stomach. His bones trembled from the incredible force; he thought they would collapse from the sheer power.

The Koopa King threw him across the room into a wall, curled into his shell, and spun over at blinding speeds. Before Digby could hit the ground, he was caught in a tornado of spikes from Bowser's shell. The dog's eyes teared from the sharp pain; it was like laying on a bed of knives. Finally, he used his shell to knock Digby into the air, who hit the ceiling, fell back down, received a shoulder to the back, and tumbled onto the ground.

Digby struggled to even assume a kneeling position. His body quivered from the unrelenting onslaught. No matter how many commands his brain sent, the body refused to answer out of protest. His chest burned from every harsh breath he took. At this point, his chances of surviving were tapering.

He was given a chance for redemption, but failed. The world seemed darker, as if depriving him of all hope. What didn't help was the loud stomping blasting in his ear like livid drums. The Koop King's hot, smoky breath brushed through his fur.

"Say, anyone gotta a bad case of Déjà vu?" Bowser said with a smug, victorious look on his face. "Why do you continue to fight? You know I can't be beaten, no matter what you do. Now, be a good boy and hand over the Star Spirit. Or else I'll make sure you lose more than your memory!"

Digby lowered his head in defeat. "Go ahead. End me. I have nothing left to fight for."

"Hmm, that's tempting," Bowser said. "Maybe I will. You're no longer of any use to me. I'll make sure your sister never knows what happened to you. You'll both carry the burden of failure straight to your graves."

His sister? He had a sister? Then, the girl flashed before his eyes. A small spark erupted into a nuclear explosion of memories. He saw himself as a puppy sitting on the living room floor, drawing pictures of houses. Upon looking up, he saw the girl sitting across from him, organizing some blocks. Her glowing smile always put him in a good mood.

Then, another flash – they went to school together, graduated, and found their own career paths – her a secretary, him a home designer. But, despite them separating at a crossroad, their bond was planted in the middle. They found themselves in a café, sitting at table with their drinks. Steam emitted from their polystyrene cups; it was a pleasant, familiar scent.

On stage, they watched their favorite performer K.K. Slider play a gentle tune on his guitar. They shared so many good memories with each other. How did he lose them? But it wasn't just memories of her. Everything else rushed him all at once: his life, friends, and, of course, identity. He found them.

And then, he remembered the girl's name: "Isabelle!"

Hidden within the damaged hollow shell was a second wind. And it burst, filling that shell with determined air. Digby created a dark portal below his feet, and sunk into the ground.

"NO!" Bowser roared, panicked.

He tried grabbing Digby, but missed, and watched in bewildered silence as the portal vanished. For a moment, everything was quiet. Bowser couldn't believe what he witnessed; he lost another Star Spirit. This was not the perfect world he envisioned. Princess Peach's smile faded into a discouraging abyss.

He was alone again.

Bowser unleashed an ear shattering roar into the sky, exhaling a stream of enraged fire. The halls were illuminated by his uncontrollable emotions.

After he ceased, the Koopa King slammed his fist into a wall, trying with every fiber in his being to alleviate the emotional turmoil. "All my life I've known defeat. Every time I feel like I'm close to my goal, someone ALWAYS has to ruin it for me. I'm tired of this! I've come too far to lose this time! That mutt is going WISH he never stepped into this castle in the first place! Kammy!"

The witch appeared, seeing the Koopa King catching his breath between the trembling emotions. She wanted to approach him, asking what's wrong, but it'd be like bothering a sleep deprived bear. It would lash out in response. But she had no choice.

"Yes, your gruesomeness," she said.

"Get in touch with that Riku kid," Bowser said. "I have an assignment for him. There's a meddling dog that is overdue for a long sleep."

He let out a malicious grin, as if unable to contain his excitement to witnessing the command firsthand.

Next morning, Sora and his friends visited Kraden for some training. Especially since they acquired the Thunder Spell. To their surprise, it was intense. Despite being a kind, wise sage, he had the harsh mindset of a boxing coach. Training was intense, but well worth the effort. Sora believed he was growing a deep connection with the Keyblade. He learned that it wasn't just a flashlight used to scare away the monster; it was an extension of himself.

After training, they began another day of traveling. Sora leaned back in the seat, stretching his arms, still feeling the tenderness linger. "Man, that training session was rough. For an old guy, Kraden's very intense."

"I can still hear him in my head," Luigi said. "'You call that a fire spell? I've seen campfires more intimidating than that.'" He shuddered from reliving that memory.

"Well, everyone has another side to then, right?" Isabelle said.

"Oh, especially when Luigi kart race," Yoshi said. "He take no prisoners."

"Hey! Kart racing is serious business," Luigi said. "When you're driving over molten lava, you need to be at the top of your game."

Sora looked uncomfortable. "You know, I get less and less enthused about these kart races the more I learn about them."

"Look, we approaching new world!" Yoshi said in excitement.

Everyone turned to see a massive, tropical island in front of them. The water was so crisp and clean that it brightened the endless, dark void of the galaxy. Sora felt his heart skip a beat. For a fleeting moment, he thought it was his home. But, upon glancing at the details, his hopes were inhaled by the vacuum of space. It was about four times the size of his island.

He sighed; it was wishful thinking. Maybe he believed most of his home was still intact – a small white lie that would give him comfort. But, in the end, deceiving yourself leads to disappointment.

Isabelle gasped in shock. "Oh my gosh! I know this island!"

"Isabelle positive?" Yoshi asked.

"More than ever." Isabelle's mind ran rampant through a supply closet of theories, throwing various ideas onto the floor. "How on earth did it survive being destroyed!?"

"I assume this island was part of your world," Sora said.

Isabelle nodded. "It's called Tortimer Island – named after our former mayor. It's a wonderful resort where, as he puts it: 'summer is the norm and winter is banished.' Could some of my friends be here!?" Her new questions dismantled the supply closet into mess of uninhibited enthusiasm. "Maybe even the former mayor!? Guys, we need to look!"

"I don't mind." Sora glared at Luigi. "Unless Mr. Grumpy Pants objects."

Luigi raised an eyebrow. "Mr. Grumpy Pants? Seriously?"

"Please, Luigi," Isabelle said; there was an imploring twinkle in her eyes. "It'd mean so much to me."

"Well, let me check this world for a Star Spirit," Luigi said. "That'd make things convenient for us."

Yoshi noticed a purple mist out of the corner of his eye. Turning left, he saw what appeared to be a small comet covered in a haze. He was unaware that someone lingered inside of it.

"Look out!" Yoshi said in an urgent tone.

Everyone turned to see the comet.

"Quick, get us out of here!" Sora said.

Too late. The ship was hit by the "comet," which then descended towards the island. An alarm screamed in their ears, and they found themselves spinning towards the world themselves. No matter what Luigi did, he could not regain control of the ship.

"Come on!" Luigi said in annoyance. "Not again!"

Their vision turned into a disoriented fan of colors. Gravity tossed them throughout the ship like pinballs. Sora managed to grab onto a chair, hugging it with all his might, bracing for impact. A small, optimistic voice whispered in his ears. They survived a crash once, right? It wouldn't be so bad. But with gravity pulling against his body in various directions, he had doubts.

Sora shut his eye, hoping that, upon hitting the earth, he'd be able to open them again.

Riku worked on his sandcastle for what seemed like forever. Only the gentle current from the ocean, and the seagulls overhead, provided encouraging cheers. It was a perfect day to undertake this project, too. Most of the kids had wandered off to other parts of the island. His mind wasn't cluttered with unnecessary noise.

After applying some final details, he stepped back to admire his handywork. To any other kid, this would be a work of art. It was huge. He spent a long time working on it. But he was dissatisfied. Why? Maybe because it wasn't a real place one could visit.

He wanted to stare up at it, slack jawed, admiring the architecture, and then wander the hallways, visiting various rooms, finding hidden secrets. The mundane never compared to a child's rampant imagination. Riku wanted a change; to make his daydreams come alive.

"RIKKKKKUUUUUU!"

He turned around just in time to see Sora run into him. They both fell into the sandcastle, demolishing it from their combined weight. Sora stood up, brushing the sand from his hair. He looked down to see Riku laying in the sand, frowning at him.

Sora formed an apologetic grin. "Um, oops."

"Um, oops is right, you dork." Riku sat up, brushing the sand off his clothes. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't be giving you the biggest noogie your spiky head has ever felt."

He noticed Sora's expression was conflated with excitement and horror. His mouth took off faster than runners at the Olympics. Riku listened to every detail that managed to peak its head out from the surface of his ramblings.

"Nu-uh!" Riku said in disbelief.

"It's true! I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Yeah, right. Everyone knows you have an overactive imagination."

"No, for real! I saw its fangs!"

"Sure it wasn't Wakka's hair?"

"Positive! I'm tellin' ya there's a huge monster in there! Come see!"

Riku sighed. Seems humoring him would be the only way to stifle his overzealous fantasy. "Well, I guess seeing a monster would make this day a little more interesting."

The two stood outside the Secret Place, waiting for any signs of movement. So far, nothing happened. Riku was ready to leave when they heard a low rumbling sound. He noticed Sora's eyes sparkle in excitement. Maybe he did see something after all, Riku thought. But, if so, what waited for them inside the cave's arid throat?

"Okay," Riku said. "Supposed there really is a monster. Think we can beat it by ourselves?"

Sora gave his confident grin. "No problem! Let's do it!"

The two approached the entrance, keeping a cautious eye out for movement.

"Listen!" Sora said. The low rumbling grew louder. "There! Can you hear it growling?"

"Shh, quiet," Riku said. "We've gotta be careful."

They crawled into the cave, listening to the sound. The air whistled in their ears, as if warning them to retreat. But there was no reason to be afraid; they had each other. Upon standing up, the boys crept through the cave until they arrived at the wide-open area with the door. No monster in sight. Just an empty cavern that remained listless in a perpetual current of time.

"See that?" Riku said. "It was just the wind making that noise."

Sora moaned in disappointment. "Man! I wanted it to be a monster."

"We done playin' pretend now?" Riku asked, growing somewhat irked. "Let's go. You're helping me build another sandcastle."

Sora's eyes met with the door. His excitement crawled out from the discouraged earth. "Hold on! What's that over there?"

Riku noticed the door, too. Even he was intrigued. It seemed unbefitting for a door to be inside a cavern. Riku slide his fingers across the sides, hoping it would open. "A window, or maybe a door? It won't budge."

"Lame," Sora said, feeling dispirited again. "Is that really all that's here?"

"What do you expect in a boring place like this?" But their little adventure planted a seed of inspiration in Riku's mind. "Hey, Sora?"

"Hm?"

"When we grow up, let's get off this island," Riku said; his eager eyes illuminated the dim cave. "We'll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff!"

The idea was appealing, Sora thought. They could do whatever they want; go wherever their hearts desired. Endless possibility can be intimidating to some, but, for a child, it meant nonstop fun.

"Yeah!" Sora said, overjoyed by the notion. "Then we can fight all the monsters we want! Give me the ugliest one!"

Riku placed an arm around his friend. "Keep being you, buddy."

The two started heading for the exit.

"So, what should we do until then?" Sora asked, nettled. He slumped his shoulders. "Growing up is gonna take forever!" He browsed through a catalogue of their usual mundane activities. They've done everything already. Well, except for one thing. "Hey, you know the new girl at the mayor's house? Maybe we could—"

He stopped. The air was still. It became harder to breath. Everything felt empty. He looked around, only to be greeted by darkness. Riku was gone. Anxiety grasped his shoulders.

"Riku?" Sora asked, frightened. "Where are you? This isn't funny!"

He saw the brown door in front of him. It flew open. He was petrified. What was happening? Soulless, yellow eyes faded in from the door's maw. An unseen force shoved him towards the door. Upon reaching it, he saw multiple hands claw away at his shirt.

Sora screamed and sat up in a bed. He looked over himself – not a scratch. His breathing was rapid. He focused on his settings; it appeared to be an ordinary bedroom. The only source of illumination came from a window to his right. A bedroom – a place of security. Everything was okay, he thought. Just a nightmare to tear through the reel of a halcyon slideshow.

He lay back on the bed, letting out a relieved exhale. Despite the frightful ending, the rest of the dream brought back memories – a simple time when their imaginations controlled the adventure. No Heartless, no Keyblades, or anything of that sort; just a perfect journey. He missed his best friends more than anything. Every day the feeling became worse; he wanted to act now

Although, because of Riku siding with Bowser, things grew complicated. It was discouraging.

His train of thought was interrupted by a knock at the door. Sora sat up, alert, unsure of what to expect next. He was still on edge from his dream. For all he knew, a Heartless was waiting to break down the door.

To his relief, it wasn't a Heartless, but a strange turtle-like creature with a depression on his head. He wore a tropical blue shirt and gray shorts. His eyes were closed.

"Sorry if I startled ye, lad," the turtle said in a calm tone. "Are ya alright?"

Sora relaxed from the turtle's genial demeanor. "Y-Yeah, I'm fine." After taking a second to stretch his muscles, he asked, "Who are you? And where am I?"

"I be Kapp'n, resident of this island," the turtle said. "I be glad to see ye're awake. Was getting' worried. Me pet rock be more animated than ye."

Sora rubbed his face. He was still a bit lethargic. "What happened? Last thing I remember was being in my ship" – he gasped in horror – "oh, no! My friends! I gotta find them!"

"Easy, lad," Kapp'n said. "Ye probably not all there yet. That crash caused quite a ruckus. Imagine yer head's tryin' to play catch up. Ye be Sora, correct?"

Sora was showered with instant relief. If Kapp'n knew his name, then he must've encountered his friends. "Yes. So you've seen them?"

"Aye. They all be outside waitin' for ye. Luckily we found ye all. Ye safe now."

"Thanks so much," Sora said.

"Don't mention it. We know yer friend Isabelle, so any friend o' hers is always welcomed here. Take yer time in getting' up. I'll be outside."

He left the room, leaving the door ajar for Sora. At least they weren't lost in a jungle this time. He then heard the cries of seagulls. Upon standing up, he strolled over to the window, and looked outside. It was a paradise: bright white sand, palm trees, and a clear blue ocean. Those familiar scents of home hit his nose. He gazed out the window for a long time. This was warranted. He felt homesick. It was nice to reminded of simpler times.

Because, after today, he may never get a chance to experience those sensations again.

Once wide-awake, Sora walked outside his bedroom; he didn't notice it at first, but the entire house was made from light yellow bamboo, used to brighten the place, as well as the residence's spirits. The fragrant smell of the tropical plants drifted through Sora's nose, further reminding him of home; he felt his troubles get whisked away by the nostalgic aroma.

Kapp'n greeted Sora in the hallway with a smile. He gestured the boy to follow him, and they walked through the beaming hallway. He noticed various rooms: a quaint little kitchen, laundry room, bedrooms that appeared akin to his own, and a few bathrooms with showers.

It appeared to be a resort of some type – immaculate housekeeping. The rugs were liberated from vicious dust bunnies; plants flaunted their perfect green leaves; and the décor was placed with perfect care. They soon arrived in the main lobby; it wasn't too big, as to not overwhelm people who visited.

There were chairs and tables setup in the corners of the room, allowing people to unwind from a long day of sightseeing. Seashells were imprinted on the wallpaper, and adorned on them were pictures of Kapp'n and his family. They appeared to be the same turtle-like species – yellow mouths, green skin, and a strange bald spot on top of their heads.

"Welcome to our resort," Kapp'n said with pride "Finest place this side o' th' island. Actually, it be th' only place, givin' that no other place th' go. Har, har, har."

Sora was glad to see that all of his friends were present. Isabelle was sitting at a table, drinking some tea. She was engaged in conversation with an elderly turtle. Unlike Kapp'n and his family, this turtle appeared more in the traditional sense. He had yellow skin, and sported a long white goatee. His shell was green with blue spots. He donned a red shirt with pink flowers, shorts, and a straw hat.

Meanwhile, Luigi and Yoshi were listening to a story from Kapp'n's mother. She wore a yellow floral dress, and a had a piece of coral in her snow-white hair. Despite her age, there was a chipper, young woman doing push-ups within the withering shell, ready to partake in any strenuous activity without hesitation.

"So thar I be—a young, fair lass eying down th' largest kraken that would make th' bravest person shrivel into a weeping flower," Kapp'n's mother said, with iron conviction in her tone. "But I did no such thin'. Wieldin' naught but a coconut, banana, 'n another coconut, I made that ugly behemoth wish he be sushi! When he tried begging fer mercy, I suplexed 'im so hard, his grandchildren be nothin' more than figments o' his imagination!"

Luigi and Yoshi's minds were stuck in a frozen tundra of boredom. She had been spoon feeding them these outlandish tales for what felt like eternity; each bite of information tasted like bitter medicine. But she had no one else to keep her company, so they begrudgingly sat and listen. Half of the time their focus drifted elsewhere.

Like to the wallpaper.

Luigi snapped out of his daydreaming as Kapp'n's mother pulled him towards her face. In a loud tone, she said, "'n fer good measure, I suplexed meself! BECAUSE I CAN!" His ears rung from her loud raspy voice. Sometimes he wondered if being too nice was punishable by law.

"The answer's forty-two, Marc!" Yoshi said, startled. The frozen tundra he was stuck in shattered from her voice, too. "Me win that Walkman now?" His mind snapped back to reality, and he realized she was still rambling. "Oh."

Luigi formed a faux smile. "Sounds like an incredible tale."

"Aye." Kapp'n's mother released her grip from Luigi. "Thar giant tentacles ne'er step foot on this island again. Now, would ye lads like t' hear th' tale o' me struggles against th' tuna fish? Thar rancid smell can raise th' nose hairs o' th' deceased."

Before Luigi could throw together a haphazard excuse, Sora called out to them. Luigi and Yoshi were overjoyed to see him; not just because he was okay, but their ears were free from digesting a bottle of one hundred percent concentrated insanity.

"No thanks," Luigi said. "We have to see our friend."

"Okay, me dears," Kapp'n's mother said, understanding. "Thank ye fer listenin' to this old gal's stories."

The two hurried over to reunite with Sora. Afterwards, Luigi said, "Glad to see you're okay."

"Same here," Sora said. He glanced at Kapp'n's mother with a curious look "What was that about?"

Luigi grabbed him by the shirt collar, acting as if he just suffered from a traumatic event. In a whisper, he said, "It was terrible. She was telling us farfetched stories from her youth. And each was more ridiculous than the last. Who does that?"

"Hey, pot," Yoshi said, leaning in with a teasing expression. "Yoshi know this nice guy named kettle. Me sure you get along just fine."

Sora laughed from the dinosaur's uncharacteristic remark. "Yoshi!"

"Hey, everything that happened in the Waffle Kingdom was legit," Luigi said, defensive. "Sure, there may be SOME liberties with the story, but—"

"Never mind that," Sora said. "What exactly hit our ship?"

Luigi shrugged. "Have no idea. The good news is at least the damage wasn't too severe. The robots are working on repairs now. Shouldn't be too long."

"Good thing they're robots," Sora said with a slight chuckle. "Otherwise, they would've quit from the number of times this ship has crashed." He placed both hands in his pockets, contemplative. "Still, what could've it been?"

"Good to see you up!" Isabelle said, delighted. They turned to see her approaching with the elderly turtle. "You alright?"

"Yep," Sora said with his famous grin. "Just glad to see that you're all okay."

Isabelle motioned towards the turtle. "Allow me to introduce you to the former mayor of my town: Mr. Tortimer."

"Oh, Isabelle," Tortimer said with a modest laugh, adjusting his circular glasses, "you don't have to be formal with me – not anymore. 'The Turtle Formerly Known as Mayor' will suffice."

"Uh, yes sir," Isabelle said, confused.

Tortimer shook Sora's hand in enthusiasm. "Welcome to my island, young man. Normally business is thriving. But with recent events, it's been quiet. Always nice to have new visitors, even though your arrival was not expected."

Tortimer ran over to the reception desk at incredible speeds (for an old turtle, it was impressive), grabbed some fliers, and started handing them to the dumbfounded boy. He didn't even give him a chance to respond.

"Why not join me on a tour of this fabulous island?" Tortimer said, handing him more fliers. "Or how about staying in one of our finest rooms? We also have Club Tortimer, which gives you the ultimate island experience."

"No thanks," Sora said, feeling a bit uncomfortable, but trying to remain polite.

"Oh, I see." For a moment, Tortimer seemed upset, but immediately masked it behind a wide smile. "Well, we wouldn't want to leave empty handed!" He grabbed something from a table. "How about this coconut? Only cost fifty bells."

"But…I have coconuts back on my island," Sora said.

Tortimer patted Sora on the back, speaking in the same jovial tone (although he sworn it sounded a bit irritated). "We're not on your island, now are we? In the case, you absolutely need one!"

"Tortimer, put a sock in it!" Kapp'n said, aggravated. "Can't ya see th' lad n' his friends are tired!?"

His harsh words pummeled Tortimer's spirits to the ground. The old turtle lowered his head, crestfallen. "Well, gee. I just wanted to make his stay pleasant."

"Not again," Isabelle said with a guilty haze in her eyes. "He always gets like this." She whispered to Sora, "Say something to cheer him up. He hates not having attention for so long. Retirement certainly didn't help matters."

With a compliant nod, Sora turned back to Tortimer donning his usual, upbeat demeanor. "On second thought, maybe a tour of the island would be fine."

"Really!?" Tortimer said, his mood picking itself up from the ground. "You mean it!?" He was ecstatic. "Oh, thank you! You won't regret it! Let me get the release forms! Better safe than sorry!"

The group watched in bewildering silence as Tortimer left the room in glee. Sora, Luigi, and Yoshi faced Isabelle, as if demanding answer for what they just experienced.

"Please don't mind Mr. Tortimer," Isabelle said. "He means well, but he's a bit of an attention seeker."

"Make yourselves at home, me mateys," Kapp'n said; there was a warm, inviting expression on his face. "Me wife will be back soon t' prepare a feast fer ye. I be sure ye must be famished."

The relaxing atmosphere collapsed from the loud sound of a door flying open. Everyone turned to see Kappn's wife and daughter hurrying into the room. They appeared distraught. Concerned for his loved one, Kapp'n ran over to them. They didn't appear to be hurt, but their emotions were disheveled, as if having been thrown through a tidal wave of distress.

"Leilani, what's wrong?" Kapp'n asked, worried. "Be everythin' alright?"

Leilani took a second to catch her breath. "We be okay, but thar's somethin' Isabelle needs t' hear."

While Luigi was trying to figure out why Kapp'n and his family all talked like pirates, Isabelle felt her stomach tighten, as if someone squeezed it like a wet towel, releasing uneasy droplets.

"Me? What's wrong?" Isabelle asked.

"We jus' ran into yer brother," Leilani said.

Those droplets transformed into a rainstorm that pounded on Isabelle's emotions. She couldn't believe it. So many thoughts spun through her mind. "Digby! He's here!? You saw him!? Where'd he go!?"

"Ran off." Leilani handed her a card. "But he wanted ye' t' 'ave this."

Isabelle gasped upon recognizing the card, and beckoned her friends over to have a gander at it. She needed confirmation that the eyes weren't deceiving her. Sure enough, everyone else was taken aback, unable to process what they saw, as if their minds were moving back and forth on a conveyer belt of disbelief.

"No way!" Sora said with widened eyes. "A Star Spirit!? How'd he get his hands on it!?"

Luigi pulled out the 3DS; there was a vigilant expression on his face. "Better safe than sorry." He held it over the card; it responded with loud, consistent beeping noises. "Yeah. This is one of them alright. But I have so many questions right now."

Isabelle concurred; she didn't even know where to start. The list was longer than any paperwork she had complied at her old job. It was distressing because none of them would be answered. It was like the list had been doused in flames; she was beyond worried for Digby.

But Leilan was able to extinguish them when she said, "Actually, th' lad wanted me t' tell ye somethin'. He said that he regained his memories 'n wanted t' make up fer everythin'."

Isabelle's entire body had softened like butter; stress had melted from her body. Her brother had returned. He was free from wandering the miserable plane of oblivion. But, most importantly, he was no longer associated with Bowser and his troops.

She wanted to cry from the overwhelming relief. After everything that happened, she thought he was gone forever. But a second chance had been gift wrapped for her with a sparkling pink bow. She vowed to not let history repeat itself, and would tear that present open.

"Be th' poor lad okay?" Kapp'n asked, concerned. "Wha' happened t' 'im?"

"It too long of a story," Yoshi said.

Isabelle closed her eyes, feeling wrapped in a shawl of relief. "Digby. You're okay now."

"I'm glad to hear that and all," Sora said, a bit uneasy, "but why didn't he just meet up with us?"

Isabelle gasped in horror as the shawl flew away in a cold breeze of concern. "I..I didn't think about that. Oh dear. Did he say anything else?"

"Nah a word," Leilani said. "He ran off. Was lookin' around suspiciously, though."

"Then someone must be pursuing him!" Isabelle said, panicked. "Oh no! Sora, we have to find him! If something happens, I'll…"

"Don't say that," Sora said in a firm, determined tone. "We'll find him! I promise! Even if we end up with sunburn all over our skin, we'll keep lookin'!" He turned to Luigi and Yoshi. "Right, guys?"

"Of course!" Luigi said. "Leave it to us!"

Isabelle gave an appreciative smile. "Thanks, everyone. When I took this job, I never expected to make such incredible friends. I owe so much to you."

"Aw, it no problem." Yoshi licked her cheek.

Leilani had no inkling as to what was happening, but she wished them the best. Digby was a pleasant induvial that helped them redecorate the resort. Her heart would cry with the ocean waves if something unfortunate befell upon him. She turned to her husband, noticing a wide, zealous smile on his face.

She chuckled. "Uh oh. Ye've got that look, dear."

"I can't help it," Kapp'n said in delight. "A search 'n rescue!?" He slammed his stubby hands together. "Finally, some action! Thar's no way I be goin' t' let an adventure go t' waste! Allow me t' accompany ye boys through th' island. Ye wouldna wants t' get lost, now would ye?"

The trio thought it over for a moment. They were certain Heartless would attack as usual, making Kapp'n a liability. But he was correct: having a guide would expedite their search. Besides, they've gotten use to teaming up with random strangers from every world they've visited; and, each time, their odds of success against the Heartless propelled into the double digits, closing in on one hundred percent.

"Well, I don't see why not," Luigi said.

"Thank ye, ole bushy nose," Kapp'n said, overjoyed. "Let me go get somethin' real quick." He ran over to a storage closet.

Sora burst into laughter. "Bushy nose!? I gotta remember that one!"

"Please don't," Luigi said with a flat expression.

"While we wait for him, it would be wise to release the Star Spirit," Isabelle said.

The group did so. Muskular was well-built compared to other Star Spirits (hence the name). Sora was curious to know what stars do for their workout regimen. After thanking the group for their efforts, Muskular granted Sora and Luigi the Gravity spell. Sora grinned; he could have some fun with this one. Already he pictured sending Heartless hovering helplessly in the sky, or crushing them as if they got run over by a car.

Muskular glanced out the window; the beach was beautiful. He wanted to stay and lay in the sand. It would be a nice place to recuperate after being trapped in a card. But he never ignored his duty as a Star Spirit. Good-byes were exchanged, and Muskular returned to Star Haven.

Kapp'n returned, brandishing a cutlass in his stubby hand. He was imbued with passionate spark for action. "Alright, me maytes! T' adventure!"

He thrust his blade into Yoshi's tail by accident, making him yelp in pain. The dinosaur leaped into Sora's arms, and then turned back to Kapp'n with a glower.

"Sorry, lad," Kapp'n said with a sheepish smile. "Perhaps me a bit too zealous."

After taking a moment to prepare themselves for the journey ahead, the group walked towards the exit.

Sora turned to Isabelle with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about a thing. We'll have your brother back before you know it.

But she couldn't help but worry. The image of his cries for help still wailed in her ears, growing louder with each passing moment. His expression of terror as he was dragged into the earth had been seared into her mind; it burned every time she recalled them. Those memories would never leave.

Unless she made things right.

"Wait," Isabelle said. Everyone turned to her. "I'm coming, too."

"Are you sure?" Luigi asked.

Isabelle paused to digest that question. "No. But I'm not going to wait on the sidelines. Before our world got destroyed, I had a chance to save him. My own fears prevented me from doing so. I'm not going to let the same mistake happen again! I promise not to get in your way."

"Isabelle…you don't have to explain anything," Sora said, understanding. "You're more than welcome to come along. Just stay close, okay?"

Finding her courage, Isabelle smiled. "Of course. I'll leave the fighting to you."

A search and rescue team had been formed. Together, they would brave the unforeseen dangers of the island to find Digby. Despite being problematic during their journey, it seemed he was trying to atone for his transgressions. Acknowledging your mistakes is never easy. It's even harder to try and repent for them.

But him relinquishing the Star Spirit was like taking that first step on a long stairway to forgiveness. Sora could respect him for making the effort. Plus, Isabelle still had faith in him, and as a good friend, it was wrong to deny her that belief. In fact, he wished she had Isabelle's confidence when it came to Riku.

Right now, he wasn't sure if their friendship could be salvaged. That piece of his world would sink into the darkness, never to resurface again.

Once the group left, Tortimer returned, carrying a bunch of paperwork. There were so many that it obstructed his vision.

"Okay," Tortimer said. "Here are the documents. Please look over them. The resort is not held responsible for being eaten by sharks, getting stung by bees, or being used as a sacrifice to awaken an angry fire god. He hates being waken up. That's why he's so angry."

He noticed that Sora and his friends had left. Only Kapp'n's family remained.

"Oh, I see how it is!" Tortimer said, fuming. "Trick an old man to get off the hook! Hmph, fine! I'll give my free tour to someone less rude. Maybe a crab. They're just misunderstood. All they want to do is give you a handshake."

Leilani and her daughter watched as Tortimer walked outside, noticed a crab on the beach, and walked over to it.

"Say, now," Tortimer said; his voice was in the distance, "seems like you're a bit 'crabby.' How about a nice, relaxing tour of the island?" The crab pinched his leg. "Yeow! I have a name for my pain, and its regret! Let go!"

Leilani just shook her head from Tortimer's eccentric behavior. He would be a perfect match for her mother-in-law. Sometimes insanity can bring people together.

Unfortunately, as Sora has learned on his journey, the same couldn't be said for the darkness. And if he didn't act soon, a massive black boarder would separate him from Riku forever.

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