Chapter 43: Flight of the Falcon

Yoshi continued running until he was met by a wall. His eyes darted left and right, looking for any openings. There were none. Nothing but solid concrete.

"Of course it a dead end," Yoshi said, his nerves ascending an acceleration escalator. His heart skipped a beat upon hearing Goroh's obnoxious laugh. He spun around to see them standing there, letting out vicious snickers, delighted to have caught their future punching bag.

Goroh drew his sword, pointing it at Yoshi. The blade glistened from what little light source was available, and made the gang fade into the black background; it appeared as a long, sharp tooth prepared to bite down on Yoshi's chest. A lump juggled around inside Yoshi's throat.

"Pretty cliched circumstance," Goroh said, grinning. "But, really, who cares. Got you trapped! Admire your courage for standing up to the Great Goroh, but a backbone ain't gonna save you from the severe beating you're about to get. Right, boys?"

The gang cracked their knuckles in agreement. Yoshi drew his shield; he was prepared to fend them off to the best of his ability.

Goroh laughed again. "You expect that dinky little shield to save your hide? Got news for you, kid. This right here is the sharpest blade in the world. Can shred through it like salami."

Yoshi put on a courageous face, trying to spark even a small flame of intimidation. But Goroh saw it obstruct the tremendous fear fluttering behind his eyes like delicate, timid dandelion petals

"Puttin' on the tough guy act, huh? Relax. I'll make this quick." Goroh prepared his blade. "Think of it as a trip to the dentist."

Yoshi braced himself Goroh's full assault, but they were interrupted by the sound of a loud, ferocious engine. Everyone turned to see the blue machine approached the group, as if prepared to pounce on its victims. The headlights made everyone shield their eyes from sheer intensity. Once they shut off, the cockpit opened, and a man leaped from the machine, landing between Goroh and Yoshi.

The man was opposing, standing tall, strong, and confident above Yoshi. He wore a blue muscle suit and pants. Resting on his right shoulder was a silver pauldron. He carried a firearm in a holster attached to a belt, located on his right hip. His golden gloves and boots added light to the ominous, dim alleyway.

Engraved on each boot was a falcon spreading its majestic wings. A similar design also appeared as an emblem on his red helmet. His eyes were concealed behind a black mask, making it impossible to peer into the soul. But the self-assured look on his face did all the talking. This man wasn't afraid to dive straight into the deep end of a fight, despite being outnumbered. It was assumed he had the strength and cunning to warrant the expression.

He turned to face Goroh and his crew. The samurai scowled at the man's presence; every bubble in his stomach wanted to explode with disgust and anger. He considered this man a worthy opponent in the F-Zero races (maybe too worthy, considering Goroh always losses to him). Every racing fan loved him – people saw him as the pinnacle of perfection. Plus, he fought on the side of justice (in his own way), which made Goroh despise him further.

"Falcon," Goroh said, with enmity bursting from his vocal cords like a dam.

"Long time no see, Goroh," Falcon said with a two-finger salute. "Picking on little kids, huh? The thieving business must be slow this year."

"Shut up!" Goroh said, irked by that condescending voice. "This little starving artist ruined my baby's fresh pink coat with his doodles! Nobody taints my Sting Ray's beauty."

Falcon glanced over at Yoshi with a stern expression. "Is this true?"

"Y-Yes," Yoshi said, guilty. "But me can explain!"

But Falcon was in no mood for excuses now. "We'll discuss this later." He faced the gang, and cracked his knuckles. "First, it's a bit stuffy in here. Think I need to air out this alleyway."

"Stay out of my way, Cap!" Goroh said, pointing his sword at him. "The kid is not leaving here unpunished!"

"What the kid did was not right, yes," Falcon said. "But let's say your form of punishment is a bit...unethical. Not to mention illegal."

Goroh scoffed. "Oh, you figured that out now? Me, a criminal, doing illegal things. How perceptive. Fine. You going to get in the way? We'll just have to take both of you out. Attack!"

The men ran right for Falcon, unfazed by the quantity in his path. That smirk never budged an inch.

"Very poor word choice, old friend," Falcon said.

He lifted his right leg, and it became engulfed in powerful flames. Yoshi's draw dropped; not even his friends' Fire Spells spread that wide. It pulsated with power, growing stronger each passing second. Yoshi was mesmerized by the intense flames; he felt the heat crawl across his rough skin. The gang members prepared for their assault.

Falcon just continued smirking, and swung his blazing leg at them. "FALCON KICK!"

Some helpful citizens pointed Sora and Luigi in the right direction of Yoshi's whereabouts. They hurried down the street, coming into view of the alleyway where Goroh and his gang pursued Yoshi. The only thing that ran faster than Luigi's feet was his mind; it passed by multiple, disorienting colors of worried thoughts.

"Oh, I hope he's okay," Luigi said between breaths.

As always, Sora optimistic smile was etched onto his lips. "I'm sure he can handle those guys, no problem. He's got plenty of tricks up his saddle."

Just then, the two came to a halt upon witnessing an explosion of fire from within the alleyway's maw, regurgitating screaming gang members. They landed on the road covered in soot, emitting painful moans. Sora and Luigi stared at the scene in utter bewilderment; their eyes were wider than golf balls. Perhaps they were both oblivious to their friend's potential.

"What the heck do you feed him!?" Sora asked.

Falcon lowered his leg, still letting his smirk gleam with pride. The alleyway had been wiped clean of the gang members. Goroh stood alone; his human arsenal had been depleted with one attack. A single strain of sweat rolled down his cheek (he chalked it up to a humid alleyway, not nerves). He gripped the hilt of his blade; having a weapon gave him a sense of superiority. He would not be humiliated by Falcon again.

Yoshi's mouth remained gaped, frozen in a cold storage room of awe, from Falcon's sheer power; it was, in fact, quite inspiring. "Me wanna grow up to be just like him."

"Ah," Falcon said, inhaling in the alleyway air through his nose. "It still smells like a mixture of molded cheese and BO, but least it's roomy now.

Goroh growled. "Those boys of mine are too lanky! Need more red meat in their diet. Like me. Tough! I'll make your teeth fall out."

"So that I'll end up looking as hygienic as your crew members? By all means, try," Captain Falcon said, bold. "Show me your moves!"

Goroh thrusted his sword, but Falcon kicked it away with no effort. Taking his other foot, he performed a sweep kick, knocking Goroh onto his backside. The samurai scrambled to his feet, and lunged for Falcon, only to miss, crashing into some trash cans like a bowling ball. After pushing his way out of the rotten pile, Goroh threw a punch. Falcon grabbed the samurai's wrist, twisted it, and pressed the whole arm against his back.

Goroh struggled to break free, but he couldn't loosen Falcon's iron grip. It was like being in the claws of, well, a falcon; struggling would not save you from its fury.

"So, I'm noticing a severe lack of moves right now," Falcon said. "Guess you've already wasted them with your boys."

A brief burst of rage pumped into Goroh's veins from that insult, and he used it to escape Falcon's clutches. He picked up his sword, feeling that sense of security and dominance return; it wrapped around his neck like a warm, comfortable scarf. But his stamina was weighted down by the body's limits, like an anvil.

"You overconfident tripe," Goroh said, panting. "Just having a bad day, is all."

"Continuing this fight isn't going to make it any better," Falcon said, starting to sound bored with this one-sided situation.

Goroh paused, and considered his words. His temper was sedated by sinister bliss. "Perhaps you're right. Damaging you on the outside isn't going to do squat. Now, your pride, on the other hand, is where I need to hurt you the most. Tomorrow I'm going to clobber you in the Grand Prix."

"Fine by me," Falcon said. He smirked again, in concurrence. "Try not to disappoint me further. This fight was already a waste of time."

"Oh, I promise you: that arrogant look of yours is going to melt away in the burning flames from your destroyed vehicle." Goroh couldn't help but savor every line in that picture. "Better start praying now."

Goroh focused his gaze on Yoshi. "Consider yourself lucky for now, little man. But my blade is never satisfied until it strikes its pray. Next time we meet, I will finish the job."

Yoshi replied with a nervous gulp. Goroh took his leave; although his dignity suffered a small fracture, it would heal upon crossing the finish line tomorrow. He had been fine tuning his machine for months; hours of hard labor were going to make his vision a reality. Once Goroh returned to the streets, he noticed the perfectly paved road had been littered with his battered men.

Goroh sighed in exasperation as he heard their pained moans. "Get up! Third degree burns never ruined anyone's day."

Some of his men looked at each other, as if embarrassed for him. Guess that explained his inability to pass the fifth grade, they thought. While Goroh rounded up his gang, Sora and Luigi snuck by him, and ran into the alleyway.

"He never learns," Falcon said, shaking his head. He turned to Yoshi. "You okay, kid?"

"Me fine," Yoshi said with a relieved smile. "Thanks, mister. You strong."

But Falcon wasn't receptive of the compliment. He had the long frown of an upset parent. "Admiration isn't going to get you out of the trouble you're in. Vandalism is a serious offence, you realize. And Samurai Goroh is one of the most ruthless bandits in Mute City. You're lucky I showed up in time."

Before Yoshi could explain himself, Sora and Luigi arrived on the scene, overjoyed to see their friend in one piece. They ran over to enclose him in a huge embrace. Every anxious feeling melted away from the massive warmth, which dried into a sense of assuagement.

"Did they hurt you?" Luigi asked as he pulled away from Yoshi, looking him over.

"Nope." Yoshi gestured towards Falcon "This man saved Yoshi's life."

"Wait a minute!" Sora said, surprised. He faced Falcon. "He's the one that took out all of those guys!?"

Falcon couldn't help but let out a prideful grin in response. Sora felt himself sharing a seat with the same reverence Yoshi experienced earlier.

"I want to grow up to be just like him," Sora said.

"Me know, right!?" Yoshi asked.

Luigi gave the two a confused expression before turning to Falcon. "Erm, anyway, thanks for saving our pal from those thugs."

"Seeing an innocent civilian get picked on isn't my style," Falcon said. "Happy to help. You two must be his guardians."

"I am, anyways," Luigi said.

"Then you should be aware that your little friend crossed paths with the wrong crowd," Falcon said in an authoritative tone. "He could've been seriously hurt."

Luigi gave the dinosaur a faux scorn, and took his hand. "You're absolutely right. Yoshi has a knack for getting in trouble. We're going to have a long talk when we get home, mister."

"But this was your id—" Yoshi started to argue.

Luigi covered his mouth; he raised his voice. "Now, now! Arguing won't get us anywhere! Come on. We have SOMEWHERE to be. He'll be disciplined, I promised."

"Normally this is something for the police," Falcon said. His chin relaxed. "But I'm not the police, so I'll let this slide. He's all yours."

"Oh, good." Luigi removed his hand from Yoshi's mouth. "We appreciate that."

With the situation resolved, the group could continue their pursuit of the Star Spirit. Or, at least, they would have, if a Heartless didn't crawl out from the comforts of its home in the shadows. Falcon failed to notice it was creeping up from behind him; the mindless creature's antennae tingled from the loud, pulsating vibrations of his heartbeat.

"Behind you!" Sora said.

Falcon spun around to see the Heartless. Although startled by its bizarre appearance, he prepared himself for battle. But Sora rushed over and slashed the creature into pieces of dark, shredded dust with the Keyblade.

Falcon, for the first time, was somewhat taken aback. "Okay. Wasn't expecting that. What's going on here? What was that thing?"

More Heartless appeared to finish what their fallen comrade started. Everyone assumed their battle positions.

"Afraid there won't be any answers if these guys wipe us out!" Sora said.

Despite being oblivious to the Heartless' abilities, Falcon wasn't intimidated by their presence. In fact, he loved a good challenge, because you never knew what to expect from them. It was part of the excitement. Can diving into the unknown be daunting sometimes? Sure. But it could also lead to new experiences that removed the cap from boring, everyday life.

"Fine by me," Falcon said, giving his arm a good stretch. "I'm more of an expressive type of person anyways. Especially with my fists!"

Sora and Yoshi gave each other excited looks; they couldn't wait to see Falcon's flashy fighting skills in action. They were like two fans watching their idol on stage at a concert, hitting each beautiful note with thunderous passion.

But Luigi was starting to become irritated by their admiration. "Hello! Kinda fighting for our lives here! You can cut the ribbon on your little fan club for him later!"

The two blushed in embarrassment; perhaps they were a bit too captivated by Falcon's strength. Besides, not losing their hearts would make the day a little less arduous. The battle began. A Bull Heartless charged right for Falcon; he swung his foot upward, kicking its horn, forcing the creature's head upwards.

This gave Falcon the chance to knee the Heartless in the stomach, toss it over his shoulder, and slam the creature into the ground. Looking over his shoulder, a Car Heartless drove towards him, with a Blue Flying Heartless following close behind it. Falcon lifted his foot above his head, and then hit it with the bottom of his heel; the creature came to a halt from the paralyzing assault.

Falcon kicked the car towards the flying Heartless, who hovered into the air to avoid collision. It unleashed an ice spell in retaliation; Falcon rolled to his left, ending up near the trash cans. The flying Heartless unleashed another ice spell; Falcon picked up a lid and used it like a shield to block the cold strike. Although the lid turned into a circular ice cube.

He threw the lid at the Heartless' head like a boomerang, making the creature clutch it in pain. Falcon leaped into the air, grabbed the Heartless with both hands, and unleashed an explosion of fire.

"YESSSSSS!" Falcon shouted.

The creature screeched in pain as the flames enjoyed feasting away at its cold skin.

"Thunder!" Luigi said, slamming both hands on the ground.

A huge lightning bolt obliterated the defenseless Heartless in an instance. Falcon heard hooves trampling from behind him, and turned just in time to catch a Bull Heartless' horns. It was strong; Falcon started sliding backwards. His legs started to tremble like plants in an uproars wind from the Heartless' dominating power.

Sora used the Keyblade to cut through the Heartless' horns like a machete through leaves. He then placed a hand on the creature's stomach. "Fire!"

The Heartless stumbled backwards from the scorching spell. But Falcon was about to make the heat insufferable for the monster. He dashed forward, delivering a fire uppercut that knocked the Heartless into the air, until gravity started pulling it towards earth like a vicious undertow. As the creature descended, Sora jumped into the air, slashing right through its chest.

After what felt like forever, the alleyway was liberated of commotion. But the group didn't drop their guard yet. They stood in a circle, back-to-back, scanning the area for even a smidgen of movement from within the dark cracks. Or the sound of feet brushing against the trash littered on the ground.

Nothing happened. Only the group's heavy breathing filled the silent void. The battle was over. Tension evaporated into a puff of tranquil smoke. Although Falcon still felt water droplets of concern resting on his neck. Were these creatures responsible for hunting down the other racers? How could they be stopped? There seemed to be endless waves crawling up to the shore, pulling anything they could find back into the black, perilous ocean.

However, Sora and friends seemed capable of avoiding a similar fate. He was somewhat impressed by their resilience.

"Not bad for a kid," Falcon said.

Sora lowered his brow. "Hey, I'm not just some kid! I deal with these guys all the time!"

"That so?" Falcon asked with sudden suspicion. "Then you must know what they are."

Sora covered his mouth upon realizing the mistake. Once again, his impulses had left rational thought behind in a dust cloud.

Luigi sneered, and whispered, "Good job, Sora. Want to photocopy Isabelle's journal entries to pass around next? We'll start a book club!"

"I am error," Sora said, rubbing his forehead in shame.

Falcon crossed his arms. A feeling of mistrust stroked at his nerves faster than a guitar solo. "So, boys: feel like having a little show and tell time? See, troublemakers and I don't get along. When that happens, things don't end well for those troublemakers. At least, I hope you boys aren't causing trouble."

"Of course not!" Sora said, sincere. He hesitated for a moment. "It's just… we can't really tell you what those things are. But there's one thing we do know: they're the ones that have been hurting the other racers."

"Do you know why?" Falcon asked.

Sora shrugged.

Falcon sighed in dissatisfaction. "Guess that's better than nothing."

"If these attacks are organized, then someone's controlling them," Luigi said. "Let's just say rational thought are their worst enemy."

Sora organized the most important memories from their visit so far on a board in his mind. He saw arrows from each image converge on an immediate candidate. "Then that guy in the black car must be the one responsible!"

"Black car?" Falcon asked, as the dial on his voice cranked up a few decibels. He had a strong hunch on who Sora was referring to, and wanted that premonition to be a cruel deceit. "Was he dressed like a bull?"

"Yeah," Sora said. "You know him?"

Falcon leaned against a wall, irked. "Unfortunately. His name is Black Shadow – public enemy number one of Mute City. Tries to spread chaos and destruction wherever he goes. Gotta admit: never thought he'd orchestrate an attack on unsuspecting racers."

"What do mean?" Sora asked with a raised eyebrow. "A name like Black Shadow is a problem waiting to happen."

Falcon managed to curve his lip into a small smirk. "I know that. His outfit alone tells you that subtly is not his strong suit. He likes to be more direct with his plans. But this is completely unlike him."

"It's the only lead we have to go on," Luigi said. "Besides, he has a friend of ours. We need to go save him."

Sora was discouraged. "But you saw that car he drove – there's no way we can catch up with him."

"Please." Falcon stood up, once again exuding his confident posture. "His vehicle is too bulky to even be considered fast. You want something that'll push you back in your seats? Check it out!" He walked over to his machine, staring at with pride like a father to a child. "This here's my machine – the Blue Falcon. No car can even come close to its speed."

Yoshi was astonished by its slick design. It made his go-kart back home look like a tricycle. One could only imagine how smooth it ran – or how fast it moved. It must be exhilarating to drive at unprecedented speeds, your body pressed against the seat, feeling like your innards were being rearranged into a Picasso painting.

Yoshi found himself inadvertently walking towards the Blue Falcon to admire the finer details. But Falcon's eyes locked onto him like armed missiles. "Hands to yourself, kid. Pushing your luck is bad for your health. Goroh made that clear."

"Me wasn't going to!" Yoshi said, coming to a halt, trying to let innocent sparkles waltz across his irises. "Honest! Me touching days are over—" he muttered "—for today."

Falcon placed a gentle hand on his machine. He had been using it for most of his racing career. It was built through hours of minimal sleep, exertion, and the passion to compete. Still, to this day, he continued to improve the Blue Falcon's performance, knowing that another challenge would meet him at the starting line, revving its engine in excitement, craving his championship title.

Falcon gripped the metal coat. Right now, in order to combat Black Shadow and the Heartless, he needed his machine more than ever. It was his sword and shield: an extension of his spirit and strength.

But, right now, he still felt like gloating: "With a horsepower of thirty-two thousand PS, able to reach speeds of four hundred and seventy-five kilometers per hour, this bad boy has never known the definition of defeat. And it never will."

"At least he's very versed in the definition of overconfident," Luigi said, whispering to Sora.

"What are you muttering on about?" Falcon asked.

"Nothing!" Luigi said in a rushed tone.

"Then can you help us find our friend?" Sora asked.

Falcon's gaze became serious. "Usually my services require a fee. A very costly fee."

"Oh, come on!" Luigi said. "Cut us a break. It's bad enough my wallet is constantly prodded from Yoshi's appetite."

"But it going to a good cause." Yoshi patted his stomach. "To make a happy, full belly."

"Yeah?" Sora poked the dinosaur's stomach, making him giggle. "That'll never happen. We can't even find where that gut of yours ends."

"Listen," Falcon said, ignoring the frivolous chatter, "I'm willing to make an exception. You three clearly have knowledge of these things. Plus, I'm not one to let Black Shadow take anyone hostage. Ain't my style."

"Awesome!" Sora said, thrilled. "Thanks!"

"Don't think we've properly introduced to each other. Name's Captain Falcon." After introductions, he said, "Alright, boys. Why don't you hang back while I go deliver a well-deserved thrashing on Black Shadow?"

"No way!" Sora said. "We need to come with you. Do you even know where he's heading?"

Falcon started opening the lid to his machine's cockpit. "Normally I'm able to listen into the polices' radio feed and get a lock on him. Chances are, if he's out and about, he's causing trouble."

"What if I were to tell you we have a way of tracking him directly?" Sora said.

Falcon stared into Sora's eyes for a moment. Despite a rough beginning, there was something genuine about these three – that they too wanted to quell the forthcoming chaos from pelleting the city like an everlasting ice storm. Black Shadow delighted in anarchy – to watch panic burst through the city like a raging river

One of his missions in life was to finally rid the streets of Black Shadow. But he always eluded capture, living up to his name as an element of nature you couldn't grasp. With racers in potential danger, and the Heartless causing havoc, he may need to place his morals aside and confide in these three strangers.

"Okay," Falcon said. "I'm listening."

Luigi showed him the 3DS. "Let's say this device is designed to track our friend."

"Not a bad piece of tech," Falcon said, playing around with the radar.

A loud beep shouted out from the speakers. Luigi leaned in to see what was on screen. "He's on the move!" He noticed the Star Spirit was swerving back and forth, making abrupt turns. "What kind of driving is that!? He got cataracts or something!?"

"Well, he is a criminal," Falcon said. "Doubt he's actually taken a driving course. Probably found them lame. But I guess you boys can tag along. You seem like capable fighters, after all. Just try not to make me regret this decision."

Sora couldn't help but chuckle. That sounded like something Samus would say. Seems he was just as headstrong. For all he knew, Falcon was secretly a long-lost brother. "So, in other words, don't get in your way?"

"Say, you catch on quickly," Falcon said with a smirk. "Maybe this will be the start of a beautiful acknowledgement of each other's existence."

Sora rolled his eyes with a smile. "If you say so."

"Oh, boy!" Yoshi clapped his hands in excitement. "This gonna be a fun ride! Where our seats?"

"Seats?" Falcon asked, confused.

Everyone peeked into the cockpit to notice a small, tight space behind the driver's seat.

Dread started arranging itself on Sora's face. "Uh oh."

"Get your hand out of my ear, Yoshi!" Luigi said, irritable.

"It not me!"

"Who else has a green hand?"

"Well, Mario tell Luigi he have green thumb in garden."

"Your continual lack of understanding expressions frustrates me to no end."

Falcon was slumped in his seat as he drove down the road; buildings passed by as colorful, blurry rectangles. But he had trouble concentrating from the constant bickering and movement behind him. Sora and his friends were scrunched up like newspapers. At some points, their limbs started going numb from prolonged pressure.

Falcon's expression was flat. "And regret slowly starts to settle in."

"Come on!" Sora said, trying to alleviate the commotion. "We have to make the most of this situation."

Luigi grunted as he tried to find a comfortable position between this sentient sandwich. "Easy for you to say. You don't have a tail tickling your nose."

"If everyone can just calm down for five minutes," Falcon said in an exasperated tone, "we can actually get somewhere! What does your radar say?"

Luigi twisted his arm around like a corkscrew, managing to free it moments later. He glanced at the 3DS. "Take a right whenever you can."

Falcon saw an incoming intersection, but didn't decrease his speed, knowing time was of the essence. The group was a bit uneasy by his precarious maneuver. They could crash. But they were oblivious to Falcon's driving prowess. To him, driving was more than just a mundane necessity; it was an extension of himself – a part of his existence that he couldn't imagine functioning without, like a vital organ.

With quick, yet controlled steering, he managed to turn down the street with ease, while maintaining speed.

"Whoa!" Sora said, impressed. He even found that fun. "That was tight!"

Falcon let out a prideful grin. "Well, that what happens when you're the champion of the F-Zero races for a few years now."

"No way!" Sora said. "Racing must be your passion."

"You know it. For me, it's the thrill of competition. Something about facing off against your rivals fills you with excitement. It's what I love to do."

Sora was glad to know he and Falcon had something in common. Perhaps they could end up on better terms than just 'a beautiful acknowledgement of each other's existence.' Sora seemed to have composed a side agenda of making at least one new friend per world. It was one of his dreams, after all.

"Same here," Sora said. "When a challenge presents itself, I have a tendency to chase after it."

"What sort of sport are you involved in, Sora?" Falcon asked.

"Oh, sparring!" Sora's face brightened from being engaged in the conversation. "I love a good duel. It's all thanks to a friend of mine for…"

His train of thought made a similar turn like Falcon's, but it ended up crashing into a wall. He felt the bone rattling impact fracture his spirits. Just acknowledging Riku in the slightest made him sad. When his journey began, daydreaming about their time on the island kept him content – it fueled his desire to reunite with him.

Sora would reminisce about their never-ending competitions. Despite being unable to pry Riku's winning streak open, he still enjoyed fighting; it inspired him to train harder. In the heat of a sparring match, nothing was more exciting. But now, a stigma weighted down those pleasant memories like an anchor. If they were to fight again, there would be more at stake than just deciding on who names a boat.

Sora's somber silence didn't go unnoticed. Luigi could see the grief rub out his excitement like an eraser. "Sora…" he said in a sympathetic tone.

"Something up?" Falcon asked.

Sora sighed. "It's….nothing. Just had a falling out with a friend not too long ago."

"Ah," Falcon said. "That's why I'm a loner. Sometimes getting caught up with so many people can make life complicated. Friends come, friends go. It doesn't work for me. But being in the heat of a race – it can never go away. The simplest of notions can end up staying with you forever."

"I suppose so," Sora said, halfhearted.

Falcon pondered to himself for a moment. Sora's doleful aura started sticking to Falcon like old, chewed gum. He did show some empathy, but they needed to stay positive to defeat Black Shadow.

"Remember what you said about growing up to be like me?" Falcon asked.

"Uh-huh."

"Don't listen to your own advice. You and I are both different, kid. I can tell that your buddies there mean the world to you."

"Of course they do. Without them, I don't where I'd be right now."

"Drives me crazy sometimes," Luigi said in a joking tone, "but I couldn't imagine this journey going any different without you."

Sora managed to crack a smile. "The feelings mutual, buddy."

"There ya go," Falcon said. "Just keep being you. Make all the friends in the world."

The fractures started to heal. Sora appreciated all the support in his life. While he still hated what his best friend had become, Sora had others who would help him through the bad times. To form new memories with them, and remember the good times they shared. Even if Sora had to reignite his relationship with Riku through sheer force, Luigi and Yoshi would be there to keep him from falling.

Sora smiled, feeling better. "Thanks, Captain."

Black Shadow swerved past oncoming traffic, relishing in the raucous sounds of beeping horns, metal colliding, and people screaming. He found symmetry so boring. Nothing compared to leaving a streak of disarray in your wake. Even as child, he enjoyed knocking over blocks and leaving them a mess – disorganized. Chaos yielded far more interesting dilemmas in life. Balance was droll. He wanted to spice up life in this world. And with his plan coming together, soon, there'd be no needs for plans. Or anything. Just destruction.

But, for once, he appreciated how his own plan was coming along without blemishes. He had the Star Spirit, and preparations for the ritual were near completion. The whole world would soon be hurled into a boiling pot of anarchy. He glanced at a monitor next to the steering wheel; it was picking up video feed from a camera attached to the rear of his machine: The Black Bull.

He expected the police to be tailing from behind at a moment – a routine part of his day. Nothing new to see here. Their interruption was about as pedestrian as a traffic jam. He could lose then without much trouble.

But what Black Shadow didn't expect to see was the Blue Falcon rushing towards him like an irate rhino.

"F-Falcon!?" Black Shadow asked, shocked. "How did he find me!? No fair! My wanton and destruction hasn't commenced yet! My plan can't work if you're this early!"

Escaping from Captain Falcon would be a daunting task. This was one of Mute City's best racers. Anxiety started to contract Black Shadow's throat, but he took a deep breath, letting it expand, dispersing his worries in the process. He glanced at his hand; a dark aura glided across his fingers.

Black Shadow smirked. "But I have ways of slowing you down. Heartless! Time for some fun!"

Shadows and Soldiers appeared on top of the Black Bull; they leaped from it, and slammed their bodies right onto the Blue Falcon's cockpit, startling everyone. Falcon's vision was obstructed. He was losing control, swaying towards the sidewalk, right towards a streetlamp.

"Hang on!" Falcon said.

He peered through an opening between the smudge of darkness, and turned the wheel a hard left, maneuvering back onto the road. Everyone in the back was in a swivet, screaming and shouting. All they could do was hold onto each other. The Heartless began clawing against the glass.

"I just had that polished!" Falcon said, as his forehead scrunched together, upset. "Okay! I've had enough hitchhikers to last me a lifetime!"

He slammed on the brake, knocking the Heartless onto the road. And upon hitting the gas, he plowed right through them. Black Shadow made a sharp turn left at an interception, almost colliding with other machines. One even spun out of control. He flexed his fingers in triumph, believing to have lost them

When Black Shadow looked at the monitor, he gaped as the persistent Falcon refused to forgo his prey. Falcon's claws of indignation gripped the wheel, eager to latch their nails onto him. Black Shadow slammed his fist on the armrest; he would not let Falcon win this time.

In fact, he couldn't wait for his nemesis to witness the total meltdown of his city; that look of forlorn from failure was an image Black Shadow would take to his grave. Two flying Heartless appeared above the Black Bull – red and blue. The red one clenched its claws, forming a ball of fire, and flew straight towards the Blue Falcon.

Falcon titled his machine upward, just avoiding the Heartless. The Blue one flew towards him next. Falcon jerked the wheel left, hitting it with his machine's wings. Sora and his friends were like clothes in a dryer; they were being tossed and turned all over the place. Hearts were racing; their vision was lost in a fun house of double images. It was madness.

Falcon checked his monitor, noticing the flying Heartless chasing them. He frowned. "Tenacious little pests, aren't they?"

"Don't expect them to let up anytime soon," Sora said, after regaining his senses from the insanity.

"And make this boring?" Falcon asked, grinning. "No way!"

"No, no," Luigi said. "It would be nice if things got a little boring." His face melted into a puddle of panic. "Oh, who am I kidding? Let me out!"

Falcon glanced over his shoulder. "Sorry. You wanted to tag along. Afraid you're in for the long haul."

Luigi wanted to sink in between his friends, and never resurface again. This was one of the most harrowing experienced he's had in a while. And this was somehow worse than flying the Labo ship through space! Or driving Go-Karts over narrow roads hoisted above bottomless pits. Yoshi concurred. He kept his eyes closed, not wanting to see how this race through the city ended.

Despite being uncomfortable, Sora was the only one enjoying the chase. Was that healthy? Probably not. But maybe he's been so used to being tossed into danger on a regular basis; this was normal to him. Either way, he was impressed with Falcon's driving skills, and hopeful that they'd be able to retrieve the Star Spirit.

Falcon looked at the monitor; the Flying Heartless launched their spells at him. He moved left and right, avoiding each shot. A yellow flying Heartless appeared to the right of the Blue Falcon; it tried attacking with an electric swipe, but the captain jerked the wheel left, dodging the attack. He then rammed into the Heartless, sending it crashing into a store, breaking the glass window.

"So, how much can we expect this little spectacle to shred through your wallet?" Luigi asked.

"Not much," Falcon said. "Thank goodness I never lose races, huh?"

Luigi mustache lowered in envy. Show off, he muttered under his breath. Falcon turned another corner; his eyes were transfixed on the Black Bull's bulky shell. He couldn't wait to cease the machine's destructive path by ripping out the feeble, black heart controlling it, and stop it from beating for good.

They started approaching a fork in the road; the middle was represented by a brick wall. Falcon decreased his speed, allowing the flying Heartless to approach his machine's tail. At the last second, he made a hard turn left, and the Heartless collided with the wall.

Black Shadow's patience was seeping through the cracks. Everything was coming into place; he would not let one man make the entire foundation of his scheme collapse into woeful pebbles. Too much was at stake. He needed to escape, and darkness' very form would serve as his cloak. Ahead, the road dipped into a tunnel; it was only illuminated by orange lights. Perfect, he thought.

Black Shadow lead the group into the tunnel. They continued dodging cars left and right. It never seemed to end. But Black Shadow had the advantage; his machine was swaddled in the darkness. Every apprehensive feeling he had was swallowed whole by the shadows.

In fact, Black started to sing, already foreseeing the destruction he couldn't wait to unveil upon everyone. "There's no earthly way of knowing…"

The Blue Falcon drove up to his side, but Black Shadow knocked it away, sending everyone flying towards the edge of the tunnel. Falcon managed to regain control.

Black Shadow's pitch became lower. "…in which direction they are going."

He snapped his finger, and bull Heartless appeared in the group's path. Falcon noticed machines to the left; his only option was to drive the Blue Falcon on the wall.

A mixture of sadistic delight lifted his voice. "So the danger must be growing."

He lifted his hand; flying Heartless appeared on the opposite side of the tunnel, launching spells at the Blue Falcon. To his surprise, Falcon started feeling sweat form on his neck. The combination of Black Shadow's brutality and the Heartless were a dangerous concoction.

Which was why he needed to be stopped.

Falcon brought his machine back onto the road, but was so focused on the Heartless, he failed to notice another machine driving in from the side. The Blue Falcon's metal skin collided with the other machine, screeching in pain.

The excitement in Black Shadow expanded outward. "Are the fires of Hell a-glowing? Is the grisly reaper mowing? Yes, the danger must be growing! For the Heartless keep on roaming!"

More bull Heartless landed on the cockpit, blinding Falcon's view again. This time, the dark tunnel made it near impossible to see. He just barely made out incoming machines, swerving around them like a bat in the daylight. Panic started to erupt. Drivers were crashing into each other.

Black Shadow rammed into more, knocking them into walls. The darkness flowed through his heart like a stream, growing faster from the adrenaline. He was shouting; a malevolent, distorted voice from within the darkness joined him in a duet.

"And they're certainly not showing….any signs that they are slowing!" He let out maniacal laugher, relishing in the destruction. Before departing, he left a few more bull Heartless behind, forcing more civilians to come to a halt, clamoring in fear.

Falcon managed to knock the bull Heartless off the cockpit, and slammed on the breaks upon seeing the group of cars. The bull Heartless' yellow eyes lit from within the darkness, focusing on their target: The Blue Falcon. They charged forward, knocking machines out of their way like an oncoming train.

Falcon gritted his teeth in anger; not only did they lose Black Shadow, but they were now being hunted. And, to make matters worse, innocent people were caught in the path. He prayed that nobody was hurt. But there was no time to check. The Heartless were running right for them. He shifted into reverse, slammed on the gas, and drove backwards, using his monitor to guide them.

Sora wasn't enjoying the ride anymore. Things have gotten worse. Witnessing Black Shadow's callous display reminded him of how the darkness could bring about devastation – the same devastation that destroyed his island. The same devastation that forced Leon and his friends to take refuge in Traverse Town.

But he wouldn't let it continue. The Keyblade chose him for a reason. He'd find a way to stop the darkness from continuing its rampage, and rescue his best friends in the process. Right now, he would not standby any longer.

"Gotta say: Black Shadow is ACTUALLY giving me a challenge now," Falcon said, feeling stress plant itself on his chest. "But it's because of these stupid creatures. He's nothing by himself. Just a coward."

"Hey, this coward has got us in a tough spot!" Luigi said. "We can't keep this up forever!"

"I have an idea!" Sora said, grunting. He started squirming his right arm, trying to pull it free.

"Sora!" Yoshi said, wincing in pain. "Stop! Me arm doesn't bend that way! Me arm doesn't bend that way!"

Sora continued struggling. "Sorry, buddy. Just…gotta…got it!" He freed his arm, and summoned the Keyblade. "Captain, open the hatch! I can get a clear shot on them!"

"What?" Captain Falcon asked, incredulous. "It's too risky."

Luigi raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and everything else you're doing isn't?"

"It'll be quick!" Sora said. "I don't doubt your abilities, but we'll never lose them this way. I know you're a loner, but you hafta trust me on this one. Please!"

Time seemed to amble as Falcon pondered his words. He had been a lonerfor most of his life. Well, mostly. There was one person; she seemed to understand him without ever having to read the pages of his past. His own body language told a complete story of how he felt and acted.

But, still, Falcon chose to do things on his own accord. It always worked for him before. So why change something if it was always effective? Well, today, his methods may need a minor alteration.

With the Heartless by his side, Black Shadow was far more formidable. People were already experiencing the ramifications of his power. Falcon might not lead a social life, but he cared for people. They kept this city alive. Their undying support and admiration during the F-Zero races made him strive for excellence. For once, he would have to put his pride aside for the greater good.

Although reluctant, he nodded. "Okay, kid. They're all yours!" He opened the hatch, and Sora unleashed his spiral attack, eradicating all the Heartless. Chaos had been stifled.

For now. Who knows when its unstable presence would converge on the city again?

Moments later, the group arrived outside and pulled over to a nearby sidewalk. Emergency vehicles bellowed in the distance, sending a hopeful message that assistance was imminent. Falcon opened the hatch again to let everyone take in the fresh air. The sirens were drowned out by their loud breathing.

Falcon leaned back in his seat, and looked towards the sky. This was only the beginning; things were going to escalate. But he was prepared to trudge his way towards a bright, sunny ending. Sora was willing to help, too. He never wanted another world to meet a similar fate to his own. However, while fatigued from the excitement, he was a bit smug for eliminating the Heartless just now.

"So, what do you think of this so-called kid?" Sora asked

Falcon turned to him with a blank expression. Apparently, that was nothing. Sora's eyes lowered in disappointment. But then, Falcon gave him an approving thumbs up, which reignited Sora's self-esteem.

"I know when I'm man enough to admit it: you're pretty tough after all," Falcon said.

Sora chuckled. "Yep. Have had tons of practice. Right, guys?" No answer. "Guys?"

Both Luigi and Yoshi spread their bodies across the cockpit, moaning from overstimulation. The two didn't even have to lift a finger, and yet, they felt like they just finished a triathlon.

"I can't feel my anything," Luigi said.

"Daddy, I do not want a car like this," Yoshi said (in a British accent, for some inexplicable reason).

Sora understood what they were going through, and turned back to the captain. "I know you like to keep moving, but think we can give these two a rest for a moment."

"Sure thing." To be honest, Falcon needed some reprieve as well. There was much he had to mull over. Mainly, how he planned to stop Black Shadow from causing further harm.

Falcon followed Luigi's instructions as he turned more corners, and made his way onto a highway. Despite the urgency of their mission, Sora and his friends couldn't help but gaze out at the city as they drove across a bridge. The sun stared its decent over the horizon, panting the buildings in a silhouette; soon, they sprinkled with a bright neon glow, giving the world an unearthly quality. It was breathtaking to witness.

Luigi noticed the Star Spirit's signal growing stronger, and he pointed towards an exit in the distance. "That way."

"Hmm," Falcon said, inspecting the ramp. "This bridge leads to the power plant. How predictable."

Yoshi looked puzzled. "What make you think he there?" Falcon pointed towards the edge of the long ramp. There was, indeed, a power plant. Set ablaze. Yoshi gulped. "Well, least he nice to let us know."

And so, they hurried to avert any further casualties in Mute City. But, as the captain raced towards power plant, there was one person he hoped hadn't been trampled in Black Shadow's chaotic path.

Officer Jody Summers – a secret friend.

Jody, be careful out there.

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