Chapter 53: Paper Hearts: The Vengeful Queen

Kraden was overjoyed to see Sora and his group. His ears couldn't wait to dine on more knowledge of the outside world; but it was put on hold for now, as Sora handed him the missing pages. A sense of closure was on the horizon, and Luigi hoped the ending would be bright for the Paper World.

"Excellent," Kraden said, neatly stacking the pages together. "If my theory is correct, this world should come alive again once the pages have been mended." He faced Sora. "I can sense the presence of another stone. Why don't you see Mia about it? I'll get to work immediately.

Not a bad idea, Luigi thought. Would prevent his mind from walking on a perpetual escalator of worry. For each moment that past, it would move faster and faster, losing control, becoming full blown anxiety. The trio walked over to Mia, and handed her the stone for examination.

Her light blue eyes flashed with intense enthusiasm. "Goodness!"

"What is it?" Sora asked, leaning into to the stone, intrigued by her uplifting disposition.

"I believe this person will serve you well in close combat," Mia said with a wide smile. "He possesses incredible strength – both in the heart and body."

Sora clenched his fists together. "Sweet! Let's meet him!"

Mia tapped her staff against the stone, which morphed into the familiar glass dome. Not wasting a second, Sora lifted it into the air; it exploded in a flash of dazzling light that descended towards the ground like gentle raindrops. Soon, a young man materialized, unveiling himself from behind the sparkling curtains. He wore a traditional samurai outfit, with a red vest that traveled down to his legs. His long blue hair was curled into a ponytail. In his right hand, he wielded a katana; it glistened with an orange glare from the trepid light of the lanterns.

Everyone was in awe: it was like a piece of history had been rejuvenated right in front of their eyes. Sora had read about samurai in books (which may have influenced his desire to play with swords in the first place), and how they were the greatest sword masters that ever existed. This tickled his bones with fascination. Perhaps he could learn something from this warrior's wisdom and patience.

But right now, those attributes had been struck down by a bolt of restless lightning. Although his eyes were lit with a torch of resolute, an uncertain, perplexed flicker was visible behind them. With a quick thrust, he pointed his blade right at Luigi's nose, intending to make an incision from the first sign of antagonism. Luigi was petrified; the color on his skin started melting from the overwhelming heat of terror.

"Who are you? Where am I?" the samurai asked in a threatening tone. "Are you with those yellow eyed creatures that covered my village in darkness?"

Finding his voice among a frightened stockpile, Luigi said, "N-No…do I look as ugly as them?"

"But some of them cute," Yoshi said.

"Stop helping!" Luigi said through his teeth, beyond distressed.

"Listen, we mean you no harm, sir," Sora said in a slow, steady voice. "We're here to help you. You have my word."

The man's stern eyes scrutinized Sora's demeanor: not a single, hostile, obtrusive splinter was noticed. Perhaps the samurai's judgement had been tossed around in a whirlwind of uneasiness. Especially from arriving in a new, alien location. Replanting those tranquil seeds, he took a deep breath, and sheathed his sword, which made the others relax into that same soil (except for Luigi, who was still stuck in frightened rust).

"I apologize for such barbaric display," the samurai said, bowing his head. "It wasn't my intention. Previous circumstances forced me to be on edge."

Mia stepped forward, offering a cordial smile. "We understand. Just know that you are safe now."

"Sir, are you well?" the samurai asked Luigi. "I didn't mean to strike at you without justification."

Luigi was still solidified with fear. Yoshi snapped his finger, shattering that glass, making the plumber exhale in relief. "Y-Yeah. Not the first time my life flashed before my eyes. Water under the bridge."

"I beg your pardon?" the samurai asked, confused by the modern vernacular.

"He'll be fine," Sora said. "You have my word."

"If you insist," the samurai said. He took a moment to gaze upon his new surroundings. "Where am I? Last thing I remember was fighting off hordes of these creatures with skin as dark as the night's sky."

Sora felt a reluctant grip on his shoulder; he hated explaining the horrible fate of each new ally's world to them. It reminded him of when he learned about losing his own world. His heart had been stuck by a javelin of painful emotions. And some punctures have not fully healed, despite the support from Leon and the others. There were moments of denial – where his mind wanted to believe the incontrovertible truth as fiction.

But that was just an unhealthy line of thinking. Much like keeping the hard, devastating truth from others. After Sora explained the situation, the samurai closed his eyes; a stream of discouraging images started drifting across his eyelids.

"So my whole kingdom ceases to be?" the samurai asked, plaintive. It sounded like he was blaming himself for this tragedy (Sora could relate).

"Not at all," Mia said, instilling hope. "It is simply a prisoner of the darkness. That's why these three are seeking a way to vanish the darkness; to restore the worlds that are at its mercy. Yours included."

"It's not gonna be easy," Sora said, sincere. "You've already seen what those creatures can do." His expression brightened with confidence. "But with your help, I know we can make a difference! And bring all of those worlds back."

The samurai opened his eyes after seeing encouraging ripples within that stream. "Then I will not be tentative in my decision. I will assist you in battle against these monsters of the dark."

"Thanks! My name's Sora!"

The samurai bowed his head again. "And I'm Takamaru. May my blade help forge a path towards a better future."

"Just as long it doesn't mow me down in the process," Luigi said, still a bit uneasy.

Once Mia explained everything, Takamaru returned to suspended animation within the gem. But his heart would continue pounding fervently, awaiting the day the shackles were broken, and he could lunge into battle. With another alliance forged (and Luigi depleted of any straggling jitters), the trio turned their attention towards Kraden.

"How's it coming?" Sora asked.

Kraden used a magical golden thread to sew the pages onto the spine of the book again. His work was seamless; it was like a new publication ready to be placed on bookshelves. "I just have one more piece left."

"I hope this works," Luigi said, watching the process with unblinking, uptight eyes.

Soon, every page was reattached, and Kraden flipped through them, releasing a chatter of colliding paper. Nothing seemed unusual. Everything was immaculate. He was pleased with his work, and prayed that it would rejuvenate life into the blank pages. Kraden placed the book on the table, joined the others, and they all waited with held breath, keeping a piece of the circulating air hostage.

The book remained motionless in a sea of suspense. It stayed that way for what felt like forever. Time lengthened, creating a discouraging, black streak to flash in front of Luigi's eyes. Worry returned to smother even a fragment of optimism from blooming. Yoshi noticed Luigi's perturbed posture, and placed a comforting arm around him.

Then, the book started thrashing around on the table, as if it were having a violent outburst. Everyone reeled back from this unsettling sight. A dark aura tainted the vibrant red cover of the book. The thrashing grew severe, to the point of pounding the table like a hammer, making it gyrate in agony.

And then, the book opened its maw, and a long, dark hand reached out from within the pages.

Sora shifted his eyes to Luigi, immobilized within an amber of concern. "Is that supposed to happen?"

"Maybe in my nightmares, yes," Luigi said, trembling.

In one quick succession – with the speed of a crow latching onto its prey – the hand grabbed Sora, and pulled him straight into the book. His cries for help were muffled under the strident slam of the cover. The peaceful, quite house had been invaded by a spiraling breeze of panic. Luigi sprung from his terrified shell, ran over to the book, and tried prying it open.

It wouldn't budge an inch; darkness had locked the book behind its cold, steel chains.

"I don't like where this is heading," Luigi said with a grim expression.

Yoshi ran over to Luigi, beyond scared for his friend's life, grabbed the book, and tried opening it himself, fueled by intense, irrational emotions. "Stupid book! Open! Give Yoshi his best buddy back! He not yours to keep!"

"Wh-What just happened?" Mia asked, bewildered.

Kraden's forehead squeezed together to form a disconcerted hill. "The Heartless, no doubt. They somehow corrupted the pages. And they plan to make sure nobody goes in, and nobody ever comes out."

"Technicalities aren't my concern!" Luigi said, his voice rising onto a plateau of impatience. "Isn't there any way we can open it?"

Kraden's expression faltered from the pressure of guilt. He wished there was hope among the this morass. But, like the others, he was scavenging for answers. "Alas, my child, I'm not sure. The Heartless' power remains unpredictable. Mia, we'll need to start experimenting with different forms of Psynergy to open the book. Let's not waste any time!"

"Understood," Mia said, nodding, with a resolute look in her eyes.

Luigi sighed. Waiting seemed like the worse outcome for this situation. But he had to have faith that Kraden and Mia would find the solution within the fewest ticks of the clock. "Please do what you can. Who knows what the Heartless are planning in there?"

He heard Yoshi's desperate grunting, spun around, and saw him trying to rip the cover open, oblivious of the consequences. Right now, Sora's life had been placed on a pedestal above all else. He was beyond scared for his safety. But, Luigi, reclining into a semblance of rationality, knew better, and grabbed the book, trying to pry it from the dinosaur's hands.

"Stop it!" Luigi said, grunting. "If you pull too hard, it'll rip to pieces!"

"No!" Yoshi said. "Me can open it!"

"Stop being stubborn!" Luigi said, snapping at him. "You know there's nothing we can do!"

This sentence started to chip away at the defiance in Yoshi's chest. A discouraging realization started emitting through the cracks. "But…me can't give up."

"And we won't," Luigi said, bringing his emotions into a state of sympathetic calm. "But this isn't the right way."

Yoshi's grip loosened on the book, and he stared at it for a moment, letting the futility of his efforts descend to the bottom of an empty, dour well. His vision was soon covered by a screen of tears. Dejection sedated his unfounded faith.

"Sora…my best friend….me…don't want to lose him…"

Luigi pulled him into a warm hug, allowing the dinosaur to unleash a downpour of tears. Mia and Kraden looked on with pity leaning against their shoulders.

"It's going to be okay, pal," Luigi said in a soothing voice, stroking up and down the dinosaur's back with his gloved hand.

"Yoshi…promised…he'd be there for him…"

"And you still are," Luigi said. He let out a reassuring smile. "We're going to do whatever it takes. Even if my hair starts turning gray. Once we rescue him, you both can go back to making it gray even faster."

He heard Yoshi unleash a loud snort that filled the room with playful air.

"I heard that," Luigi said.

"No, Luigi didn't," Yoshi said, chuckling between sniffles.

Luigi pulled away from the dinosaur, and attacked with a barrage of pokes. "You're the worse liar."

Luigi continued poking at Yoshi, alleviating the immense worry that had bubbled within his stomach. A joyful stripe of light intruded on the despondent shade covering Yoshi's face (although the shade refused to abandon its post).

"There we go," Luigi said. "Don't worry. All for one, right? There's no way we'd ever leave him."

Yoshi felt reassured. "Y-Yeah. Yoshi do what he can to help Sora. Thanks, Luigi."

Although the mood had improved, tensions remained unyielding from their confidence.

"Do you think Sora will be okay in there?" Mia asked Kraden in a whisper.

Kraden ruminated over this question. "I can't say for certain. But he's remained undefeated against the denizens of the dark. I'm sure he'll find a way to survive. The Keyblade will serve as a beacon through the darkness."

That's all they could hope for as Sora prepared to face his toughest challenge yet: being alone in a strange world unlike any other. This was the beginning of his story in the Paper World.

Sora's consciousness started ascending from the bunker of his mind. A bright white light burned through the thin screen of his eyelids. He then opened his eyes, which met with an endless white void. Not even a blotch of diverse colors was visible. He was staring into an empty canvas. After adjusting to the sensory overload of paled emptiness, Sora sat up, rubbing his head from the dizziness than ran laps around it.

Something didn't feel right about his hand. It wasn't easy to explain. But upon looking at them, he was greeted with an alarming answer; they had become paper-like. Shocked beyond belief, he leaped to his feet, and looked over every detail. He had been transformed into a paper figure. His mind struggled to comprehend this new appearance; it went against how movement was defined.

Yet, when he took a step forward, it felt natural. Like his body had been reprogramed to adapt, despite the radical change. A plethora of questions started barging their way through his skull.

"What happened to my body?" Sora asked. He was startled. Words were heard in his head, but they exited his mouth as strange clicking noises. He noticed a line in front of his face, and it led to a giant speech bubble. The words he uttered appeared on it. Sora reeled back, mystified. "Did that….come from me?"

Sure enough, those exact words appeared in the bubble. For the first since arriving at Traverse Town, he was unnerved by this world's strange presence. Nothing about it made sense. And when you're all alone in an empty space, the inevitable of trepidation closed in around you.

"Okay! This seems like the perfect time to freak out!" Sora cupped his hands together out of habit, and shouted, "LUIGI! YOSHI!" He looked up to see their names in the bubble. To his dismay, no one replied. "Oh, come on! How are all caps going to help me?" He took a deep breath, trying to tighten a rational belt around his nerves. "Alright, let's calm down. Every world is different."

But the belt started to become undone from his curiosity. Sora moved his arm up and down, noticing how it waved like a handkerchief; it was like every bone had been extracted from his arm. His body was adjusting to the radical change. But his mind was still waiting for the telegram to be delivered.

"Nope," Sora said. "This world is too different, even for me!"

He scanned the area, hoping to be greeted by something other than the unsettling sight of nothingness. While being a piece of paper was bizarre, returning home took precedence. Fortunately, the vicinity wasn't just dressed in an insipid white; he found colorful patches in the endless fabric.

To his left was a large, red, circular-shaped carpet, with a golden outline. Etched in the center was a pink heart with two beady eyes. Huddled around the carpet, suspended in midair, were five oval shaped mirrors; adorned on the crest of each frame was the same heart. But every mirror, except for one, was blinded by a dark tint.

Sora saw bright colors behind the unaffected one; perhaps it served as a portal. Opportunity was starting to provide a comforting shade among the blinding, pale vicinity. To the right of the mirrors, he noticed someone on the floor, lying on his stomach, unconscious. He wore blue overalls, a red shirt, and a red hat.

Submitting to his good nature, Sora ran over to check on the man. Upon keeling down to him, Sora noticed something familiar about his appearance. But memory had been sandwiched between more imperative thoughts right now. This man needed help, and he may hold the answers to their whereabouts.

But before Sora could extend a hand, something blunt hit him in the back of the head. Spinning around, he saw another speech bubble that said, "HEY!"

Sora followed the bubble to see it belonged to a floating book. Her cover was a dark pink; a golden heart was embedded towards the bottom. She had a silver rectangular outline that was near the edges of the cover. Right now, her light blue, beady eyes (located towards the top of the cover) were crystallized in a radiant, fierce glow.

"Stay away from him, you feign!" she said. "Haven't you and your friends purloined enough imagination as it is?"

Sora stared at her, dumbfounded. The oddities of this world seemed to be ambushing him all at once. "Huh?"

"Don't feign ignorance with me!" the book said. "Yes, I'm using my fancy vocabular – you know I mean business!"

"Now wait a minute—" Sora said, stepping forward, trying to dispel the hysterical air.

The book shrieked, leaning back in fear. She said to herself, "I-I didn't plan for him to approach me. Was counting on my overly excessive wording to make him feel inept." She tried to conjure the word 'courage' from within her pages. "S-Stay away, or I'll crush your face with the back of my head! The giant mark I'll leave is sure to induce ridicule among your peers." Before Sora could open his mouth, she said, "Oh, no! They're here!"

The book bolted for one of the mirrors, hiding behind them; her pages rustled, as if being whisked into cyclone of terror. Sora recognized a familiar chill that made itself comfortable on his back like an unwanted slug. Was it wrong that he was glad to finally recognize something? Turning around, he saw three Heartless approach him.

He raised a curious eyebrow at their interesting forms. One was a paper plane; the other was a paper boat; and the last one was a paper swan.

"Well, that's different," Sora said. "Guess I should applaud them for being consistent in each world." He faced the book. "Hey, I'm not with them. If anything, these creatures are always giving me problems. I'll take care of them in a jiffy."

Sora summoned his Keyblade. Despite the drastic change in his body, he wouldn't let the Heartless' venomous claws taint this world with darkness. Fighting would be different, but adapting was easy for him. He lunged at the Boat Heartless, landing a direct hit. Suddenly, a curtain closed in front of him; for a moment, he was a guest in the foyer of darkness.

His mind started racing with alarming thoughts around an endless track, unable to find a finish line of clarity. The curtain soon opened, and Sora found himself standing away from the Heartless, back where he started. It was like the reel of time had been rewound.

"Um, did I just have a fever dream?" Sora asked. "What just happened?"

The book flew over to him; sparkles of guilt reflected off her eyes. "G-Guess I made a mistake. Sorry. Never been around other people before, so my judge of character isn't the best."

"We can worry about that later," Sora said, still trying to process everything. "What was with the curtain just now? How'd I end up back here?" He gestured towards the Heartless. "I just clobbered them." He tried running again, but found himself moving in place, as if stuck on a treadmill. "And why I can't move!?"

"Oh!" the book said, appearing cheerful. "That means you entered a battle! When people get into a fight, this is how it works: you take turns attacking each other. The one who runs out of stamina first wins!"

Sora was disappointment by this fact. Fighting by taking turns? Everything he loved about a good brawl had been stripped away from him, leaving behind an insipid mannequin. "Seriously? That sounds sooooo boring!"

"Are you insulting our ways of life!?" the book asked, offended. "How cruel can you be!?"

Sora rubbed his head, apologetic. "I-I didn't mean to insult you. Just not the way I usually fight, that's all."

"Well, get used to it!" the book said, firm. "Following the rules is important! You can't just enter a cheat code and do whatever you want!"

Sora waved a nettled hand. "Okay, okay. I get it! How do I fight?"

"Prepare your strongest attack and let it whirl!" the book said.

Sora summoned the Keyblade; he was still displeased that he couldn't enjoy the adrenaline rush of a good fight. The excited surge that tingled through his body was absent. "Alright."

"Don't be down," the book said, trying give out some sympathetic breadcrumbs. "Could be worse. You could be fighting these guys with disposable cards. Or on a turntable. Tried implementing those. People were not please."

"Huh?" Sora asked with a blank stare.

"Is 'huh' all your speech bubble can produce?" the book asked, hovering up and down, impatient. "Start delivering the hurt!"

Sora shrugged. Questions weren't integral to survival right now. He threw the Keyblade at the Heartless, damaging each one in the process. The creatures spun around, fell onto their sides like a plank, and shrunk until they vanished from sight.

Sora couldn't help but be amused by the cartoonish way the Heartless were slain. He needed a shimmer of levity after meandering through perplexing, deep waters. "You know what? That was pretty satisfying."

"See?" the book said, delighted. "Who needs normal barbaric fighting when you've got smart, strategic fighting?" She reevaluated the sentence. "Wait, what am I talking back? Fighting is still bad. Ugh, I hope I don't have mold on my pages."

"Okay, then. Listen, can you—"

"No time for questions!" the book said, becoming frantic. "More are coming!"

Sora spun around to see a group of Boat Heartless. He smirked. "Doesn't matter what cliched forms of paper you take – you'll end up getting shredded." He paused for a moment, as if expecting contempt buzz in his ear. Nothing happened. He smiled. "No Luigi to moan at my jokes this time. I feel free."

But his moment of content was interrupted when the Heartless conflated into a giant paper tugboat. The front was sharp like an axe, which would cut Sora in half quicker than an old log.

Sora's jaw dropped. "That's not fair!"

"But you need to follow the—"

Sora jerked his head towards her, angry. "Rules don't apply when I'm about to be crushed!"

"Erm…well…" the book said, perusing through a catalogue of suggestions. "Maybe if you hit it hard enough, it won't survive to take its turn?" Sora glared at her. "Look, I'm not an instructional book, okay? It's bad enough that my pages are filled with splendid thoughts of crippling anxiety right now. I'm not versed on these things."

Sora sighed. Maybe he was better off wandering through the void, with his mind parched from the lack of direction. This book just seemed to make him vexed. Still, he was at the mercy of the rules. All he could do was fight to his full potential. He unleashed a flurry of strikes on the tugboat, leaped back, and noticed it was scrunched together.

But it soon expanded again. Sora could feel his stomach shrink before the monstrous form of concern. Given its size, the boat could crush him with ease. The boat started backing up, as if preparing to lunge forward like a livid bear.

"Oh man, oh man, oh man," the book said, flying around in a panic. "This can't be good!"

Despite the odds, Sora had to try defending himself. Giving up would prove fatal. He needed to survive, not just out of necessity, but for his friends. Especially Riku and Kairi. They were both damaged; and only he could mend the wounds. If not, they would grow into a grotesque, permanent, miserable scar.

The book noticed Sora's resolve, and panicked. "Don't be a hero! I won't be able to write about your legendary sacrifice if they kill me after you!"

The boat charged straight for them. Sora gripped the handle, preparing for the inevitable impact. But then, someone leaped onto the boat, steering it away from the two. It happened so fast. Sora and the book didn't have time to notice the person.

"What just happened?" Sora asked, looking around in confusion. "How'd it miss us?"

"Oh, thank Flipside my pages live to be written on," the book said, hovering up and down in relief. "Maybe those creatures are just dumb."

"Heartless are more instinctual creatures."

"Right. Like I said: dumb."

Sora narrowed his eyes. "You don't so socialize with people, do you?"

"Kinda hard when you're an anthropomorphic book whose sole responsibility is to watch over this world," the book said, looking down in shame.

The boat somehow reappeared from the other side of the arena. They both noticed someone standing on top of it. He leaped off the boat, landed in front of the two, and gave them a 'thumbs up.' Taking a moment, Sora recognized this person as the man he saw before the battle. More importantly, he noticed the man had a black moustache, and an 'M' embedded in his hat.

Sora was struck by a meteor of realization. No. It couldn't be…could it? Here, in this world!?

"Oh…my…gosh!" the book said, shocked. "He's awake! I can't believe it! He survived!" The man raised a hand, and opened his mouth. The book was taken aback. "Are…you…asking if I'm okay? THE Mario actually addressing me?" She spun around, ecstatic. "Ahhhh! I can't believe this! I'm getting goosebumps! And that should be physically impossible!"

Mario! That confirmed Sora's suspicions. It was Luigi's brother! His emotions were on the verge of exploding into fireworks of jubilation. Luigi was going to be beyond ecstatic. But then, something inside pulled Sora's unstable thoughts back to earth, as an objecting voice clamored in his ear. Something didn't seem right. Was it really him?

To the book, that didn't matter. She waited in anticipation as Mario faced the boat with a determine expression. "What move do you think he's going to use? A spin jump? Maybe bash them with his hammer? Oh, the possibilities!"

Mario leaped into the air, and stomped down on the boat multiple times with elegant flips. Regardless of if this was him or not, Sora was in awe of his incredible jumping abilities. With each stomp, tiny boats were ejected from the big one. Eventually it transformed back into a single, small boat, left defenseless before the group.

Mario landed in front of the two, dusting off his overalls, satisfied. The book gave him a look of admiration. "Such grace for a portly plumber."

Before Sora could speak, he and Mario rotated passed each other, trading places. Just when the rules of this world started to have some form of clarity; it once again hides behind the confusing clouds like a drowsy sun.

"What just moved us?" Sora asked, as he looked over himself. "A Lazy Susan!?"

"That means it's your turn," the book said. "Look how generous he is – leaving you a pity kill. Such a wonderful soul." Sora frowned at her. She glanced at the floor, sheepish. "I know. My socialization skills are practically nonexistent."

With one final slash, Sora finished off the remaining Heartless. Mario hopped up and down in victory; the book flew around in joy; and Sora spun the Keyblade around, resting it on his shoulder. He was thankful for Mario's help; more importantly, Sora hoped that Mario would hold the answers to leaving this world.

Curtains once again closed in front of the group's faces, and soon opened, placing them right near the five mirrors. Sora blinked; adjusting to the strange nature of this world would take some time. His thoughts were paddling against a strong, bewildering current, trying to reach a shore of sanity.

"Well, that was a unique experience," Sora said, brushing his hair. "Makes me appreciate constant motion a lot more."

Sora faced Mario as a question was carried in by the tide: was this the same person they've been searching for? It would be an incredible accomplishment. An extra pair of hands to ease them through this journey would be appreciated. And Luigi could tranquilize his constant worry with a dart of relief.

But his intuition tumbled into an illogical crater. Mario was the one who left the book in Kraden's hands; at the time, there was no way to enter the book. It didn't seem possible. Yet, a small fragment of optimism would remain unruly until it received incontrovertible confirmation about this Mario's identity.

As Mario adjusted his hat, the book approached him, struggling to detain her excitement in cuffs of composure. She shook her body back and forth to lessen the ecstatic droplets that rested in her pages.

"Come on, girl," she said in her thoughts. "Pull yourself together. He's one man. Nothing more than a creation of the book. My job makes me far more important. But those jumps; his heroic nature; and dat 'stache. Stop geeking out!"

Sora approached Mario. "Thanks for helping us, sir. Luigi was right; you are pretty awesome." Mario spun around to face him. "My name's Sora. I'm the 'key' you told Luigi and Yoshi to find. Never thought we'd meet in a place like this."

Mario stared at him with his beady blue eye; they became intertwined in a ribbon of confusion. That mild optimism inside of Sora shrunk to miniscule proportions. Practically nonexistent. Mario leaped up and down in front of the boy.

"What are you doing?" Sora asked.

The book flew next to Mario. "He says he has no idea what you're talking about. Wait, can you not understand him?"

"No. Does he communicate through jumps?"

"Of course not!" Fable said with a scoff. "Don't be ridiculous! He talks like any other person fashioned from a former tree."

Sora rubbed his head from the heat of bemusement. "Either I've lost my mind, or maybe I can't understand him because I'm not from around here."

"That's okay," the book said. "I'll translate for you. You don't mind, do you, sir?" Mario nodded. She trembled with glee. "Oh, thank you! By the way, big fan. Love your work. Especially when you do the triple jump. Classic. Can you sign my pages!? Not the pages based on my post-apocalyptic teenage angst novel with a superfluous romantic subplot; they're old shames."

Sora cleared his throat.

"Oh, right," Fable said, embarrassed. "Anyways, he didn't tell Luigi or Yoshi about a 'key.'"

Disappointment hung over Sora's head like an empty lantern. His prescience rung true. It was worth a try, he thought. He then remembered what Luigi told him: how every denizen in this book were based on their real-world counterparts. This must include Mario.

"I had a feeling," Sora said with a defeated sigh. "Wrong Mario."

"Wrong Mario?" the book asked, suspicious. A sudden realization snapped in her mind like a finger. "Hold up! Are you referring to the Mario that lives outside this book?"

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

"Let's just say our Mario has crossed paths with him before," the book said. She noticed Mario's concerned expression; he raised his hand again. "He's asking if your Mario's alright."

Sora placed both hands in his pockets, trying to filter out chunks of unnecessary details. "It's kinda complicated. All you need to know is that I've been traveling with his Luigi and Yoshi to find him. We were about to continue looking when some hand pulled me into this book."

Mario appeared despondent. Despite the two being one and the same, they formed a close friendship with each other. A bond that couldn't be ripped apart by the planes of existence.

"Oh dear!" the book said. "Must've been the work of those creatures."

"Most likely," Sora said. He looked around the barren vicinity. "Not sure how to get outta here."

"Normally if the book is open, one can easily traverse between the two worlds." She stared up at the sky. "But I think the darkness that has invaded is keeping it shut tight."

Mario raised his hand again.

"Where are we?" the book asked. Her eyes were scorched with blinding pride. "Why, this is my observatory. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Fable, the guardian of this book. Yeah, real original name, I know. The writer of this story is a hack."

Sora smiled. "No way. I think it's a fine name."

Mario nodded in agreement.

"Aw, stop it!" Fable said, tittering. "My cover is turning red. Well, this uninspiring place used to be my observatory. My job as guardian is to watch over the book and its denizens – make sure the innerworkings are in perfect condition. Sometimes when this book gets older, minor nuisances will pop up, such as bent pages or faded words. It can affect the people and places here. That's when I'm required to fix these issues."

Her eyes grew heavy from the overwhelming power of distress, and they gazed at the floor.

"Except there's nothing I can do when pages are missing," Fable said. "Without even a single one, the whole world will cease to be until its return."

So Kraden was right, Sora thought. He was such a wise ally, stacking a copious amount of knowledge on the shelves of his mind. As well as keeping compassion balanced on the top of his heart. Well, except for when they trained with him; by the end of his sessions, anyone would need to be consoled by a big bowl of ice cream.

"Oh, these past few weeks have been terrible," Fable said, bemoaning. "Been staring at nothingness! I should be legally blind right now. And the ugly crying has not ceased! Look at my pages!" She opened them, revealing miserable streaks of black tears falling from some sentences. "I look like a prom queen that's been neglected by her peers!"

"Sounds rough," Sora said. "Sorry to hear that."

But after she closed herself up, her eyes brightened. "Then a miracle happened: the pages came back! Once they were in place, the other pages came back to life." She was frustrated. "But those creatures showed up and affected them!" She focused her attention on the mirrors. "Each mirror leads to one of the five pages. I would've investigated, but those 'things' stopped me."

"Then perhaps if we find the source of the infection in each page," Sora said, perking up, as a plan started ascending above the horizon, "and destroy them, we might be able to save this world."

Fable mulled over Sora's idea for a moment. It sounded sensible, although a few loose screws in the foundation could make it crumble. "Possibly. But I'm going to need your help. Those creatures are too powerful for me."

"You got it!" Sora said in his usual confident mood.

Mario hopped up and down, agreeing with his sentiments.

"Oh, thank you!" Fable said, overjoyed. She flew over Mario, invading his personal space. "I can't believe this: fighting alongside the legendary Mario!" Sensing another hiss of disdain from Sora, she turned to him a sheepish expression. "Oh, right. And you, too….uh…."

"Sora."

Mario raised his hand.

"You were separated from Luigi and the princess when this all happened?" Fable asked, translating Mario's inaudible words (that's going to take some getting used to, Sora thought). "Don't worry. We'll find them."

"Absolutely," Sora said. "I'll help, too. I know what it's like to be separated from my friends."

Grateful, Mario gave Sora a thumbs up. They may have just met, but he could sense that Sora had been dabbed with a gentle stroke of trust. Besides, he was helping Luigi and Yoshi find the other version of himself. There was no doubt that Sora had proved himself as a reliable cog in the engine that formed their teamwork.

But Fable was ecstatic for another reason. She had never left the confinement of her observatory. Every day, she was forced to watch as people went about their lives, enjoying the scenery around them. They experienced an array of different activities. All she could do was watch from the sidelines, filling her tank of imagination with endless thoughts; what did it feel like to partake in the everyday lives of the Paper World's citizens?

Right now, her wish was about come true. She couldn't wait to become part of the action; to interact with people and expand her horizons. "Then off to adventure!"

"Afraid this little adventure is going to have a game over before it even starts!" a voice said.

Another chill enveloped the three in its unnerving cloak; it was colder than ever. Realizing they had no choice but to confront the voice, the three turned around, and were met with an unusual, yet intimidating sight. The entity was a Heartless unlike any Sora's encountered before.

It took on the appearance of a queen; her royal blood was tainted by a seething infection of darkness. She hovered in the air, trying to assert dominance over the three. Her black gown swayed back and forth like an unstable pendulum; any moment it would topple over, crushing the group with incredible force.

Her brooch was in the shape of the Heartless insignia, and she wore it with pride, like a badge. The queen's violet skin illuminated from the endless den of white walls. Her face was circular shaped, lacking any distinct features. Except for the usual yellow eyes. But, unlike the Heartless, a reel of emotions spun inside of them, allowing for expressions. Although it seemed to be stuck on one frame:

Unrelenting resentment.

She wore her hair in a beehive. Resting on her forehead was a black crown with a silver outline. The only other noticeable feature were two red ovals in the center, beaming with intractable ire. Cradled in both hands was a scythe, perfect for shredding hapless victims away like useless weeds. It was a precious belonging – the only thing she had in this deplorable world.

Sora and Mario had their weapons ready. Despite the queen's intimidating demeanor, Fable's judgement had been obstructed by a disoriented, aggravated lens. "Gurrrl, you did not just ruin this exciting moment for us! I want to go 'sploorin'."

"Such disrespect coming from a dingy little book," the queen said, with disdain sizzling in her voice. "Have you no class?"

Fable gave her an incredulous look. "Coming from the lady holding a scythe. I'm sorry – are you the Grim Reaper's non-union replacement?"

"You better keep your pages closed," the queen said with a threatening glare. "The darkness will consume you sooner if you don't."

"Better stop this before the claws come out," Sora said, whispering to Mario.

Mario concurred; he did not want Fable's pages to be strewn across the observatory.

"Hey, who are you?" Sora said, as he and Mario stepped in front of Fable. "Are you the one behind this?"

The woman focused her yellow eyes on the two; for a moment, they became corroded by the same opaque windows that every Heartless possessed. But then she leaned back in uproarious laughter.

"Now, now," she said with a wry look in her eyes. "It's never nice to make rash judgement. But I suppose I should come clean. Yes. You can call me: 'De Void.' Has a nice ring to it."

"What are you planning?" Sora asked.

"Quite simple," De Void said. "All of the creativity and imagination of this repulsive little world will be wiped clean."

Fable was horrified. "No! Not that! This world will become as lifeless as my room! Everyone will never experience anything again!"

"I know," De Void said, imagining the prospect with pure delight. "Isn't it wonderful?"

"Well, whatever the reason, we won't let that happen!" Sora said, as his gaze luminated with righteous courage.

Mario nodded, standing with Sora in the shimmering dome of confidence. De Void's focused her attention on Mario, feeling an itch of intrigue on her scalp. "You look vaguely familiar. Not that it matters. All of you will soon be blank slates!"

Mario's moustache was pinched with confusion. He was a renowned hero; his presence was carried far and wide by lauded voice. Still, there were a few unfamiliar with him. But De Void was an anomaly not engraved in the pages of this world. She didn't seem to belong here. And she recognized him?

His thoughts were interrupted as De Void formed a large sphere of dark energy in her white gloved hand. It grew, discharging livid sparks in the observatory. Even the white room itself started covering itself with trepid shades.

"Yikes!" Fable said.

De Void launched her attack at the two. Sora and Mario crossed their weapons together, and caught the sphere, struggling against its power. But they remained obstinate against the odds, determined to demean its prevailing existence. They managed to hold the sphere in place; their limbs trembled from the onslaught of exertion.

De Void's eyes widened. "I-Impossible!"

A surge of energy catapulted itself from within the depths of their souls, and the two sent the sphere right back at her. De Void braced herself as it collided with her, resulting in a dark explosion. Everyone shielded themselves from the hysterical breath of wind.

"Now would be a good time to go 'sploorin'!" Sora said, shouting amongst the discord.

"Way ahead of ya!" Fable said.

The three leaped into the nearby mirror, leaving De Void behind in a smog of her own failures. Once it cleared, she scanned the area with frantic eyes, but was unable to find movement among the pale background. She then faced the mirrors, assuming they went through one of them.

A trickle of concern slid down her chest, and it evaporated into infuriation. "Curses! They can't escape! I will not let them restore the pages!" She lowered her head. Enmity thrusted itself at her chest like a dagger. "No one in this book deserves a future."

In another part of the book, Luigi's paper counterpart stared departing from his unconscious detention. He was lying on his stomach in a field of dark green grass. Luigi's nose twitched as the blades tickled his nostrils; he responded with a strident sneeze that made them writhe in fear. Sitting up, he rubbed his head, trying to shake out any residual drowsiness that rattled inside him.

"What happened? Where am I?

After regaining focus, he took the time to examine the vicinity. The field was surrounded by trees with a mixture of green and red leaves. They hung low like long bangs, sullen by the bleak atmosphere of this place. The sky was pitch black; not a single star was nestled in its vapid quilt. The breeze held its breath indefinitely. Yet, Luigi had to embrace himself from a bitter cold that brushed across his skin like lifeless fingers.

Out in the distance was a purple hue that provided some brightness to the area. Strange lime green rectangles floated in the area, bracketed together by lines.

"Of course I'm in a creepy place," Luigi said, being bitten with fangs of uneasiness. "My nerves always have to be on edge. Can't I just end up in a small ball-pit surrounded by nothing? I wouldn't be scared at least." He stood up, and cupped both hands over his mouth. "Bro? Peach? I'll even settle on Bowser's ugly mug!"

He then had an epiphany. "Wait, I know this place."

Something was triggered in his mind. It went off like a gun, leaving behind a ringing noise from the clamorous sound. Then, the ringing grew louder, pounding against his head with compulsive strikes. He fell onto his knees, clutching his head, trying to stop the excessive noise. Soon, a voice unearthed itself from Luigi's subconscious, and whispered into his ear.

"Let me out."

But Luigi tried stuffing that voice back down into the hamper. "No…leave…me…alone."

"But I can't leave my friend all by his lonesome. His brother isn't here to hold his hand."

"Shut up!" Luigi said, shouting. "I don't need you anymore! Haven't in years. You should be gone."

"I never disappeared. Ever since the beginning I've been here. And I can't wait for when you lower your defenses again. The world needs to see the true you."

Luigi shut his eyes, searching for a tranquil image. It took the form of various green pipes. This was his comfort zone. Plumbing put him in a Zen-like state. He enjoyed figuring out the intricacies of pipe networks, and how they connected. Luigi heard water rush through each pipe. It formed a soothing melody. He then saw Mario tightening one of them with his wrench.

The familiar, halcyon noises caved in on the voice, making it sink back into his subconscious. Everything was silent. Only his slow breathing circulated through the still air. Upon regaining composure, he rose to his feet.

"Gotta believe in myself," Luigi said. "There's only one thing I can do: search this place top to bottom." He groaned. "Why me? Alright. Let's-a-go."

With his inner demons subdued for now, he began the grueling journey. As always, he was frightened for various reason. But the desire to see Mario stayed within his line of sight; it was the inspiration that kept him going.

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