A/N: Sorry for the delay on the conclusion of ACT II. There was a lot going on. Including an inner conflict with myself over continuing this story. See, even though I have over 150 likes (which is still awesome; thanks so much), I feel like engagement for the story has dipped. Especially in terms of people reviewing the story (except for the regulars; I appreciate your continued support). It started making me wonder if people lost interest. Was it worth continuing?

But there are people that are still enjoying it. And, to be honest, I do want to see where it goes myself. This is kind of my dream – to see this idea come to life. Just having you all with me makes the ride more enjoyable. So, expect more Nintendo Version goodness in the future. ACT II will reach its conclusion a week from today. Look forward to it.

Again, thank you for your support. It's still a driving force that keeps me going. Let's get this show on the road.

Chapter 60: Home Sweet Traverse Town

The clouds parted the night sky like window curtains, revealing a deluge of unblinking stars – prying eyes wondering about the events that transpired on the flat soil. Sora and his friends waited for what felt like an interminable amount of time, making sure vestiges of De Void presence didn't linger within the vicinity like unwanted cockroaches.

At last, the still air let out a sonorous exhale of relief, instilling a sense of calm in the group. Although infinitesimal concern flicked at Fable's pages. She glanced around the area, in search for even the slightest bit of movement within the shadows.

"Don't worry," Sora said, with a reassuring smile. "I think that's the last will see of De Void."

Fable turned to Sora, seeing the relaxed gaze in his eyes, making that last portion of her anxiety alight on a tranquil branch. "I'll trust your judgement on that one."

Running footsteps soon disrupted the peaceful respite. Sora and Fable turned to see Luigi and Yoshi approaching them; their expressions gleamed with gaiety.

"Woo hoo!" Luigi said. "You guys showed her! Must admit, Sora. You make a decent partner with my brother." He adjusted his shirt collar, appearing proper. "Of course, you're not super like me, but good job."

Sora chuckled. "Thanks. Glad to see your modesty extends to the 2D realm."

Kersti and Mario continued their loving embrace. She didn't want to let go yet. It had been so long since she felt such warmth – such compassionate. For a fleeting moment, she was whisked away to her halcyon days as a child – feeling safe and secure with her father. She missed him every waking hour.

Recounting his tragic passing only brought pain; it wended her down a path of misery. She found it difficult to remember the good times they shared. But being in Mario's presence reminded her of those magical days. She would never take them for granted again. Reminiscing on the good would allow the bad to dilapidate into nothingness.

As the two pulled away, Kersti said, "Thank you, Mario. For everything." Mario raised a concerned hand. Kersti sighed, knowing the task ahead would perforce to be difficult. "I'll be fine. Moving on is hard, I know. Not just for what happened when I was a kid, but for everything I did today. But I take comfort in knowing I have a friend who'll be there for me."

Mario nodded.

"Hey, Mario isn't the only one," Sora said, as he and the others approached her. Once again, he wielded that understanding smile, which slayed any mistrust or doubt with a single strike. "We'll be your friends, too. You can never have just one."

Yoshi titled his head in confusion. "Like potato chips?"

Sora rolled his eyes with a chuckle. Yep. Seems all versions of Yoshi rode on the same wavelength to the nearest smorgasbord of every conceivable food.

Kersti was taken aback by Sora's friendly gesture. She didn't know who this stranger was, but, based on his positive demeanor, he'd embrace a sleep deprived crocodile without a second's thought. "Y-You mean it? After all I've done!?"

"Wasn't your fault," Fable said, hovering over to her, commiserative. "You had no control over this 'darkness.' If there's some thing I learned from these guys, it's that everyone deserves a second chance." A signature of guilt was scribbled across her face. "I might have said some harsh things to you during your time as De Void. Hope we can start over and be friends."

Kersti's eyes brightened with excitement. Making some new friends seemed like the perfect way to start whitling off the emotional weight she carried for years. It was the beginning of healing.

A beginning of forgiving herself.

"Of course, darling, "Kersti said. "You should visit my kingdom sometime. I have a huge library!"

A surge of alacrity rushed through Fables pages faster than a bullet train. She had never been invited somewhere before. The thought of visiting a friend's place was elating. "You do? Wow! So many book friends to meet! Maybe it wouldn't hurt to leave my observatory now and then."

It was a prophecy she couldn't wait to fulfill. All her life she relegated herself to be an onlooker of the outside world; to never experience the same joyous senses that others felt. But why choose this life of isolation? Maybe it was from the immense fear of keeping the book safe – that not keeping a close eye on its inner workings was a presage to disaster.

But being on this adventure was a life changing experience. Sometimes you need time to enjoy life yourself and partake in all its wonders. It was okay to dip your toes into the shallow end of selfishness. At least infrequently. She couldn't wait to lunge herself back into the Paper World. But, right now, she was stung with a syringe of guilt. Her actions had instilled worry in the others.

More importantly, it almost cut the ribbon on Mario's life.

She hovered towards the ground, feeling the remorse course through her pages like bacteria. "Listen. I…feel like I owe everyone an apology. During our adventure, I realized how important you all are to me." Tears started to fill her eyes, becoming light blue watercolors of sorrow. "I never had a family of my own. Losing you would have been devastating. That's why I went after De Void by myself. To protect everyone. But I never imagined I would—"

Mario placed a comforting hand on her spine. She stared right into his eyes; forgiveness poured down them like a gentle stream. It was comforting. You could step into it and be showered with nothing but love and reassurance. Relief harangued the tears back into their miserable holes.

"Don't worry about it," Sora said, placing a hand on her back cover. "Like Mario said, everyone's going to experience loss at some point in their life. But, regardless of what happens, the good memories you have of them will never leave. Always look there if you ever want to see someone again."

The dust of sadness parted from Fable's eyes. She was fortunate to have such incredible friends. They were the best thing to ever happen to her. "Y-Yeah. You're right. Thanks."

"Why don't you guys come to the castle with us?" Luigi said, after allowing the heavy, emotional air to clear. "We'll have a big celebration with the princess." He paused, becoming contemplative. "Although maybe I'll ask her to make something other than cake. A fruit salad sounds nice."

"Aw," Yoshi said, moaning, as his shoulders slumped from the weight of disappointment. "But fruit like five percent of what I eat."

Sora placed both hands behind his head, grinning. "While the other ninety-five is every eatable thing on the planet."

"Me don't think we've been properly introduced, "Yoshi said, giving the boy a quizzical expression. Once again, Sora told his story, explaining the salient details. Yoshi hung to every word with awe and amazement, not letting a single sentence slip through the cracks of intrigue. "Awesome! What other me like!? Does he know if food taste better in 3D!?"

Sora laughed. "I think you answered your own question in that regard." His joyful mood soon tapered into a disheartened void. "Listen, I'd love to stay and party, but I have to leave."

Everyone else was bereft of delight from just a single sentence. After everything they've been through, they had to exchange good-byes now? Time seemed to have lifted a lever of acceleration, and it was stuck on that setting forever.

"Do you have to go?" Fable asked, trying in a vain attempt to switch off the lever. "Now that the world is safe, I feel like hanging out with you."

Mario concurred with a nod. But everyone could see the sincerity scorching within Sora's eyes. It was tacit from everything Sora explained that his journey was of the utmost importance. Existence's own pages were in danger of being slammed shut from the prodigious, ineffable power of the darkness. Not even a sliver of hope could pry it open if such a harrowing prophecy came to pass.

"My journey isn't over yet," Sora said. "There are friends of mine I have to find. They're probably waiting for me."

Fable lowered her eyes in disappointment. "Well, we can't keep you from them." She then flew right in front of the boy's face, startling him. "But you better promise to visit us! We're your friends, too!"

"Okay, okay," Sora said, leaning back, chuckling. "Cross my heart."

"Good," Fable said with a satisfied expression. "Since I overlook this book, I can use my power to open it for you. Shouldn't be an issue now that De Void is gone. Just stand right where you are."

Sora complied, but disappointment etched its way into his chest, with the needle piercing his heart. He shared everyone's sentiments about staying, but a parchment listing far more important tasks waved itself in front of him like a flag. Especially finding Riku and Kairi. They were written in bold ink, listed towards the top, along with reuniting with Luigi and Yoshi. He could only assume they were worried sick about him.

But Mario raised a hand before Fable could do anything. She glanced at him. "What's wrong?"

Mario strolled over to Sora and extends his hand.

"Mario wants to thank you for all the help," Luigi said. "There's no way he could've done it without you."

Sora blushed. It was honor to receive such recognition from the Mushroom Kingdom's hero. But, to Sora, he wasn't just some idol placed on a pedestal. He was a good friend – someone that would bask with you in the light of life's smallest pleasantries. And Sora was confident that the Mario they were searching for exhibited those tantamount qualities.

"Thanks," Sora said. "This has been one crazy journey. Would do it again with you in a heartbeat." The two shook hands. "I'm going to miss you. But I have a feeling we'll see each other soon."

Mario raised his hand.

"Tell the other version of him he said 'hi,'" Luigi said.

"Consider it done," Sora said, smiling. "Take care."

Using her magical link with the book, Fable produced a spotlight that covered Sora in its radiant white coat. He felt like an invisible string latched onto his skull. And soon enough, that string pulled him straight into the air, growing closer to the brilliant light. Everyone watched as he vanished from sight. He was gone. But the impact he left would not be forgotten. Nor the memories of incredible adventure they experienced together.

Fable continued staring at the night sky; only the taciturn stars stared back at her. "Already miss him." Mario gave her a reassuring pat on the head, offering her some encouraging words. They would resonate with not only her, but every other life that Sora had touched.

"You're right. Even if we never do, we'll never forget him."

And so, the final chapter in the Paper World reached a satisfactory conclusion. But there was still an epilogue that needed to be written before the book could be shut.

Tensions continued swirling around Kraden's house like an uncomfortable, interminable hailstorm. Kraden and Mia worked without leisure on figuring out a feasible approach to opening the book. Luigi did his best to keep Yoshi's spirits from faltering, giving him occasional reassurance that Sora was fine. Although Luigi's upbeat, encouraging demeanor belied how he felt on the inside: massive concern for not only Sora, but everyone else that teemed within the Paper World.

A gravitational pull of grief would weight down his conscience if everyone and everything within the book was wiped from existence.

Suddenly, everyone heard loud, consecutive banging, and they turned to see the book on the floor, violently jerking left and right, as if in the middle of a paroxysm. Everyone watched in bewildered silence as the book floated into the air, opened its pages, and revealed a circular golden light.

Sora was ejected from within the light and made a hard landing on his backside. The boy winced as sudden pain rose, like the puck used in a strongman game.

"Ow," Sora said, as he rubbed his backside. "Couldn't she have been easier on the landing?"

He looked up to see everyone else staring at him in astonished silence. Sora had to blink, as if his eyes needed confirmation that he was back in Kraden's house, in the company of his good friends. And every detail rang true. Familiarity was the best form of comfort – there was no reason to worry anymore. You felt safe in its loving presence. And Sora was overjoyed see his friends again.

"Hey, guys!" Sora said, in his usual jovial tone. "Did I miss anything?"

Mia and Kraden's bodies collapsed as all their stress and worries drifted out into a sea of relief. Then again, perhaps they had no reason for concern; Sora had proved time again that any predicament was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Veering his head to the right, he saw Luigi giving him a big smile, immensely glad to see his friend alive and well.

A concoction of danger started to mix when he faced Yoshi. Tears started pouring out of the dinosaur's eyes. His lips were trembling. Every emotion was leaking out and would soon explode. Sora's subconscious could sense the imminent attack from the dinosaur; his body adjusted in preparation for the loving impact.

"Don't think the landing's gonna compare to what's next," Sora said.

With a teasing smile, Luigi bowed and gestured towards Sora. "Go get him."

Yoshi sprung at Sora with incredible speed, knocking him right onto the ground. Sora's hysterical laughing cleared the congested, stressful air as he was bombarded with wet, sticky tongue lashes. And yes – it was a form of familiarity Sora was never against experiencing on an endless loop.

After Yoshi ceased his assault of saliva, the two sat up, and Yoshi hugged Sora, never wanting to let go – a giant green padlock that would never let anyone snatch him again. The warmth of their embrace put them both at ease. Everyone happy. Any form of anxiety had eroded into nothingness.

"Me was so worried," Yoshi said. He pulled away from Sora, appearing stern. "That does it! You grounded for bajillion years!"

Sora raised a playful eyebrow. "Am I now? Good. Means I can send the day napping in my room."

"You a riot," Yoshi said, with a small giggle. He smiled. "Me so happy to have best pal back."

Sora pat the dinosaur's head. "Hey, there was nothing to worry about."

"Of course there was." Luigi walked over to him with a serious look in his eyes. "We had no idea what was going on in there. We had a right to worry. Just wouldn't be the same without you."

"Appreciate that," Sora said, giving Luigi a friendly pat on the arm.

However, the joyous atmosphere took a sudden gasp of alarming air. Luigi just remembered something exigent. "The book! Is everyone okay in there!?"

Before Sora could answer, everyone was startled by a loud slamming sound; they spun around to see the book had not only closed itself, but was hovering in midair, over their heads.

"Possessed book!" Yoshi said, with a frightened whimper.

The book's square shaped clasp was enveloped in a white light, and then faded out of existence. A Keyhole had become embedded on the clasp.

Guided by instinct, Sora summoned the Keyblade to his hand. "They will be in a second."

Sora engendered the Keyblade to lock the Keyhole for good; as it vanished, the sonorous locking sound let out one last merciful cry before becoming silence. Luigi placed a hand on his chest, relived that his paper friends were safe once more. He prayed that a calamity would never befall them again.

After dematerializing the Keyblade, Sora stared at his hands. His mind was jaded from the sudden return to the 3D realm; it was trying in a vain attempt to synchronize with his senses.

"Whoa!" Sora said, shaking his head. "Guess I'm not used to normal movement yet."

Kraden gestured towards one of his chairs. "Why don't you sit down? I'll pour you some tea. You can tell us all about your experience there."

The strong aroma from the tea was just what everyone needed after a long, eventful day. Sora especially. Just bringing the hot drink to his lips quelled the annoying buzzing of disjointed thoughts from the excitement. Everything inside his head was clear. He could enumerate each recollection in a concise matter. Everyone else listened with an intensive ear to his story.

Kraden, once again eager for knowledge, seemed the most invested; his eyes widened with child-like wonder, latching onto the cufflink of each syllable. A part of him almost wanted to view the pages himself, but logic had placed a tight collar on those desires. Nothing good would come from disrupting the natural order of the Paper World.

Once Sora finished, Kraden was the first to speak: "Fascinating. To think a whole world in two-dimensions could exist. Was it easy to adapt to?"

"Not entirely," Sora said. He glanced around the room, feeling slight discomfort squeeze the back of his skull. "Even now I'm having trouble adjusting to the real world. Turning my head left or right is weird.

Yoshi raised his hand with alacrity "Me can do it for you! Yoshi's hands as gentle as his bum-bum."

"I really didn't need that image right now," Sora said, looking uncomfortable. "And no thanks. I'll be fine."

"I'm glad you were able to help Paper Mario restore the entire book," Luigi said, appearing grateful.

"Couldn't have done it without him," Sora said. "He's so cool. Must be the same as the Mario we're looking for, right?"

Luigi's smile widened. "Yep. The only difference is their plain of existence."

"Then no wonder you look up to him," Sora said.

Luigi couldn't agree more. His brother was an inspiration. He saw a piece of his courage within himself. Right now, he needed it more than ever in their battle against the Heartless. But whenever they discussed Mario, the seed of worry would start growing again. Every day he prayed that Mario was somewhere safe – devoid of any harm. How he pined to reunite with him.

In fact, he would try to plagiarize Kraden's notes and jump into the book himself – to spend just a few minutes with Paper Mario and be happy. But that would only provide minute relief. Nothing would change. His real brother was still out there, all alone, in an ambiguous – potentially perilous – situation. Temporary relief didn't bring about permanent solution.

All he could do was remain optimistic against a violent tide of opposition.

"That's my, bro," Luigi said. "Always being a hero."

"Hey, I met the paper version of you, too," Sora said. "He…helped."

Luigi raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Why was there hesitation in your voice? Care to share something with us?"

"No, I didn't mean it like that," Sora said, blushing, trying to backpedal. But all he ended up hitting was a wall of excuses. "Towards the end he helped with the paper version of Yoshi."

"Oh really?" Luigi leaned in, frowning, resting both arms on the table. "What about before?"

Before Sora could put his thoughts through mental gymnastics on producing an excuse, Yoshi asked, "You met Paper Yoshi?"

If Sora's mind had lungs, it would have breathed the biggest sigh of relief. He mentally thanked Yoshi for intervening. Luigi was still a bit suspicious of Sora's awkward string of sentences, but he decided to forgo any further questions. There was no point – not when they were happy to be reunited.

"I sure did," Sora said.

"What he like?" Yoshi asked, as intrigue pried his wide open. "What kind of 2D foot does he eat?"

Sora laughed. "That's exactly what he said. Definitely no changes between you two."

He then pulled both Luigi and Yoshi into his arms. This felt right. He was back in a safe circle with his friends. Even though he wasn't gone too long, the world around him grew to prodigious lengths. And at moments, it felt overwhelming. But being with his friends reminded him that conquering the unknown wasn't that daunting.

And Sora hoped they would be there until his feet touched the comforting sand of his island.

"It was nice meeting them," Sora said. "But they could never replace the real ones. I missed you guys."

Cajoled by the loving warmth of the hug, Luigi smiled. "We missed you, too, Sora."

"Me missed him more," Yoshi said.

They remained in this position for a while, basking in the happy ending they achieved. Overtime, Sora hoped to bring Riku and Kairi into that inner circle.

The mysterious dark castle continued its silent brooding. Not a soul meandered through its halls. It took solace in being drenched in the shadows, like a massive veil. But the quietude was soon disrupted by echoes of loud, running footsteps. Soon, they were followed by heavy panting. Kammy Koopa was hurrying down one of the hallways without pause for rest. Her chest burned with the conflation of exhaustion and excitement.

The echoes of panting grew louder, ringing in her ear like unintelligible chanting. "Why…didn't…I just take my broom? Oh well."

Despite grappling with her eroded bones, she managed to reach the meeting room – a place that once teemed with the most sordid, dangerous individuals that resided from the darkness.

"Highness!" Kammy said as she flung open the giant door. She took a moment to catch her breath. "This is important! I…"

Her words tapered off upon seeing the Koopa King, a vicious tyrant that controlled an army of stalwart, servile troops. A ruler that didn't show even an infinitesimal amount of mercy towards the hapless. He had invaded a prosperous, peaceful kingdom frequently. Fear alone makes you quiver before his might.

And…he was throwing a royal temper tantrum on the floor like a petulant child. His giant fists struck the ground, causing it to tremble in agony. He had been watching Sora's progress; to say he wasn't pleased would be an understatement. Kammy continued watching this comedy routine that was dignity.

For a moment, the old Koopa thought she had stumbled into the past, trying to quell the anger of a little, spoiled prince. Jr. looked on in embarrassment at his father; he wanted to retreat into his shell, momentarily forgetting they were of the same gene pool.

"It's not fair!" Bowser said in a pathetic tone. "Why doesn't this Keyblade kid die? He's such a meanie! I hate him! I hate him!"

Jr. sighed, pulled out a pacifier, and shoved it into his father's mouth. Confusion halted the Koopa King's paroxysm on the defenseless ground. Although Jr.'s shame grew from witnessing his father suckle on a pacifier.

"Dad, please don't make start walking around with a paper bag on my head," Jr. said. "You're the king. Pull it together."

Bowser spat out the pacifier, stood up, and straightened his back, trying to regain his authoritative stature. He took a deep breath, bringing the rattled nerves in his chest under control.

"Y-Yes, son. You're right," Bowser said. "That stupid kid has nothing but dumb luck." He grinned, letting his sharp teeth emit a prideful glow throughout the room. "But luck can't compete with truly two hundred percent unadulterated, unrestrained, complete and utter awesome!"

Inspirited by his father's laconic speech, Jr. pumped his fist into the air, revitalized with confidence. "Yeah!"

"Now, Jr….what would you like daddy to leave you in his will?" Bowser said, with a grim expression.

Jr. smacked his forehead; his father sure was a natural at keeping their morale from sliding down a steep cliff. Which contained sharp, oblong rocks.

"Your vileness," Kammy said. "Please remain calm. Not all is lost."

Bowser glared at her, producing a loud snort. The livid fumes filled the clear sky. Kammy could sense the repressed rage on the verge of spilling onto the ground like lava. Bowser turned away from them, staring at the wall, struggling to form the proper words to express his frustrations with everything.

"Not all is lost?" Bowser asked. His voice sounded low, somewhat shaken, like the beginning of an earthquake. "In case you haven't notice, we have a severe staff shortage. And now that brat and those Mushroom Kingdom morons have all seven Star Spirits."

He could see Peach's beautiful visage in front of him. Her sky-blue eyes instilled a sense of ardor. Every miserable feeling fell from his body like eroded branches, taking a tremendous weight off him. But she started fading into the shadows. Those branches were starting to reform. He didn't want to be inured with sense of loss again.

"I have never been this close to having her all to myself," Bowser said. "To finally understand what true joy is. To make my son happy. Isn't that all a father wants?"

Jr. felt a pang of emotion hit his stomach. He was right to be upset. Jr. had to bear witness to his father's numerous failures, and it was becoming tiresome. They both wanted to taste and relish in success. To experience eternal gaiety. And only Peach could fill that empty pitcher.

"I understand how you feel," Kammy said, expressing sympathy. "But that's why you have to believe me when I say there's still hope. I'd never lead you astray, sire. I cleaned up your drool, for heavens sakes!"

Jr. couldn't help but let out a small snort. Bowser spun around with a reproachful look. Kammy reeled back in fear. Perhaps it wasn't ideal to let her emotions pull the trigger on the next sentence. But then, the Koopa King's expression morphed into a small smile.

"You're right," Bowser said, feeling a bit relieved. "You always know the right thing to say." He smirked. "And it's not because I CHOOSE what comes out of your beak. Alright. Give me some good news."

Kammy cleared her throat. "First of all, the Heartless are doing an adequate job at keeping our furry friend at bay. But his heart is unusually strong. We may not have long before he breaks through their ranks."

"And that's your good news?" Bowser asked, frowning. "Next you'll tell me my castle has been sold to some conglomerate who wants to use it as center piece for their third-rate theme park."

Kammy paused, as if her brain had hiccupped from absorbing that ridiculous statement at a rapid rate. "I'm not done. I made an important discovery. And it may render the Keyblade wielder powerless against you."

"Oh, really?" Bowser asked, raising an eyebrow. "What's that? Tie his irregularly large shoes together?"

A sinister smirk crawled out of the witch's mouth like a hideous, deformed spider. "Let's just say….someone has the ability to take away the source of his strength."

Today had been quite eventful for Sora. Even though every moment remained stowed away as a harmless memory, he could still feel the toil it took on his body – both physically and mentally. He and the others were prepared to head for the hotel; there, they'd unload a giant suitcase of their problems into the spacious room, and never pick them up again.

Before they could leave, Mia said, "Sora, do I sense the presence of a summon gem?"

"Oh yeah!" Sora went through his pocket. "I forgot! Here ya go!"

Mia smiled. "Thank you for your continued effort in helping these innocent souls. Giving them even just a few minutes of fresh air makes all the difference in the world."

"And they're awesome additions in helping us fight the Heartless," Sora said (although he was still puzzled, and somewhat overawed, by the 2D Man's unusual tactics).

"Mama-mia!" Luigi gave an incredulous shake of his head. "We've really become pros at finding things in no time flat. Should start our own search and rescue agency."

"Ooh!" Yoshi said, eager. "We can be called the Dino Patrol! And ride around in awesome vehicles! Have a ton of merchandise, and cool catchphrases!"

Sora placed a pert hand on his hip. "Excuse me? Dino Patrol?"

"Well, me be the face of the company, of course," Yoshi said, prideful. "Have you seen my dimples? People will flock. Me know that Igno guy be first customer after what me do to him."

Sora narrowed his eyes at Luigi. "Methinks you're a bad influence, Gonzales the Second."

"What?" Luigi said, defensive.

Mia cleared her throat to beckon for their attention. She held out a glass dome. "All set. I can sense an adventurous spirit akin to your own in this one. No doubt she will serve as a stalwart ally during your journey."

Excited to meet their new friend, Sora tossed the dome straight into the air, and a giant, metal, spherical object landed right in front of them, producing a startling quake. Once they recovered, the group inspected the strange machine. Right below the metal body were two blue feet, which looked like they were wearing yellow sandals (but it was part of the design).

A red screw protruded from the bottom of its stomach. It had two yellow eyes and red drill shaped arms. To Sora, it was almost like a robotic version of Kirby. At the crest of the robot was the head of a little girl with pink pigtails. Next to each pigtail was a large white pearl, which glistened from the candles.

The girl shook her head from the rough landing. "Man, that pit was larger than I thought." She took a gander at her new surroundings. "Where the heck am I?"

"Oh, no!" Luigi said, gasping in horror. "What sort of horrific science experiment is this!? Who's be crazy enough to merge a little girl with the body of a robot?"

The girl glanced at Luigi with a perplexed expression. "Who, me? You got your corkscrews jammed in there or what? I ain't no robot."

She hopped out of the little robot, revealing her attire: a red sleeveless jacket with a white stripe that ran down her chest. She wore yellow gloves and white shoes.

"Oh," Luigi said, blushing. "Might've jumped the gun on that one."

Sora grinned. "Luigi, I would mistake you for a professional at hurdling with the number of times you've jumped the gun."

"For the sake of my sanity," Luigi said, lowering his gaze, "I refuse to acknowledge your quip."

The girl took a moment to meander through the house, scrutinizing every detail. Her eyes were dining pleasurably on each exotic item adorned throughout the room. She had never seen anything so wonderful and fantastical in all her life.

"Greetings, young one," Kraden said, approaching the girl. "I'm sure the unfamiliarity of this room has you most perplexed."

He was surprised to be wrong in his assumption, because the girl replied with a scoff. "You kiddin', grandpa? This place is incredible! Look at all the fine décor! Perfect for looting!"

"B-Beg your pardon?" Kraden said, taken aback by her coarse response.

She examined a chair. "Hmm. Wonder how much this thing'll go for?" She sniffed it. "Eh, smells like old man, but what do you expect from antiques?"

Sora noticed Kraden's eye flickering with anger. Apparently, this girl had plucked at the wrong nerve, and it was for showing disrespect in Kraden's house. Outside of training, Sora had never seen the kind sage seared with flames of contempt.

"Excuse me, young lady!" Kraden said, in a stern, loud tone. "My house is not the target of petty thievery! We have no room for such inexcusable behavior!"

But the girl waved a dismissive hand. "Yeah, yeah. Not the first to give me that lecture, beards." She sighed in annoyance. "Just how am I going to fit this all in my drill? Better let HQ know."

She retreated to her robot, searching for a handheld transceiver. Sora and the others stared at the girl with blank expressions, as if they struggling to process the visual information in front of them.

"You sure she has a strong heart?" Sora asked in a whisper to Mia.

"A strong does not dictate one's morality," Mia said.

Sora blinked. That was a solid argument, he thought. The girl pulled out the transceiver, pressed a few buttons, and received a verbal lashing from static. She tried difference frequencies. Still the static jeered at her with loud hisses.

Frustrated, she tried shaking the radio. Same results. "Great! The one time I need them, they don't answer. Somethin' ain't right here."

Her eyes then locked onto the group. Suspicion whispered concern into her ear. It made sense: in a brand-new place with rare, expansive items? No one able to answer he calls? Every muscle tensed with an alarm.

"Maybe you're the one's responsible!" the girl said. "You're trying to sabotage me, aren't you?"

She jumped into her robot, pressed a few buttons, and its eyes glowed an ominous yellow; this machine was not at all hesitant to strike down its foes. The robot brought its drills together, creating a massive one; it started spinning in a fast, clockwise motion, eager to shred through anything or anyone that crossed its path.

"Better start talkin'!" the girl said in a threatening tone. "This drill ain't for removing decay!"

Yoshi sighed in relief. "Oh, that good. Me hate dentist."

"Yoshi!" Luigi said, exasperated. "This is really looking on the bright side of things!"

"Hold on!" Sora said, raising both hands. "We can explain!"

It took some convincing, but the girl was able to walk down onto the step of reason. After disembarking from her robot, Sora explained everything to the girl. Overtime, her mistrust took a plunge into a despondent ditch. She stepped out of her robot, trying to process everything. But like gum, it was hard to swallow such a dismal revelation.

"It's…all gone?" she asked; sadness left ripples in her once overconfident tone. "My friends, my father – I'll never see them again?"

Sora leaned over and placed a compassionate hand on her shoulder. He admired her tough attitude. They needed that tenacity in their continuous fight against the Heartless. She did have a strong heart, just like Mia said. And, deep down, it let out a kindhearted palpitation. She was still a little kid lost in a strange new world and was afraid. Sora never wanted anyone to experience those same disheartening feelings.

"Not at all," Sora said. "There's a chance we can save them."

The girl peered into Sora's eyes. Like many before her, she saw truth, honesty, and compassion staring right back, suppressing the skeptical chatter in the girl's head. Every word out of Sora's mouth carried a heavy weight of conviction. It felt genuine. Besides, who else did she have right now? This was the first step towards being reunited with her family.

"Then tell me what to do!" the girl said, regaining her fortitude. "I'll do anything!"

"Just join us in fighting the Heartless," Sora said, entreating her. "It'll make our journey a little bit easier."

The girl grinned. She'd be able to use her drill on those nightmarish monsters. Sounds like an invitation to fun. "Okay. Count me in! Sorry if I went overboard there. Like to speak with my drill first. My name is Jill."

"Nice to meet you, Jill." Luigi gave her a firm expression. "Just one piece of advice for traveling with us: no touching wallets." (He still shuddered over his encounter with Snide the Weasel)

Jill scoffed, as if the idea was beneath her. "Puh-lease. I'm not that type of thief. Rare, exotic treasures are my cup of tea." She glanced at the table. "Speaking of tea: how much is that lovely looking tea set?"

Kraden cleared his throat with a repining gaze

"Just a joke, gramps," Jill said, rolling her eyes. "Sheesh."

Sora looked over Jill's drill with wonderous eyes. Zealous thoughts started orbiting around his head. "Never seen a drill this big before. Bet it'll shred the Heartless into confetti."

"Confetti nothing," Jill said, blistering with confidence. "This baby will wipe them clean off the earth!" She patted her vehicle. "This here is the pride and joy of the Red Dozers! Top of the line drill. Construction workers feel inadequate around it. Care for a demonstration?"

Sora's face beamed with alacrity, forgoing any thoughts of the consequences for a fleeting moment. "You bet!" He flinched as felt like reproving eyes were watching him. Looking to his left, he could see both Kraden and Mia giving him long scowls. A trickle of nervous sweat fled from Sora's forehead. "Erm, actually, maybe some other time. Doing it here might be hazardous towards my health."

"Don't you mean everyone's health?" Jill asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"I know what I said," Sora said, sharing another quick glace with Kraden and Mia.

Jill shrugged. "Fine by me. You're missing out." Her body – along with her vehicle – started to become transparent. But she wasn't alarmed by the sudden change. In her heart, Jill knew this existence was temporary. The minute hand was close to making an inevitable loud click. "Well, you know where to find me when. Take care."

Both her and the drill vanished, returning to the magical confinement of the summon gem. To Sora, she wasn't being held prisoner. Just like his other friends, they were just waiting on the sidelines; for a chance to be tagged into the action. After Jill left, Sora apologized for letting his eagerness take a running start.

"I understand," Kraden said, once again appearing pleasant. "Her drill contraption is quite fascinating. But this is my only home; I'm not looking to add another window anytime soon."

Sora stretched out his arms, feeling the ghosts of today's past rap at every muscle. "Yeah. Besides, I think today took a MASSIVE toll on me."

"I'd imagine," Kraden said, chortling. "Fighting a giant dragon AND a variant of Bowser might be a bit taxing. Some rest might do you good."

Sora let out a tired chuckle. "No need to tell me twice. Think I'm ready to call it a day."

"Me too," Luigi said. "But, before we do: Kraden, I can't thank you enough for taking care of the book. If it's too much trouble…"

A warm, understanding smile protruded from his beard. "Not another word is needed. I will continue to keep watch over the book."

"Thank you," Luigi said, feeling a breeze of relief push any concerns out into the distance. "Once this whole ordeal is over, Mario and I will be back for it."

After good-byes were exchanged, the group left Kraden's house, leaving behind the trials and tribulations of today like superfluous, ruined rags.

Isabelle met up with everyone back at the hotel, brandishing her pen like a shimmering blade, prepared to deliver fervent strikes to each page from the wealth of information Sora was about to convey about his adventures in the Paper World. Sora sat on his bed, while the others huddled around in ornate wooden chairs, like young scouts congregating to hear a campfire story, with widened eyes glistening from the warm, nurturing glow of the flames.

Sora recounted everything to them, recalling details previously omitted. Interspersed between sentences was the frantic scribbling of Isabelle's pen. There were times where she struggled to keep up with him; he spoke so fast, yet with such passion. Irrespective of today's exhausting events, Sora remained indefatigable. His energy was limitless. And it was that vitality that ameliorated the rest of them during troubled times.

"Okay, okay!" Sora said, organizing his mental notes. "So then we ended up in this place called the 'Underwhere.' Which had…"

Yoshi burst into laughter. "That funniest thing me ever heard!"

"Well, it was a little funny," Isabelle said, giving him a confused expression. "But I don't think it was hysterical."

"Me still a baby," Yoshi said, trying to quell the paroxysmal laughter. "Jokes like that are pinnacle of comedy for my age."

Sora frowned, leaped off his bed, marched over to Yoshi, and brought him into a playful headlock. "Oh, so you find that hilarious, but don't even garner a smirk at my jokes?"

The two started roughhousing with each other, as Yoshi tried in desperation to open the giant claw that was Sora's arms. Laughter assaulted Yoshi again with twice the ferocity, and its infectious sound preyed on Sora's senses, too. Isabelle couldn't help but smile as the two continued wrestling with each other.

It was another ordinary evening. To experience those familiar sights and sounds reassured her that everything was fine. Today was a success; everyone was alive and healthy. Right now, she didn't have to worry about tomorrow. Just bask in the jubilance.

But there was one person that had exiled himself from the comforting circle. Luigi. He appeared distrait, sliding both hands up and down the length of his thighs. The name 'Underwhere' was a pick that unlocked the safe to a repressed memory – something he wished to never speak of again. But it wasn't just the memory of spending time in that cold, dark, frightening place that made him perturbed

Something else crawled out of that safe with despicable delight, lightly gliding its elongated nails on the edges. It had been liberated. Already it had plans for Luigi: to arrogate his free will and inflict turmoil on the people he loved. Light whispers cajoled in his inner ear. They started growing louder, drowning out the noise of jubilance around him.

But he wasn't going to be debauched this time. He wasn't alone. His friends were with him; they were like strong, sturdy palings that would protect him from the immoral. Taking a deep breath, he obviated the sounds; it crawled back into the safe, overmastered by Luigi's newfound confidence. His head soon felt light; any concerns had been eroded into feeble fragments, afraid to reform while under his confidence's authority.

That's as far as you'll go. Stay in the dark corridors of my mind forever.

Sleep was imminent. Once everyone returned to their rooms, Sora rushed to his bed without hesitation. His entire body felt heavy likes rocks. And once he hit the pillow, those feelings scattered. In an instant, his consciousness took a sojourn in the realm of dreams, where ambiguity waited for him.

He was alone in pure darkness. Sound was absent. He turned left and right in search of a light source. Not even a speck extended a warm greeting. Nothing happened for what felt like forever. He was trapped within a void of immutable darkness. Was this his greatest fear materializing? To be all alone? Because it was succeeding with little effort.

But then, sound averred its presence from the darkness. To Sora's bewilderment, it sounded like a waterfall. But not a singular one. The sound surrounded him from every angle. Light consumed his vision for a moment; it was then eclipsed by the silhouette of what appeared to be a castle. He could see what rested on the crest: giant circular chimney pipes, battlements, and hoardings. Sora was plagued with questions.

And yet, a deep part of his consciousness seemed to know the answer. Unfortunately, it refused to disclose that salient information. A young girl appeared right in front of Sora. She appeared around four to five years old. Her features were concealed by a glowing white light. She started strolling towards the castle, unhinged by its intimidating size. A small giggle escaped her mouth.

Before Sora could follow, he awoke from his dream. Sitting up, he brushed his hair, as if trying to wipe off the feeling of exhaustion like it was dust. But it would continue to stick until morning. He looked all over the room: everything was in its proper place. Sora sighed; why can't he ever have normal dreams?

But something was different about this one. To him, it felt like a sign – that he needed to decipher the meaning that rested below the surface. His chest tightened as a strange, unexpected idea inserted itself into the picture: he needed to find this castle. Because, for some unexplained reason, he knew Kairi would be there (and, in turn, Riku would be with her).

And he felt adamant about this outlandish claim. Why? The lack of sleep must be making rational thought totter through a delusional fun house. Or maybe he just missed her so much; he was willing to believe anything. Sora looked at the clock radio; one o' clock. Yeah. Sleep would be the immediate cure.

Still, he ruminated for another moment, especially over the sudden tightness in his chest. It was like how he felt back in Ylisse, but not nearly as severe. Again, his mind was probably lost in a sandstorm of exhaustion, unable to see the rational answer between the grains. With a heavy sigh, Sora collapsed back into the bed, hoping for a much better dream, in which he not only saved Kairi, but regained his friendship with Riku.

And he hoped to one day reach out and touch that image.

Next morning – in which the sky of Traverse Town's was still obstinate in lifting its star filled curtains – the group received an email from the coliseum, announcing the final cup of the tournament. This took Sora's mind off the dream. For now, at least. Infinitesimal questions would sometimes let out a meek squeak, but it was drowned out by the boisterous desire to become the champion.

A dial of excitement twisted past maximum, snapping off in the process. Although competing would also give him a good reason to train. After fighting against Paper Bowser yesterday, he needed to become stronger. Overcoming the real deal was going to take all their collective power. Today might be fun, but, if opportunity presented the chance of self-improvement, why deny it?

Plus, they'd be able to locate the keyhole, not only saving the coliseum, but they would hopefully obtain the missing Labo piece in the process. Adding a pinch of productivity to the concoction of leisure would make this day a bit more rewarding.

After a quick breakfast, the four boarded the ship, and flew into the vast, sparkling veil of space, with their enthusiasm to compete brightening its mood. Although it tapered when the four remembered something disheartening:

They wouldn't have any reason to compete today without the powerful spark from a certain yellow mouse.

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