Vivian looked off towards the entrance to the Twilight Town forest with a feeling of anxiousness and dread at their plan. They had watched Soren and his group head into the forest to reverse the pig curse on the town, leaving the Shadow Sirens to plan their attack. They figured that they would just wait for Soren to nab the crystal star and take it from them on their way back. But even Beldam knew they wouldn't win in a straight on fight with him or his friends. Which is why Beldam had a failsafe.

"With our newly bought Superbombomb, there's no way we can fail. No, not likely…" Marilyn gave out a grunt of agreement while Vivian kept her attention on the forest entrance. She figured she might as well be look out since Beldam was hanging onto the bomb and Marilyn…had trouble communicating anything complex, "Vivian! Hand me that glorious Superbombomb!"

"Huh?" Vivian said in both confusion and worry.

"Vivian…don't you dare…does that 'huh?' mean what I think it does?"

"I…I never had it! You were holding it just two seconds ago! You even said it was too important to trust me with before we left Rogueport!" Vivian braced herself for what was coming.

"Oh, you terrible LIAR! Stop making up stories to cover for yourself! If I don't have it, then OBVIOUSLY you must have it! And OBVIOUSLY you lost it! Or…are you trying to imply that I lost it, you little lollygagging worm?" Vivian desperately wanted to scream yes…but where would she go if not with her sisters?

"I…no, of course not Beldam."

"Well, we can't do much without it, now can we?! Oh, you are SUCH an idiot…very well…I'm sure you must have dropped it around here somewhere…so why don't you look for it while Marylin and I take a well-earned siesta. And if you don't find it…well, you know what'll happen, don't you?" She knew…it happened regardless of what she did most of the time.

"I…I get punished."

"That's right, you little twit, so get cracking! Come, Marilyn. Let's leave this useless little fool to their chores." With a grunt of agreement, Marilyn and Beldam sunk into the shadows leaving Vivian to search for the Superbombomb…and try not to cry again.

While she wasn't looking, Soren and the group walked back into town. Although something was off about the way Soren moved, he walked with an unearned confidence that had the others a bit confused at what he was doing. But they figured the easy star they had just gotten must have boosted his confidence; odds are he would be back to normal soon.

"Look, the village is back to normal." Flurrie pointed out.

"Beating that creep must have broken the curse." Eggi pointed out.

"That's what he gets for messing with us huh gang?" Soren said with a big grin.

"We even got another crystal star." Koops brought up.

"Then we should head back to the door. The sooner the better." Goombella suggested.

"H-Hang on there girlie. Why leave just after we've saved everyone? I'm sure the mayor would LOVE to throw us a victory feast or something. I can't be the only one who's starving. What about you Pinky?" Peach looked at him quizzically. This was the first time ever he had referred to her by a nickname…and she wasn't sure she liked it.

"I suppose I am feeling peckish." She replied.

"Then let's grab a bite to eat first. They have to have some good grub here or something right? I could eat a whole house out right now." That too had Peach a bit on edge. He was…talking too much. Not in anyway to carry a conversation either. More just to hear himself talk. There was something wrong with Soren…she just couldn't put her finger on what it was.

Soren

After Ms. Mowz untied me, I was quick to get her up to speed on what happened…kind of. Honestly, I remember going for a combo hit with Peach but then my consciousness snapped off after that; when I woke up, I was tied to the chair by Ms. Mowz. Although from her end of it, she saw me pick up the star and take off with Peach and the others. That meant that the faker had taken my place when I struck him down…and was now rolling around in my body with my friends.

"Seems you got caught in a bit of hot water." Ms. Mowz commented as I did a pat down of myself to make sure I had everything. It seemed like the fake had taken my shape but hadn't taken all my stuff thankfully. Although it seemed like I was the only one who could see what it really looked like; all Ms. Mowz could see were shadowy shapes.

"You're telling me. Now I need to hunt down that creep who took my shape." I replied. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"Badge hunting. I figured following you would lead me to some rare finds." Guess I'm a treasure magnet now, "Didn't think I'd see a case of identity theft."

"Sorry you weren't able to find anything." She giggled.

"Days still young." That's weird to hear considering the light of the moon. "Besides-" She leapt over and attached herself to my arm, "-now I get to spend time with my favorite cute piece of Swiss cheese!" I could feel my face catch on fire as she pressed her chest into my arm and side.

"Swiss cheese?"

"Don't think about it too hard cutie." This is not going to be an easy day for me. She looked up at me with a smile before it turned into a pout. She huffed and let go, "This isn't any fun if I can't see your flustered face…okay, I'll help out."

"What?"

"I'll help you hunt down your thief. I'll get your cute face back, and get the rare badges I want from them." I was glad to get the offer. I definitely didn't want to take on something this weird without any back-up…but it could take her identity too.

"Thanks. I appreciate the help. Just be careful, I don't want him taking your face next."

"Awww…you're sweet." She pinched my cheek before giving a disappointed look and huffing, "Nope, not as much fun without an appropriate reaction."

"Glad to know your priorities are straight."

Getting out of the chapel proved to be easier than getting in, although that might have been because Mowz took the direct route out…climbing down the belltower from the outside. Her graceful slide down the stone wall made my shivering stumble climb down seem more embarrassing and I felt my face turn red as I heard her giggling from the ground.

"Need a lesson on climbing?" She teased.

"I know how to climb up…just not down." When I was finally close enough, I hopped down and dusted myself off...although considering I was all shadow, I wasn't even sure if I had any dust on me at any time.

"So, where first?" Mowz asked. I took a moment to think about it.

"…If he headed right back to Rougeport he would be easily found out. Odds are he doesn't know anything outside of this area so he won't go past Twilight Town. We'll head there first. When we find him, we'll clock him and hopefully that will break this weird spell he put on me."

"Perfect! I get him afterwards." I'd argue but he took my identity. Besides, Mowz wouldn't seriously injure him…probably.

As we walked back, my eyes wandered over to Mowz every few seconds. This was my fourth time running into her and she was always on the hunt for badges. I had my suspicions as to why but didn't have any proof…maybe this was my opportunity to get some.

"Hey Ms. Mowz?"

"Hm?" She turned just enough to give me her attention but keep any eye on the road ahead.

"Why are you a badge thief? You could be a killer acrobat from what I saw back in Glitzville." She giggled.

"I only got those skill through badge HUNTING." She held out her index finger to add extra emphasis to the word hunting, "Besides. They end up hoarded by people who don't even know how to properly utilize them. I'd much rather see them be used by people who know what they're doing with them." I…suppose that's noble on some level.

"So what do you do after you…hunt badges?" She giggled and placed her finger on my face; I think she was going for my lips but was slightly off.

"A girl has to keep some of her secrets. Nice try though." So much for getting to know her.

Stepping up to town I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Something was wrong and it was a really bad feeling. I stopped Ms. Mowz and pulled out my wooden sword. A hearty laugh rang through the air. Looking for the origin of the voice. From a nearby shed, I looked to the roof to see a shadowy figure on it. The figure jumped down and right in front of us, revealing themselves to be…ME!?

"I've been waiting for ya slick!" The creepy grin on my face had me creeped out and more than a little pissed, "You're Soren, right? What a great name! I really dig this body too! It's nimble and tough! And you're so popular too! I'm getting mobbed by these chumps cause 'I' stopped the pig curse!"

"You mean 'I' stopped YOU!" I clarified.

"Not with that mug you didn't slick! All this attention is so cool, I don't think I ever wanna stop!" He gave a dark chuckle, "Your body and name belong to me now! My powers let me change my shape into anyone I want; it comes in handy. But to REALLY be someone, I need to take their name and body, too!" Take my name…wait…

"_...! _..._" I…I can't say my name!? I remember trying to say my name when Ms. Mowz had me but it didn't work then either…he really did take my name! My doppelganger gave out an uproarious laughter.

"That's right slick! You can't use your name at all! And since I took your name and body, you just stick around as a shadow! Tough break! But I don't like leaving loose ends." He pulled out his…MY weapon, brandishing it, "Time to erase you for good!"

He rushed at me at quick as I would. But I was quick to go into my counter stance, making him clash with my blade and stagger back, giving me the opening to smack him back. He skid back and shook before giving me the same creepy grin he met us with. Ms. Mowz moved in next, going into a weird stance and throwing him towards me. I quickly smacked him back at Mowz who quickly moved out of the way as he went colliding into the dirt.

"I probably shouldn't be roughing up my own body if I want it back." I said.

"But we do need to beat him." Ms. Mowz pointed out. Fair point. He stood up and looked back at us…why didn't he have a scratch on him.

"What the-"

"What's the matter slick? Can't hurt me? Of course not! You don't even know WHO you're supposed to hurt!" What did he mean by that? "You're not trying to hurt Soren, but you don't know my REAL name. Nice little effect of this area eh?" Wait…because he's in my body, he technically IS me. But I'm not trying to clobber myself so whoever I'm trying to hurt is in my body…but I don't know HIS name.

"Are you saying I can't hurt you unless I know your name!?"

"Yep. Neat little effect of this place. When I inhabit a body that ain't mine here, you can't hurt me unless you're trying to hurt my host, or unless you know my name. You know my name slick?" He knows I don't…damnit…what now?

"Ms. Mowz…you have a smoke bomb on you?" She reached behind her and pulled out a small white orb. "Alright…SCATTER!" She hucked it at the ground between us and my double, giving us an opportunity to race by him and into town. As we ran I heard him give out a laugh.

"RUN AS FAR AS YOU WANT! YOU'LL NEVER GET YOUR BODY BACK!"

As I raced into town, I ducked behind a house and took a moment to catch my breath. In the smoke, it seems like Mowz separated from me, meaning I was on my own in town. Everyone gave me weird looks but continued on with their business. Alright, I just need to find Peach and the others and convince them I'm actually ME…without using my name…and without that faker convincing them otherwise. I'm in some hot water right now. Out of the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of pink and rushed over to see Peach heading into the mayor's house. Inside, my double was gorging on a feast of foods as my friends seem to awkwardly watch him. Considering how differently I was acting from…me, I understood their skepticism. But considering the last time they saw a shadow version of me, we creamed it, it would probably go about the same way and I'd lose my body permanently. No, If I wanted my body back, I would need to beat him, which means I need his true name…maybe there's something in the chapel that could tell me what it is.

"Although…Ms. Mowz was having trouble finding any hidden areas or passages…I'll need to investigate myself and see if I can find something she missed." As I mused about my next step, the sound of someone with a runny nose hit my ears. I turned to where it was coming from to see one of the shadow sirens, Vivian to be specific, with her back turned to me. So that wasn't someone with a cold, it was someone sniffling and crying. She seemed to be searching through the foliage of grass for something.

"Where is it…oh, if I don't find it…" …I gave out a deep sigh, stepping over and tapping her on the shoulder. She jumped a little bit and turned to me with a worried expression.

"A-Are you okay?" I asked, slightly taken back at her panic. Her look turned to a sullen expression as she scanned the ground.

"I-I'm looking for something very important…if I don't find it, my sister's going to punish me again…b-but it's just not here." Taking a moment to scan the grass, I noticed something round blending in with the dark green.

"Is this it?" I asked as I reached out and picked it up…this was a grenade…I quickly and in a hastily let go and it clattered to the ground. After making sure it wouldn't go off, I carefully picked it up and held it out to Vivian. Her eyes lit up and she took the device from my hand.

"Oh…Oh, thank you so much…thank goodness…at least I won't be punished now." As she took it from my hand, it made a small rattle. Her relieved expression turned to worry. She gave the device a shake and it rattled even more…that might have happened when I dropped it, "…It…It's broken…it must have broken when my sister dropped it." My hasty drop probably didn't help either but let's not bring that up, "What'll I do? What'll I do? I guess I was just meant to be punished for life…"

"No! Not at all!" I hastily said. "Look we can…try to fix it or something. Maybe if we-" She gave out a defeated sigh.

"Don't brother…it's too busted." Oh, thank God. I'm pretty sure you need a license to fix one of those things anyway, "What'll I do now…my sister will be back any minute."

"I mean…you could blame me." I offered. Honestly, I had seen the type of mental abuse her sister had inflicted and I didn't want to see that again. She gave me a sad smile.

"Thanks…but you don't have to. I appreciate the offer though, thank you." She looked at me quizzically, "Would you mind telling me your name?"

"Oh, it's _" Uh oh, too honest.

"Sorry, I couldn't hear you." Right…can't say my name. Thankfully it seemed to have helped me avoid a fight.

"Well…my name and body kind of got stolen by this jerk."

"I see…well, I guess that happens from time to time…" …It does? As though processing what she just heard, and said, Vivian's eyes went wide in shock, "Wait, no it doesn't! Your NAME and BODY were stolen? That's absolutely crazy! How did it happen!?" I gave her a quick run down of what happened, omitting some of the finer details that might have had her attack me, "Gee whiz, you have way worse problems than I do."

"Maybe, but mine seem less long term than yours do." I retorted. "All I have to do is find this guy's name, rough him up, then get my body and name back. I don't mind lending some time to help you." Her cheeks turned a hint of pink at this comment.

"R-Really…even with all the problems you're having…that's so…kind…" She took a deep breath and gave me a confident smile.

"Alright, that's it! I'm going to help you get back your name, and your body, and your friends!"

"What about your sisters?" She looked slightly worried before she quickly shook her head.

"That's ok! Don't worry about my problems…I'm not sure I really want to stay with my sisters anymore anyway…I've seen some things that make me realize maybe I don't need to be treated like that…and you helping me out confirms it! Besides, you helped me, so I'll help you. It's the right thing to do." As though to punctuate her stance, she stepped forward and kissed me on the cheek, making me stand there stupefied as her face turned a nice shade of crimson...I have no idea how to respond to that gesture.

"…Thank you. I appreciate it a lot." I said, deciding to fall back on a simple response. She nodded.

"Well then, let's go!" I didn't feel entirely good about deceiving Vivian about who I was, but she seemed like a nice girl…better than her sisters at least, and I was going to need all the help I could get if I wanted to take down that double and get my body back!