Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Mari loved her little brother.

Of her earliest memories, she remembers standing at his doorway, holding hands with her mother as they looked to a crib beneath the window. Tiny giggles and incoherent babbles filled the room, and Mari sent her mother a questioning glance. 

The grand window above the crib had been opened to let light in, crimson curtains waltzing lazily with the summer breeze. Outside, Mari could hear the trees whispering softly, gossiping with curious leaves as rays of sunlight capered about the floor. Before she'd even seen his face, it felt like the universe was telling her.

Don't worry, he'll be perfect.

As they crept closer, the hand unoccupied by her mother pulled her over the edge to peak inside. The little girl's eyes met pale, chubby cheeks tinted pink, framed by round eyes and unruly hair as dark as her own. She stuck a tentative finger into one of his cheeks, testing the resistance before startling as the baby abruptly latched on. 

Grasping her finger, he stared silently as if studying her face. She wasn't sure what expression to put on, so she smiled as gently as she could. At the sight, the baby returned it instantly, resuming his joyous giggles as he jerked her finger about in his excitement. Mari guessed by his grip that he'd grow up to be a very strong boy. She turned to her mother, asking for a name.

Sunny. 

Mari understood.

It was perfect for him. 

Barely having met him, she knew his name would reflect the person he'd surely become. Bright and warm, a source of light to those around him. Now, like a gift from the universe itself, Mari had a sun of her own.

From that day on, she knew it'd be her duty to protect him. To be his guardian, mentor and loving older sister. This was her new little brother, her new family. In that moment, as giggles sounded in her ears, she made a promise to herself. Mari was never going to let him down. She was always going to be there for him, keep him safe, and love him. 

Just like a good big sister should.

Chapter Text

Mari blinked the sleep from her eyes, listlessly studying the cracks and cobweb-decorated corners of her ceiling. Her window glowed a dull grey, and her alarm clock only seemed to grow louder with every screech. Rising with a yawn and a balled up fist, she leaned towards her nightstand. Delivering a quick punch to the clock’s head, her room grew silent again. Mari sighed, plopping back against her pillow. Outside, the sun was trying its best to rise, desperate rays all seemingly blocked off by livid quilts of cloud. Summer had begun, yet its entry was unnaturally dreary. She peeled off her covers before sliding to the floor into worn, violet slippers and exiting her room, pivoting right to head up the stairs. Reaching the landing, her eyes trailed to her mother’s door. 

I should check on her.

Carefully, Mari approached, hesitant fingers hovering over the knob before it swung open. Shocked at the sight of each other, the pair flinched before sharing amused sighs.

“Oh! Morning, Dear. Is everything alright?” The woman’s smile twisted in Mari’s stomach like spoiled milk. Coldly, she couldn’t help but wonder when that face would stop taunting her. 

It was the same one she’d been getting for the past four years. The one that asked a million questions without ever answering a single one. The one that did nothing but push away concern. The one that danced beneath its strings of lies, that kept telling Mari everything is going to be okay.

“Mari?” Her eyes snapped back to her mother’s face, not realizing her trailing gaze, before mirroring that perfect smile.

“Of course! I was just gonna check on you, sorry…” She shook her head sheepishly with an airy chuckle as though the thought was silly. Something flashed behind the woman’s eyes before pearly whites could quickly cover up the truth.

“Oh, I’m quite alright, my love. Have you eaten yet?”

“I only just got up.”

“Well, what would you like for breakfast? You can pick something special this morning, aaanything you like.” A glint of what looked like hope lit up her mother’s eyes, and Mari couldn’t bring herself to dim that light so early in the morning. She’d only just returned to Faraway yesterday, she could spare to grant the woman this one, small thing.

“I guess… pancakes? Could be nice?” Her request ended like it was more of a question, but it was all that was needed. Before she could protest, Mari was ushered back to the top of the stairs. Her mother took the first few steps before looking back, recognizing the absence of another set of feet. Her daughter stood there without a word, staring down the steps with empty, distant eyes. 

Mari’s seeing something again...

The mask Ms. Kamon had so expertly crafted to perfection began to crack, and Mari’s eyes shot up to meet her mothers as if sensing it. She fixed her own face the best she could, but her next attempt at speech proved a smile would do little to help her case.

“M’fine. I’ll be… down soon. Need to… shower, and stuff.” Her speech slowly descended into mumbles as she turned to the bathroom, giving the woman on the stairs her back. At this, her mother's smile pressed into a crooked line, a shoddy attempt at the face she’d previously worn. Nodding wordlessly, she descended to make her way to the kitchen. 

Mari paused to peer over her shoulder, watching the woman’s finger disappear into the living room with a dry gulp. She closed her eyes, sucking in a breath before holding it there.

Don’t look, Mari. There’s no point in looking. Just wait it out like usual.

Something had been… sitting on the final step before rolling towards her room. Her ribs were doing all they could to keep her heart in place, but it hammered violently against its confines. She hadn’t seen anything since leaving for college, so why now? Was it from being back in Faraway?

Something, pale and clammy, caked in mud, was watching her, from afar. Whispering, from up close. Something meant for her ears, quieter than she could ever hear.

She opened her eyes, thoughtlessly turning to the source.

Peeking through the crack of her old bedroom door, a single eye stared back at her. Mari’s heart sank, blood running cold before she wordlessly bolted into the bathroom. With a slam and the twist of a lock, she pressed her back against the door, fighting to catch her breath as the stars in her vision danced. 

There’s no point in thinking about it.

It was her mantra of choice as she brushed her teeth, eyes careful to avoid the person in the mirror. When she was done, she tossed her toothbrush in a dingy mug, reading Kiss the Cook. A splash of frigid water hit her face with cupped hands, and what remained slipped through her fingers. Staring into the sink as her lashes dripped rhythmically, Mari found herself entranced by the impending doom of a stray hair. She paused to watch it circle its way round, vainly delaying the inevitable before falling to its end. She turned to the tub. The spout roared deafeningly, steam billowing into the air, and Mari sank. Staring up at the ceiling through the water, floating peacefully beneath the surface.

It's nice here.

She was warm, feverish almost, and her lungs began to tighten. 

It's like I'm…

Her eyes drifted closed. A distant violin sang out a pretty tune, looping. 

Somewhere else…

Sounds of laughter echoed in her head, and Mari felt herself begin to melt. 

Somewhere…

Losing sense of where she ended and the water began, her lungs sighed out what little they had left. She opened her eyes, calmly watching the bubbles rise above.

“Mari.”

It was barely above a whisper, but Mari jerked, hand bursting from the surface to grasp the edge of the tub. She gasped, wiping her face to survey her surroundings as water coated the floor.

Nothing. 

Mari left the tub, grabbing her towel to return to her room. It was peaceful on her way back down the stairs. She did not look towards that door. Maybe if she tried hard enough, it’d disappear. Staring out the grand window, the sun had finally succeeded in piercing the clouds. The breeze was gentle, and she closed her eyes to listen as the trees rustled. She opened one eye to peak down at the rug beside her bed. In the midst of black fuzz, shaped like a cartoon cat, Mewo’s eyes opened. 

I must’ve disturbed one of her many naps. 

A fond feeling tugged at Mari's lips as she knelt to pet the cat's fuzzy head. Mewo began to purr before flopping onto her side, stretching to let her stomach be caressed.

“Aren't you the sweetest girl?” Mari cooed, and the cat meowed curtly as if agreeing; she was the sweetest girl. She looked up to her nightstand as Mewo made herself busy, sitting up to alternate between nibbling and licking her fingers. Giving her one final scratch behind the ears, she rose to get dressed before returning for the item. The creature's eyes followed her hands, greedily hoping for more pets. Rubbing a thumb over the silk in her palm, Mari admired her mother's handiwork. It was a pale, violet eye patch with frilled edges to match. Carefully, she placed it around her neck, hair flowing out and over the straps. The band snapped over her neck as she closed her right eye to fix it carefully over her face. She turned back to her the cat, hands on each hip in a triumphant stance.

"Am I pretty today too, Mewo?" Green eyes blinked at her nonchalantly, and she chirped before bringing a paw to her face for cleaning.

Not exactly the most enthusiastic answer, but Mari would take it nonetheless. Leaving for the living room, she turned swiftly into the kitchen. Vanilla and cinnamon wafted through the air as she stared at her mother's back.

“Need any help, Mom?” A startled head whipped back to Mari in surprise before returning to watch over a freshly-poured pancake.

“It's okay, Dear. Go on, sit.” Mari wordlessly obeyed, a bit dismayed as her mother continued.

"You've been gone for so long, and I'm sure it's felt even longer for everyone in Faraway. Just focus on taking things slow this summer! The age of all-nighters is finally over! You're free! So get lots of rest and have tons of fun, okay? Oh, I'm so proud of you…" Ms. Kamon trailed off and Mari's heart sank. She had no clue just how difficult those instructions were.

Especially here…

When she didn't respond, her mother turned back, and Mari quickly fixed a comforting grin on her face before any lingering truths could be discovered.

"Okay!" The conversation took a pause, and Mari could hear the gears turning in her mother's head as she frantically searched for something to say.

"Kel still stops by every now and then!" Mari's heart sank deeper. "Asks about you as well! Such a sweet boy, that Kel." 

It was getting harder to fake a happy face, her eyes glued to the floor as her mother turned back to assess her.

"Yeah, he's… a good kid." Mari looked up in surprise as porcelain clinked against the counter. Three fluffy pancakes topped with syrup and a melted slab of butter slid towards her on a familiar plate. Her mom smiled softly with a tilted head.

"Look at you, talking like some old man... You're only twenty, my dear! In my eyes, you'll still be a kid for a looooong time." She slid cutlery on a napkin forward before delivering orders.

"Eat up and tell me how I did." A nervous chuckle. "I might be a little rusty." Mari took a bite. The warmth traveled straight to her chest. Her mother's pancakes were perfectly moist, sweet and salty. The taste was comfortable and… painfully nostalgic.

Don't. Don't, don't, don't, don't—

"Baby?" Her mother's tone grew alarmed as a stray tear slipped down her cheek faster than she could dispose of. Before she could try to plead her wellbeing, her cheek was smooshed against her mother's chest. A hand cupped her head protectively, the other tight over her shoulder as the familiar scent of perfume wafted off of her.

"It's okay, honey. Mommy's always gonna be here, okay?" Mari could sense more tears rolling in at the words. She didn't want to know what they meant. She didn't...

Freezing up, her eyes became unfocused as she felt her head turn to cotton. Ms. Kamon felt her daughter tense, pulling back to look into Mari's face. Recognizing the expression, the woman urged her own tears back into her skull, blinking rapidly at the ceiling. 

She knew Mari was... hard to reach when she made that face. She went quiet and was unresponsive from anywhere between a couple seconds to a minute. And when she came back to...

"Mom?" She met her daughter's gaze again, and she was never prepared for the aftermath. The girl's eyes were completely dry, brows knit with confusion like the tear, now a small drop on Ms. Kamon’s shirt, had never fallen to begin with.

"What's wrong?" Mari looked down at the plate, and her brow furrowed. Blinking, she quickly guessed her mother must've wanted the first bite. A taste test before Mari ate, perhaps.

"Nothing, dear." Ms. Kamon tried for her best smile, rapidly blinking away proof of the contrary, and Mari tried to keep her face from falling at the sight.

There’s that face again.

"Eat your food, now. It'll get cold." Her tone was strange as she turned back to the sink to take care of the dishes, and Mari's attention fell back to her plate. Dejectedly picking up her fork, she downed her food with the hint of a frown. 

When she brought her empty plate to the sink with rolled-up sleeves, her mother took it, ignoring her pout. 

"Oh, it's one plate." The woman shook her head affectionately, a hint of a real smile finding its way back. "So, what are your plans for the summer? Not to stay cooped up in that room, I hope." Mari withered.

There goes that plan…

Her mom noticed. "Maybe if Kel comes by–" She paused with a silent huff at her daughter's stony expression.

"I know things must've been… hard, in the past, but, do give Kel a chance, okay? The boy seems lonely. And I know deep down you must miss your friends, even if it's only a little."

Mari stared at her slippers now, processing. Giving Kel a chance… She could probably do that, right? After all, it's not like he was at fault for any of the things that happened four years ago, he was just… a poor kid caught in the crossfire.

Well, all five of them were. 

She could distinctly remember Kel’s smile; always the brightest. To imagine it leaving because of her, again, was painful. She’d loved that about him, she just never got the chance to say it. If that contagiously happy boy she once knew was gone… Guilt settled like a stone in her throat, and her mother took her hands, long since dried as the sink sat free of dishes.

"Just... try to give everything a chance, okay? Your life is only just beginning. If the doors you once loved remain open, think carefully before closing them. The last thing anyone wants or needs in life is regret." Ms. Kamon’s logic turned the gears in her head before she tried for her bravest smile. Mari felt like her entire life had consisted of nothing but regret... 

But…

"You're right."

The last thing she needed was more, right? The woman beamed at her, pulling her into a hug with a tiny squeal and Mari's eyes rolled, lips sheepishly curling upwards. 

"You go get ready, honey. Kel always comes around this time. I'll be off at work a little earlier than usual today, but if you need me, I'm a phone call away." Mari nodded before making her way back to her bedroom, stomach full of pancakes and butterflies. She stopped at the living room to admire the sun's conquest of the sky as the room was painted in a warm, orange hue. 

Maybe butterflies are too cheery.

Moths. Moths are fitting.

Mari was excited, but ultimately terrified by the idea of reuniting with her old friends. Kel was probably the only one among them still willing to speak to her. How could she possibly reconcile with Aubrey, with Basil? With... 

She cut that thought short, trudging back to her room with worry weighing her footsteps. 

In the corner, she shifted through clothes on a metal rack. She landed upon a violet lace top adorned with a black ribbon at the neck, and a long plaid skirt to match the ribbon. Despite the heat of the summer sun, she grabbed a black scarf to cover up the scar on her neck. Mari wasn't one to get hot easily, and the mark raised too many questions, none of which she was willing to answer. Her eye patch brought about more than enough unwanted attention. She paused, catching sight of herself in a full-body mirror in the corner. The urge to look away was overwhelming, but Mari couldn't break her stare as her thoughts raced.

What if Kel doesn't come today... or ever? Could I really blame him if he decided to avoid the house today, knowing who'll be here all summer? What if Mom's got it wrong?

"I'm heading out now, dear! Have a good day!"

"You too, Mom! Be safe! Love you!"  But the front door had already closed. Mari sighed, she must be in a rush.

Flopping into bed, her eyes traveled back to that grand window. A warm breeze fluttered against the scarlet cloth, spreading them like wings. Mari hoped, no, prayed , that this summer would be bearable. There were a lot of wounds she left to fester in Faraway, nevermind her own. She could manage so long as they never came back to bite her; maybe even do some healing this time around?

The idea made her scoff.

Eyes drooping, she was lulled by the woodland euphony before a doorbell sounded and Mari went rigid. She hadn't heard that sound in a long time. Too long. She remembered her mother's words. Think carefully before closing any doors, right? Mari could do that. She opened her own to make way towards the entrance. Nervous hands hovered over the knob before she steeled herself, swinging it open. 

Kel stood at the door, a knocking hand frozen in midair as his eyes went wide as saucers. The brunette’s mouth hung agape as they stood in shared silence before a familiar voice cut through it like a knife.

"Woah! Mari! You're here!" She smiled softly as the awkward tension dissipated, such was Kel's effect.

"I-I'm sorry, I just never expected it to be you! It's been four years and well... I guess Ms. Kamon did mention you'd be coming back this summer. I just... woah! Haha, it's you!" He scratched the back of his neck with that Kel-like smile and Mari took the time to inspect him. He wore an orange hoodie and jean shorts, neck laced by chunky headphones. His hair was longer and put up into a half-pony, and to Mari's surprise, his ears were pierced, counting four in total. A white and orange schoolbag hung off his shoulders, and Mari noted his outfit coordination; nothing like the Kel she'd first met. She remembers when he'd show up to their house excitedly in outfits mixing all kinds of colors and patters, just to show Sunny, and the embarrassed 

"You look great, Kel. Those piercings really suit you." Mari spoke softly and his smile merely widened.

"Aw, shucks. Thanks, Mari! I bet you can imagine my mom's face when she saw them..." Mari giggled at the idea of a fuming Mrs. Oliveira, before stopping herself from wondering about... other family members. She tried not to let the sullenness show on her face, but Kel wasn't a kid anymore. Perceptive, he changed the topic accordingly.

"So... I uh, originally came to check on your mom, but since you're back in town," he gently bumped a fist against her shoulder. "We should go out today! Have fun! Like we used to! I, uhm..." 

Kel's eyes fell before shooting back up quickly. "I know it might not be as much fun with just the two of us... But I promise to make things as enjoyable as possible!" He drew a convicted fist to his chest, taught brows now facing the sun before softening at the sound of Mari's giggles. Her mother's words echoed in her head again as a desperate look gleamed in his eyes.

"The boy seems... lonely."

Mari could understand that feeling better than most, she was a lot lonelier than she'd ever willingly admit. 

"Well it's not all up to you," She took a step back, gesturing Kel inside. "We'll figure out a plan together. I'm the eldest after all!" She faked a proud voice, turning her neck and crossing her arms to nod. Kel had already flopped onto the living room couch, quick to make himself at home.

"Woohoo!" He cheered, and Mari couldn't help the grin taking over her face. "This is gonna be awesome! I can just taste it! The Orange Joe! The—" Kel's pumped fist froze as he watched Mari’s face fall.

“W-what?”

"Orange Joe, Kel? Still?"

"Hey! It's the best flavor there is!" 

"Didn't the production company shut down years ago...?" 

"Heh, the vending machine by the park never seemed to get that memo. I've been holding off on the last of those bad boys for a special occasion. Like this." Kel chuckled, a smug finger now rubbing across his philtrum.

"Kel... that's so gross." Mari was laughing heartily now. 

"I can't knock it until I try it one last time, and today's the perfect day!" She shook her head at his energy. To her relief, it seemed the past four years hadn't put a damper on his sunny personality. Good , she thought, the world is already suffering a shortage of Kels.

He rested his head back on the couch. Catching her sinking gaze, he smiled encouragingly as their eyes met. He didn't say anything, just continued to smile as if sensing the darkness of Mari's thoughts and chasing them away with a broom.

"This place is just like I remember." Kel snuggled into himself on the couch, akin to a cat. A meow sounded from the doorway leading to the stairs, and there sat Mewo, dutifully inspecting the intruder.

"Mewo! Man I haven't seen you in forever, girl, c'mere!" Kel spread his arms wide in her direction, and the cat merely blinked, uninterested, before retreating into the house. The intruder was safe, just not worth her full acknowledgment it seemed. He chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his neck with a hand. "Yup. That's Mewo alright..." Mari huffed air from her nostrils.

"She is a bit of an old lady now..."

"Is your mom here? I wouldn't wanna leave without saying hello!” She shook her head.

"She left for work just this morning, right before you came. I'm surprised you didn't see her in the driveway, she must've been in a real hurry." Kel threw his limbs out at his sides before flopping lazily in a show of disappointment.

"Awe... Well, I can probably catch her when we come back." 

Mari noticed the watch on Kel's wrist. "What time is it?"

“Ten past nine, why?”

"She usually comes back between six or seven. So you can always say hello when we get back." Kel grinned, rising off the couch. 

"Cool! Your mom makes the best food in Faraway, by the way, and don't tell my mom I said that." His fist was back in the air. "New adventures, here we come!" He boomed, band-marching for the exit before turning back to Mari.

"If you need an extra minute, I'll be outside! Mom told me it's always polite to give a lady an extra minute." And he was out.

Mari blinked, did she need an extra minute? She guessed it couldn't hurt to bring her backpack and pocketbook. Kel was the kid between them after all, Mari would pay for anything they needed along the way. Except Orange Joe, she refused to be held responsible by Mr and Mrs. Oliviera for poisoning their son. Carding through her nightstand drawer, she decided to decorate her eyepatch with a black cat pin her mother had gifted her one Christmas. There'd been no one to celebrate with but her and Mewo, but they still made it work. Pinning it to her patch, she replaced the metal backing with a softer one. Plastic and shaped to cup her eye without causing any discomfort. She'd made it in an arts and crafts event at her college to fit all the pins she owned.

It was something Mari'd forced herself to attend in hopes of making... friends, acquaintances, anything really. But she ended up keeping to herself the entire time, like she usually did. Benefiting from her own creation was nice enough, though. Looking in the mirror, she nodded at the finishing touch before turning back to Mewo, who was loafed on the windowsill. She meowed before receiving the usual question and Mari giggled softly.

"It does make all the difference, doesn't it? You would know, huh, pretty girl?" She went over to give the cat a quick scratch under the chin before heading back to the front door. Shouldering her bag into position, she called out a goodbye to Mewo before meeting Kel outside.

"So, where to?" Kel shoved his hands in his hoodie pouch and Mari pondered. 

"Hobbeez? Maybe you could introduce me to your favorite comic?" Kel brightened at the suggestion, eyes closing with his smile.

"Great idea! You have to read Charm Kingdom Chronicles. Now look, It might seem a bit girly on a surface level, but—"

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Well…” Kel’s eyes darkened for a moment before brightening again.

“Not for you…” He chuckled, trailing off before Mari spoke again.

“But for you?” 

Despite refusing to give up his smile, Kel grew silent and Mari’s bottom lip scrunched.

“Has someone told you it was?” The boy’s smile started to falter, eyes jittering nervously as he attempted to dodge Mari’s unwavering stare, turning around.

“N-not necessarily…” Mari couldn't see his face, but that shaky tone of voice was enough to make her heart sink.

“Well it's not. Okay?” She spoke firmly, and Kel startled at the volume in her voice. It wasn't loud at all, but she knew it must've been the loudest Kel’s heard her in years.

“O-okay. Anyway! The plot’s, uhm, really interesting! And the MC’s super funny! I think you'll really like it!” Kel’s bright expression returned, quickly glossing over what'd happened. Mari chose to let it go, for now. She'd have all summer to find out what was troubling Kel.

"MC?" Mari had already heard of the series. In the city of her college, advertisements for the comic had been plastered against loads of trams and buses. She remembers thinking in passing that the pink-haired character on most of the promotional material was rather adorable. 

"Main character. Oh, we have a lot of catching up to do." Kel grinned as they started to walk, making their way to Hobbeez.

As they neared the park entrance, Mary noticed a large group of kids gathered by the basketball court. Kel glowered, turning his head with a scoff.

"Ugh, the Hooligans are out. Just keep ignoring them. Doubt they'll bother us from over here, though." Kel's eyes squinted ahead before he zeroed in on a nearby vending machine, gasping in excitement.

"Mari! Look! Orange Joe!" 

"Kelsey Oliviera. I am not—"

"Mari?"

Kel's shout had turned two heads among the Hooligans. Mari's heart sunk at the familiar heads of black and blonde.

Aubrey… Basil...

As the two neared, Mari fought the urge to run for the hills and leave Kel in the dust. Aubrey wore a black, cropped tee and denim mini shorts. Around her neck, a dog tag with a familiar photograph clinked in tandem with her steps and the tail of her pink jacket flew in the wind. Thick, black boots, rimmed with silver spikes thumped in her approach, pink socks peeking out from over them. Behind her, Basil followed quietly in plaid khakis and a white dress shirt adorned with a forest-green tie. He wore a jacket that matched Aubrey's in the same shade of green, black gloves and scarf covering his hands and neck. His hair had grown out, scruffier now, and Mari could see their ears had all been pierced. Aubrey faced Kel first with an unsavory expression before jerking her head back to Mari. Black pigtails swished to shoot her a painful glare, and Basil stared on silently, face blank. 

"Ha! I almost can't believe it. Look who's actually back, out and about at that! What, college life wasn't big enough of a distraction?" Her tone was venomous, and Kel’s eyes narrowed angrily.

"Aubrey... It's summer vacation." He bit back a frown, failing at Aubrey's tone.

"Summer classes exist." She snapped, and the lump in Mari's throat only grew.

"Who wants to be in school over the summer? You're not even making sense."

Basil remained silent, unintelligible eyes stuck on Mari. Fear grew in her gut like ivy, thorny vines grasping, pulling, scratching at her intestines. Retreating into her thoughts served to be no pacifier.

They hate me after all…

"Mari hasn't done anything to deserve your shit, Aubrey! What's your deal?" Kel was getting heated now.

"No," Aubrey shoved past him to thrust a finger into Mari's chest. The force behind her poke left a stinging feeling behind. 

"What's her deal? You expect me to forget how her and that freak ruined what little happiness we had left?" The dog tag on her chest jingled, and Sunny stared up at them as she poked with every pointed word. 

Kel’s voice grew dark, looking down with an unreadable expression. “Hero is a separate issue.”

"Not to me." Aubrey gained on her with every retreating step, and Mari was trying her best not to cry. She knew it wouldn't help the situation. She didn't want to frame herself as a victim when these kids were the real victims, even Hero was...

Please don't. Not now. Not now!

A tear fell from her cheek, and Aubrey backed away, shock overtaking her features. 

"You've gone too far, Aubrey." Kel stood between them, a protective hand outstretched before Mari. None of them noticed the cloud fogging her eyes. Her brain felt like cotton again, and when she looked up, she grew confused at the sight before her.

"Aubrey? Basil?" She blinked, anxiety twisting in her gut at the sight of them.

This soon?

Her mother had said a lot about doors, but Mari could only handle one at a time. This was... too much.

She felt like barfing as they all turned to her, faces knit with confusion.

"What are you... What are we... doing here? Kel? I thought we were headed to Hobbeez? Why are we..." Kel turned back to Aubrey and Basil, eyes wide with what seemed like... concern? Shock? Mari was a bit too disoriented to assess anything properly.

Aubrey's furious eyes grew teary, fists clenching as Basil's gaze sullenly shifted to the ground.

"Is this some kind of joke ?" She spat, voice strained. Kel's head whipped between the three of them, unsure of what to say.

He chose to ignore Aubrey, settling his gaze on Mari as he approached her slowly with tentative hands in the air.

"Mari, are you okay? Do you not... remember what just happened?" Mari grew fearful, shaking her head. 

Did she forget something? That much appeared clear as she searched for the memory of their meeting in her head, drawing blanks.

"I..." She froze to search their faces, but found no answers among thinly pressed lips and wrinkled brows. "I don't understand."

"Aubrey, it's clear you have your issues with Mari. But she's not in any state to deal with this right now. Look at her, Aubrey!" Kel grew angry again, gesturing towards her frightened disposition. The girl turned away bitterly, a pigtail shielding her scowl as she muttered. 

“It's not my fault she’s turned into some freak.” Mari flinched, hands flying up to her chest defensively.

“C’mon, Basil. Let's go.” Aubrey turned to stomp away, the blonde on her tail. He only turned to shoot the pair a rueful glance before returning to the Hoolingans.

"Mari?" She ripped her eyes away from their shrinking figures, turning back to a worried-looking Kel.

"What... just happened? Did I do something to make everyone upset?" Mari's grew quieter with every voiced concern, and Kel quickly put a hand over her head, patting. Despite the strangeness of the gesture, she found it strangely comforting.

"You did nothing wrong, Mari. Trust me. Those two..." He lowered his arm before looking down, disappointment evident on his face.

"After Sunny died... they changed. Aubrey's home life wasn't the best, and after Hero..." Kel's eyes went wide as Mari jerked.

"Sorry... I'm sure you already know all about him." He spoke with a certain disdain before continuing.

"When... he wasn't around anymore, Aubrey and Basil got a lot closer, but their duo just became... I dunno... impenetrable, I guess? I just... didn't know how to get close to them anymore. I just seemed to piss Aubrey off, and Basil... I'm never sure what's on his mind anymore. He only ever speaks to her and the other Hooligans. The rest of the time, he's like that. " Kel explained, turning to dejectedly kick a stray pebble into the road.

It skidded off the sidewalk before facing the doom of a moving car, tire splitting it into pieces.

"I see." Mari wasn't sure what more to say. Despite Kel's prior words, she couldn't help but deem her own thoughts to be the truth.

It's all my fault.

"But, hey! This is no time to sit around feeling gloomy! We were off to Hobbeez so I could introduce you to: the amazing, the wonderful, the once-you-put-your-nose-in-you-can't-take-it-back-out, Charm Kingdom Chronicles!" Kel made fancy gestures with each bout of praise, before spreading both arms wide and looking up to the sky dramatically.

Mari blinked before her laughter returned. 

"Kel, what was that?"

"What, you didn't like it? Mom said I could be a TV host someday." Mari only giggled harder. 

"I... I can see it."

"Really?" The boy beamed. "Hey, forget about those two. To Hobbeez?" He put a hand over his stomach, kneeling down to gesture Mari forward as if she were royalty.

"Kel... stand up. Let's go." She deadpanned, barely holding back another laugh. As they continued, the park disappeared behind them, and Mari couldn't help but believe the words floating around in her head.

It's all my fault.

The pair had finally arrived at Hobbeez, passing whispering forests, speeding vehicles and a singular stray "Recyclist." 

When he began his speech, Mari came to the sudden realization that recycling in Faraway was a pretty big deal. She'd never known.

Kel held the door open for her, and the bell above it jingled a friendly greeting. She stopped to rub his head, deeming him a little gentleman. Kel protested that he was no longer little. 

"You'll always be Baby Kel in my eyes." She giggled and the brunette grumbled in response. 

"What're you, fifty? I'm gonna pretend you never said that... Oh! Mari, look! Charm Kingdom Chronicles!" Kel rushed over to the catalog of comics, pulling one out in glee, its cover gleaming a dark pink. Mari calmly followed after him, and the two sat at a long table at the right end of the store to begin reading. Kel opened up the comic, and together they fell into Princess Queen Charmie's realm. As the story goes, she was the semi-immortal queen of a vast candy land, inhabited by citizens who took the form of various vegetables.

Mari imagined the idea of a personified brussels sprout and repressed a shiver of disgust.

The "princess" queen was a pretty young woman with bright pink hair and pastel sprinkles adorning her coily pigtails. Kel hungrily pointed out that her hair looked like ice cream. 

The woman journeyed through vast lands, beaches of sandy brown sugar and volcanic terrains flooded with melted taffy passing her by. Atop her head sat a golden tiara, set with 6 heart-shaped gems that, according to Kel, shuffled with her mood. Mari learned through the queen's dreams that something lay in destruction of not only her mortality, but the mortality of her very universe. As she strayed further from her native land, her surroundings grew stranger. She met with chatty flowers as tall as tow trucks and fields of grass in pretty shades of pink.

At some point on her adventure, she came across a blue barn in the shape of a castle, and in it, a giant, talking, blue elephant named Rosazul who ruled over a hidden kingdom of animals. He informed Charmie of a vision much like her own, and together they set out to find leaders from each corner of the universe, hoping to uncover more details behind the oncoming calamity. The comic book's first volume ended...

Kel leaned back in his chair, sighing dreamily with a mystical look in his eyes. "Isn't it great?"

Mari nodded, and to the boy's delight, admitted to her investment. She wanted to know more of the dangers threatening Charmie and Rosazul's universe. Kel rose from his seat to retrieve the second volume of the series as a voice boomed from behind the register, stopping him in his tracks. 

"Yo! I see you, Kel. You know the rules, no reading past the first volume unless you're making a purchase." The brunette groaned, turning to the shopkeeper whose brows were now raised high above his frames. 

"Pedro, c'mon! It's Mari's first day back in town after four years! Can't you spare us from capitalism until volume two? Just this once?" Kel tried for puppy-dog eyes and failed miserably, ignored. 

"Oh, woah! Mari! How's it going, champ? It has been a while, hasn't it? Be sure to send Ms. Kamon my greetings." His eyes shifted back to Kel's now hunched figure. "Maybe you have enough money for this knucklehead, who has been very much aware of my One Volume Rule ." She laughed airily at the man's pointed tone, pushing herself from the table to make her way towards the counter. Shifting her backpack over her stomach, she unzipped it to retrieve her pocketbook. 

"Volume two, pretty please?" Mari held out a twenty dollar bill, having previously spotted the price beneath the first volume's barcode. The man's lips twisted with a hint of displeasure before shooing the bill with a hand. 

"You know what? It's on the house, Mari. As a welcome-back-to-town gift. I hope to see you out and about more often this summer." His tone turned parental, brows raising again as Mari's arm lowered hesitantly. 

"Hey!" Kel shouted in protest, ignored again.

"Are you sure, Pedro? It's really no trouble..." 

"Don't insult me." Her arm had raised again, and he pushed the bill away, gaze avoidant like the sight of money hurt his eyes. "I never flake my on-the-houses. Just don't come around here expecting any more though, Kel ." He spoke pointedly, eyes shifting to the boy in question who threw his arms in the air, incredulous.

"Wh—, me?" Mari reeled in a snort.

"Kel, have you been refusing to pay Pedro these past four years?" She faked a face of suspicion, tilting her head in Kel's direction. 

"Mari! You're taking his side over mine?!" At this, her giggles were released, and a hand outstretched to ruffle his hair. "You're so silly, Kel."

He pouted at the treatment, yet kept his head perfectly still, shooting Pedro the occasional glare.

"Hey, but seriously. It's nice to see you doing well since the last time I saw you. Feel free to come back for more volumes if Princess Queen Charmie gets ya hooked. N' make sure this hooligan comes back with enough on him to stop breaking my rule."

"Hooligan? Oh, I'll show you a hooligan you cheap old—" Mari smacked a hand over Kel's mouth as his complaints streamed out, muffled underneath a palm. "Don't worry, Pedro. I'll keep this hooligan out of trouble for you!"

The man snorted, waving them away before returning to his work behind the register, Mari dragging Kel by the sleeve as they left.

"That Pedro... How come I never get anything on-the-house?" He grumbled as the bell jingled a goodbye, and Mari's laughter returned. 

"Probably because you've read over fifty bucks worth in comics without paying more than fifteen." Mari tutted in faux disappointment, putting a hand to her hip and shaking her head.

"Hey! He'll get his money one day! When I'm... ready for a job, that is." Kel's speech began confidently before falling flat, dejected eyes now glued to the floor. Mari fondly shook her head at the sight.

"Just consider me your wallet for the summer." She stated and the brunette's horrified eyes lifted slowly to meet hers. 

"No way! My mom would kill me if she knew I helped drain your bank account!" Kel protested and the ravenette faked a pout, "But, Kel... I worked so many shifts while I was away, and I have no one to spend money on besides Mom and Mewo. Can't I add you to the list? Pretty please? You were always like a little brother to me after all..."

His face flushed at the flattery and he looked away, mumbling. "Well, I guess I can't argue with that. You were always like... the big sister we never had."  He played with the hem of his shirt, grinning shyly. 

Mari stuttered in her stride, heart swelling as she pulled Kel in for a hug. Squeezing him with a loud coo before shaking him back and forth with excited hops.

"Ohhh, Kelsey! When'd you learn to be so sweet? So, what's our next plan of action? Wait! I think I already know." She pointed to his watch, filled with a newfound energy. "What time is it, now?" 

"It's almost three. Why? What're you in the mood for?

"If you don't mind... I'd like to stop by Fix-It and get my mom something nice, since she risked running late for work to make me breakfast this morning. I thought she might like a flower? I'm just not sure which kind yet." She chuckled nervously with a hand on her neck.

"That's really sweet, Mari! My mom used to love the flowers H—" Kel paused to reconstruct his sentence. "She really loves flowers as a gift! I'm sure your mom will too." Mari thoughtlessly glossed over the stumble, pinching and stretching his cheeks like the toy dough they played with as kids. The brunette pouted and she giggled at the sight.

"You're so smart, Kel. To Fix-It, then pizza?" He brightened up at the suggestion, attempting to nod before his smile died a second time, eyes now stuck on the hand Mari was still kneading his cheek with. 

"Mari... Let go of me..." He complained, and she smiled at the nostalgic sight, releasing him when a painful thought raced through her head quicker than she could catch. 

Kel looks a lot like him sometimes... 

She shook it from her head, ignoring the confused look she was given to saunter off towards the tool store. Ahead of Kel, she held it open and watched with amusement as he hurried through the doorway, waddling like a duckling. They took to the back of the store, and at the view, a wave of tranquility washed over her. It was peaceful, just like she remembered. The various plants on display aided in freshening the air, and light from the sun painted the floor with careful strokes. The two took their time gazing through the store's selections.

There were rows of cacti, bunches of gladioli, a rainbow of tulip starters and a sale on sunflower starters. Mari's eyes skipped over the rose bouquets, knowing her mother to be uninterested in grand gestures. She needed something simpler, but undoubtedly beautiful. Her eyes widened as they landed upon a gorgeous pastel flower ascending from a brown pot. Shades of soft purple and blue danced prettily around centers of white, and Mari bent to read the label: Guardian Lavender Delphinium. It was the prettiest flower she'd ever seen, and even Kel let out a low whistle as he stopped to stare beside her.

"Woah. Super pretty, right?" He broke the silence and Mari could only nod, unable to rip her gaze from the elegant array of colors. 

"I think Mom would really like this one."

"I think any mom would love that flower."

━━━━━⊱☂️⊰━━━━━ 

The pair had made a pit-stop at Othermart's bakery after refueling at Gino’s, promising to trade reviews on the treats they’d found. Their day of fun was now coming to a close. 

The sun made due on its promise to the moon, and a luminous amber melted into violet across the evening sky. As they neared the brunette's house, Mari's eyes zeroed in on a familiar silhouette facing Kel’s garage door and froze in her tracks, Kel following suit. Her gut twisted violently at the uncomfortable familiarity, and the person remained still as a corpse, brooding as if contemplating entry. A loud suck of the teeth could be heard, and the man whipped around with an expression Mari could only describe as dead before their eyes met. 

They flinched in sync like they'd been burned, Hero’s eyes blowing wide. Kel close behind Mari, glaring at his brother with silent eyes, watching his every move. Hero's face stiffened after recovering from shock, before morphing through a spectrum of emotions, landing on something sour. He scowled at them deeply before bolting down his driveway to step onto the sidewalk. 

"Dick..." The younger brother muttered under his breath, and Hero's neck jerked to shoot him a look before turning back, figure shrinking into the distance.

The encounter left Mari's heart hammering around in her chest. A million feelings pushed and shoved at her from within, terror, anguish, and nausea all coursing through her veins like lead. She wanted to hurl and run and cry and hurl some more. Kel noticed her state of distress and rushed to her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder in an attempt to steady her. Knowingly, he led her away from the house in the direction of her own without speaking a word. Mari knew it'd only been a few seconds, maybe even less than that, but when their eyes met... 

She tried to chase the panic from her mind, knowing it was only a matter of time until it took its physical toll. But no matter how hard she tried, the feeling lingered just long enough to coax a heavy sob from the depths of her stomach. Hero looked so furious, and his entire image was a drastic shift from the boy she remembered. Even his relationship with his brother was in tatters, and it was clearly all...

It's all my fault.

Mari couldn't help the sounds she'd begun to make, and Kel watched her heaving figure with alarm. Her tears were flowing rapidly now, and she failed despite her best efforts against crumpling into herself, knees meeting the gravel. Her hands had long since abandoned the flower pot, newly occupied in clutching desperately at her shirt as her lungs battled against sobs for oxygen in her chest. Clay and dirt turned to mush on the ground, and Kel dropped to the pavement beside her, his panicked voice curdling guilt in her stomach. Her vision began to tunnel, and Kel's voice had grown so far away she could no longer make out his words, hanging solely onto hints of emotion. 

He sounds so scared... the poor kid. He's been through so much and it's all my fault. It was the same back then, and even now, it's my fault all over again. All over again.

The shouting gave way to the sound of blood, roaring in her ears, taking her senses with it. In the midst of the chaos, her mother's voice sounded like a wind chime. She focused in on it, relaxation washing over her as a comfortable familiarity lead her into unconsciousness.

"Mari? Kel? What happened? Oh, baby everything's gonna be just fine, okay? Kel, Dear, please help me get her in—"

With the abrupt darkness came silence, and Mari floated comfortably through the oblivion, her mind finally at ease. 

Chapter Text

Where… am I?

Mari hadn't budged since opening her eyes. She'd never considered herself one to be afraid of the dark, but the sight before her was beyond all logic or reason. Despite her willingness to be brave, a pit lay in her stomach as she pushed herself from the floor. The space around her was pitch black, with miles of nothingness swallowing every inch of her vision. It left her on edge, knowing the situation left her vulnerable. How would she prepare for a threat she couldn’t even see? Mari looked down at her hands and blinked, coming to a realization.

Why can I see myself?

Taking notice of her clothing, she lifted her arms and spun for inspection. Around the collar of a plain, eggshell button-up sat a lavender ribbon, tied into a neat bow. Bending to look at her feet, Mari admired the shiny, black mary janes and frilly socks that peaked out from underneath a long skirt, matching her ribbon. A sense of familiarity tugged at the back of her mind as she stared, before her attention was derailed by the ring of smoke slowly encircling her.

She whipped her head and eyed the wisps wearily, nerves frayed as they joined to form a square, taking shape beneath her feet. A stone sat in her throat at the sight of a large, gingham blanket, crossed with red and white. Atop it sat a brown, woven basket, insides lined with matching fabric. Tears threatened to spill as she fell to her knees and lifted the lid, freezing to puzzle at the object inside.

Fingers curled around polished wood, careful as they lifted a strange chessboard into the air. It seemed brand new, completely untouched, but… Mari’s lips curled down as she brought the box closer before taking a tentative sniff. An unpleasant smell, earthy and rotten, was wafting from inside. She lifted the top, checking for pieces before slamming it closed with a violent gasp and launching it far into the abyss.

Hands flew to her mouth as she gagged, and nausea hit her like a brick. In fear of what’d come up, she lurched to the edge of the blanket, choking on every violent retch.

There were no pieces. She clutched at her shirt shakily, tears racing down her cheeks.

“You seem to be having trouble when it comes to remembering.”

…Why is this happening to me?

The sound of dragging wood echoed in her skull as she curled into herself, closing her eyes to suck in a breath.

What kind of nightmare is this?

“I can help you! If you want it from me, that is. But heed my warning. Seriously! Listen carefully, because I’ll never repeat myself again!” The tone was cheerful, yet Mari felt the opposite, going cold as a whisper blew against her ear.

“You’ll be in for a world of pain.”

Her lids peeled, and she went still at the sight of a mirror, sitting mere inches from her face. Body rigid with fear, she found herself unable to rip her eyes from the unsettling reflection. Set in ghoulish, clammy skin, unnaturally wide eyes framed bottomless pits the size of quarters. Her hair, despite how dry it felt on her head, was soaked and stuck to her face in thick strands, caked in clumps of…

When did I get all this mud on me?

She lifted a hand to her cheek, feeling her face for confirmation. There was no mud, no sweat to explain the glossy sheen, and she definitely wasn’t smiling.

So why…

Mari brought a hesitant hand up to the mirror, and her reflection opened its maw impossibly wide, softly biting down on her finger. She flew back with a shriek as her heart jackhammered, only pumping faster when the girl backed away with an impish grin.

“What? Afraid I’d bite it off and put it with the others?” Mari stared, unresponsive.

“Don’t worry! The box isn't for you.” The other Mari's smile grew wider with every step she took to shorten the distance between them, lifeless eyes forming crescents at the sight of her terrified state. Her reflection threw its head back, cackling as the girl beneath her began to crawl away.

“C’mooooon.” The sound of skipping grew louder behind her, and Mari flinched when muddy feet stomped petulantly, inches away from her hand. She looked up, met with a head tilted so far it hurt to look at, and an innocent pout that didn't fit her clone’s face. “I thought you liked scary things...”

“I–I don't understand. What's going on? Who are you?” Mari attempted to escape again before her reflection shouted.

“STOP!” She stilled instantly, realizing how much creepier her evil twin was without a smile. As if the girl could hear her thoughts, her lips pulled back into a toothless grin. “Right… there…”

“I heard that.” Lips tinted blue pursed into a pout. “You're a real meanie, y’know.” She brushed a string of hair behind her ear with pruny fingers, batting her lashes with a false air of innocence. “M’ not evil…” Mari wanted to glare at the bashful glance sent her way, but only froze when the creature flashed another joyless smile.

“Unless you are.”

Mari lifted a trembling finger in the girl’s direction, finding the courage to argue.

“You’re n-not me.”

“OF COURSE I AM, silly!” She flinched at the volume, hand falling limply at her side as the pale girl's face fell flat. Leaning down to meet her eyes, she inched close enough that Mari could feel her breath.

It was cold.

“You wished for this. Remember?” Her voice dropped uncharacteristically low, whispers filled with malice that twisted Mari’s stomach with an untraceable sense of guilt. They stared into each other, and the silence began to suffocate before her clone shot upright with abrupt glee.

“What am I saying, of course you don’t! It’s okay, though! That doesn’t matter right now! What matters is that.” As she turned to point into the abyss, a jarring crash thundered in the distance. Mari followed her finger and squinted, eyes widening as something blue twinkled not far away. Her clone lent a hand, smile unmoving as she watched Mari hesitate repeatedly before accepting it. She was helped from the ground rather gently, and her brows raised when she felt a playful shove. The clone’s clammy hand waved her away, silently urging her towards the source of the noise.

Unnerved by the sudden lack of speech, Mari obliged, paranoid as she turned to shoot her strange twin the occasional glance. The clone only smiled, waving wordlessly by the picnic blanket. Sighing and turning back to the object, her brows furrowed as it came into view.

Before her stood the top of a ladder, metal freshly painted in a bright blue hue. Mari noted its childish appearance, thinking it fit for a playground before glancing down. The floor surrounding it had been shattered.

Shards of the ground, pitch black and threateningly sharp, pointed up and outwards from the hole, as if daring Mari to approach. From it shone an iridescent light, glittering like a rainbow with every shift of her eyes. The first light she’d seen since awakening.

She knew what had to be done.

The shards didn't look like they wanted her to reach the ladder. But she would. She wasn't scared. Well, even if she was, Mari wouldn't allow herself the luxury. She had to be strong, there were no alternative options.

She stepped forward, and the shards seemed to react, releasing a faint hiss that only grew in volume with every closing inch. But she was brave, she could do this.

I can do this.

Finally growing close enough to look down into the hole, the hissing now at full volume. Pondering the source of the beautiful light, Mari peaked over the edge. The ladder stretched on for what seemed like miles, and at the bottom…

Green? Like grass, she thought.

There must be life down there!

Her eyes shrunk into convicted slits as if daring the shards with her gaze, carefully lifting her foot over them. Mari was determined to reach the bottom, to find life other than her own and.. that thing.

“I heard that too, by the way.” Mari gasped as she was pushed forward, hands miraculously catching a rung before plummeting to her death.

“What…” She lifted her feet onto the steps below her, gripping the ladder tightly as she stopped to catch her breath before glaring up at what should’ve been a hole.

“WHAT IS WRONG W—” Mari paused, blinking in confusion as her eyes met the sky. The hole she’d fallen from was nowhere to be seen, and clouds waltzed lazily by in their place. She swallowed thickly before making her descent.

Oh that… that… thing! “M’ not evil…” My ass!

With every step, the ladder played a note, resembling the voice of a violin. A soft melody rang out as she turned to marvel at the sky. Mari’s jaw fell at the sight, left in awe by the large open field before her.

The breeze was warm and gentle, and flowers of every shade and species stretched out endlessly before melting into the setting sun. To the left of the field, vibrant trees waltzed lazily as bluejays and cardinals went about their business. For a second Mari had forgotten to breathe, and she giddily scrambled for the bottom.

The vastness of the sky was almost dizzying. Mellow tangerines softly embraced gentle hues of pink, and the horizon was blanketed by thin strips of cloud and sprinkled with early-rising stars.

Her heart was leaping in anticipation when she finally neared the bottom. But her last few steps felt wrong, and Mari's face shriveled up as the notes began to sour. She slowed her pace, cautiously checking her surroundings before peeking into the gale ahead. She was close enough to the bottom that anything in the vicinity could easily chase her right back up to the top.

Shivering at the idea of having to return to her undoubtedly evil twin, Mari risked another step. A dissonant cluster echoed out, twisting her gut with fear. She looked to the bottom of the ladder and froze, the vision knocking the air from her lungs.

Writhing and wet, a mess of black tentacles pooled out from underneath a severed head. Despite the empty pits replacing its eyes and lack of a mouth, the creature groaned as it reached for her persistently, limbs always too short to make contact. Each feeble grab left a trail of greyish goo to drip down the bottom of the ladder.

Becoming a prisoner of her fear, she froze in place with a rigid gaze. All she could do was tremble as she gripped the ladder, whitening her knuckles.

"Mari..." A deep and distorted voice escaped it, and the girl stared in horror. An involuntary whine escaped her throat when she took a step back up the ladder, attempting to retreat before flinching at another broken note.

"It's cooold." Mari felt like throwing up. She was getting tired of feeling this way; nauseous, confused, and always, always too terrified to move.

"HAAAAAAAAGH!"

Mari turned to the voice in shock, teary eyes locking with someone familiar. A boy in a pale blue sweater charged at the creature with what looked like... an umbrella? Continuing to cry fiercely, he raised it in the air before swiping at the creature's head, killing it in one fell swoop. It rolled into a vibrant patch of butterfly weed and clover before dissolving into ash.

In the midst of the silence, Mari could hear panting. Feeling brave enough to tear her gaze from the pile of dust, she was met with kind brown eyes.

"...Hero?"

He smiled warmly, and her heart fluttered in her chest.

"Mari." He said her name like a breath of fresh air, and a warm, fuzzy feeling traveled up her neck as she scrambled down the ladder, making no note of the now silent steps. Hurriedly, Mari patted out the wrinkles in her clothing and fixed her hair before approaching him.

"Hero... I'm so glad to see you!" He grinned brightly before taking her hand to plant a soft kiss to her knuckles.

"Me as well, m'lady." Mari took no time to smack his arm and he laughed, shielding himself from the attack.

"Hey! I just got here and you're already trying to steal my job!" She huffed, unable to wipe the playful smile from her face when he pulled her into his arms, squeezing tight. The hug was warm and tender, and some deep part of her wished it'd never end. To her dismay, he pulled back, holding her by the arms to question her.

"And... that job is?" His brow raised.

"Teasing you. What else, silly?" Her grin turned cat-like as she reached up to pinch his cheek.

"It's fun to watch such a handsome face turn red, knowing I'm the reason." As if on cue, his face bloomed. "Mari..." He whined, arms falling limp at his sides before she took his hand to intertwine their fingers. She giggled smugly at the sight as he dipped his head, shielding a flustered face behind tussled bangs.

If Mari had known he was here sooner, she might've attempted something stupid in hopes of getting down faster. She imagined a version of herself sliding down the ladder like a firefighter, and quickly shook the silly thought from her head.

Her voice of reason briefly questioned the boy's presence, but was quickly shoved away by much giddier thoughts. That empty space left her in a constant state of fear, the kind that could only be quelled with answers she would never get. But she was safe here, wasn't she? Why bother questioning anything so long as she was happy?

"C'mon, we should go meet up with the others!" She perked up at his words before nodding excitedly.

…The others? Of course! If Hero's here, everyone else must be too!

He led her off, hands swaying with their stride like it was second nature. Mari settled comfortably into the feeling as they set off into the glade.

"They'll be really excited you're here. Sunny missed you a lot, even with the others keeping him distracted. Well, mostly Basil. Kel and Aubrey on the other hand…" Hero huffed an exasperated sigh, to which Mari snickered knowingly.

"It must've been hard, handling those two alone." He glanced at her shyly, pink taking to his cheeks as he looked to the sky with the hint of a smile.

"You have no idea... But hey, you're here now! We can spend all day exploring, and having picnics, and battling monsters… Although I can't say I'm too keen on that last part." He frowned to himself, and Mari resisted one of her own.

"Hero?"

"Hm?"

They slowed.

"Is this place..." She gulped.

"Full of monsters? Like… the one from before?"

"Uh..." Hero scratched the back of his neck sheepishly, face falling slightly.

"No. Or, not… always? The one you saw earlier was special. We call them corruptions ‘cuz, well... I'm sure you can tell just by looking at them." Hero was hesitant before continuing.

"They only started showing up recently, and we don't really know where they keep coming from. So sometimes, we do end up fighting pretty scary ones." Mari's excitement had dulled significantly, and she glared at the mental image of her voice of reason, nodding proudly as if saying, “I told you so.”

You didn't tell me anything.

Hero sensed her unease, squeezing her hand in an act of comfort before stopping to take their joined hands to his chest.

"But don't worry." With a serious expression, he stared down at her, and her nerves flared at the look on his face. Unsure of how to react, her face warmed and she lifted her chin in an attempt to remain unfaltering.

"I promise to always protect you."

Mari couldn't help it now, chin falling back down as the blood beneath her cheeks rushed to the surface. Since when was Hero so... intense? The brunette noticed and broke the silence, laughing with a timid air of his own. She closed her eyes and turned her head, clearing her throat before pulling him forward to resume their journey.

"Hero, you're sweet." Sunny's face flashed in her mind and her heart lurched with an unidentifiable emotion.

"But..." Her brows furrowed.

What was she so afraid of? Her little brother was here, fighting all of these horrifying creatures with their friends. As a big sister, it was her sworn duty to protect him. Emotions like fear and uncertainty were a luxury she couldn't afford. She was the master of her own mind, not the other way around.

"I won't need protecting." She beamed proudly, earning another blush, and her eyes narrowed as her lips curled impishly.

"Heh... What was that?"

"W-what, you're... r-really pretty... It's hard not to smile when I look at you too long." Mari descended into bashful giggles, grabbing Hero's arm to fall against him.

"Oh, you!" Hero scratched the back of his neck with his eyes turned away, and she reached up to pinch his nose, snickering at the nasally complaint that followed.

"Mari… Why is my face always the target…" He whined, and with reluctance she released him, grin refusing to fade.

“Because it's handsome. Duh.” The brunette sputtered, and another fit of giggles echoed through the woods. They'd been traveling for what felt like an hour now, but strangely, there was an absence of fatigue in her body. Rather, Mari hadn’t felt this energized in ages. The wind tussled trees of every hue, shielding them from the sunset’s lazy rays, and adorning their path in gentle downpour of leaves and petals alike.

Their journey was finally coming to an end, and when they exited the forest, they were faced with another open field. Verdant planes danced with the breeze, traveling as far as the eye could see, save for one grand tree. Hero pointed and when she squinted, Mari could see them.

Beneath it, her friends lay, laughing and chattering away in the shade. A feeling tugged at her heart when she spotted a bulbous head of black hair, stray strands swaying in the wind.

"Sunny!" She shouted in delight, arms spread wide as she sprinted for the tree, leaving Hero in the dust. Mari watched the boy’s head rise from the book his nose had been buried in. His eyes widened, and with an adorably determined expression, he took off sprinting for her.

When they embraced, she wasn't sure why tears threatened to spill past her lids, merely happy to be holding him in her arms. She squeezed tightly as if fearing he'd disappear, and he silently did the same, eyes burning as small fists gripped her vest. She pulled back to place her hands on his cheeks, turning his face every which way for necessary inspection.

When failing to find anything amiss, she hugged him again.

"I heard you missed me. I missed you too." Mari then wiped her eyes of any remaining liquid and met Sunny's before pinching his cheek.

"Every second."

Sunny was left pouting, and Mari knew he'd like to protest against such "baby-ish" treatment, but he held off on complaints, cheeks tinging an excited pink, relishing in their reunion.

Hero eventually caught up with them, panting before his knees hit the grass. The siblings shared a knowing look before turning back to the ragged individual before them.

"You..." Gasp. "Guys..." Gasp.

Mari waited for the boy to catch his breath, a repressed quip on the tip of her tongue when a lightbulb lit up in her head. The boy looked up through sweaty strands of hair, fighting to catch his breath. His heart sank at the sight of a smirking Mari, whispering into her brother's ear. Taking Sunny's hand, her eyes slitted like a cat's again.

Oh no... Hero knew that look.

"Mari... Sunny... Don't you da—" 

"ONETWOTHREEGO!" Mari shouted excitedly before pulling her little brother by the hand to make a mad dash towards the tree, leaving Hero behind once more. He weakly lifted a hand after them, hearing jolly shouts and giggles from the pair as they slowly shrunk into blobs in the distance.

Mari was only running, yet she hadn't had this much fun in what felt like forever. Their tree looked taller with every quickened step, and beneath the trunk, Aubrey, Kel and Basil all waited with excited smiles.

"Mari, Mari! You're here!" Aubrey jumped on her, tiny arms squeezing her waist before pulling back to twirl excitedly.

"Now, we can have way more fun!" Mari chuckled before setting her hand on the little girl's head to pet, mindful of her bow.

"YAYY! MARI'S HERE!" Kel shouted excitedly, shoving Aubrey out of the way to hug her.

At the sight of Aubrey's face, she allowed Kel his hug before pulling back to tussle his hair.

"Now, now, Kel. I'm excited to see all of you, but no shoving, okay? Now apologize to Aubrey." Kel pouted before turning slowly, shoulders slumping forward.

"My bad..." An apology the little girl was quick to turn her nose up at.

"Hmph!"

"What? I said sorry..."

"No, you said my bad. Those are two different things." Kel looked back to Mari exasperatedly, but she'd quickly swapped her amused smile with a serious expression, nodding along to Aubrey's words. He squinted in displeasure, looking off to the side before grumbling.

"I'm sorry…”

"See?" Mari clasped her hands together, resting them on her cheek with a tilted head as her smile resurfaced. "That wasn't so hard!"

Basil approached her slowly with a serene smile resting on his face. "Hi, Mari!" 

Mari knelt to meet him and Sunny at eye level, petting the boys’ heads and paying no mind to Kel and Aubrey's relentless squabbling. 

"Basil! I heard you kept Sunny company while I was gone. Thank you! You're a great friend." With these words, the boy beamed, and the flower crown atop his head seemed to glow with him.

"Sunny is my best friend! I'd never leave him lonely! I told him you'd come back to play with us, and you did!" Basil hugged Sunny excitedly, and although it wasn't returned, Mari could see the fondness in her brother's eyes.

"Hey! We kept Sunny company too!" Aubrey protested from beside them, Kel joining in.

"Yeah!"

Mari giggled at their displeased faces, pulling the four of them into a hug when Hero finally caught up. He seemed to do that a lot, arriving during moments of sentiment.

"Why, of course! You all did a great job keeping each other safe and happy. I'm so proud of all of you!" Hearing Hero trudge towards them tiredly before falling to the ground, and her smile morphed into a sly smirk. 

"Hero? You good?" Kel watched his brother pant, lips pursed in speculation as the eldest struggled to breathe. A breathless thumbs up was all he received, and Mari giggled underneath her breath, innocently turning away from the pointed look he shot her. 

Looking down at his gasping frame, she noticed they were standing on the same picnic blanket as the one she'd seen in the empty space she woke up in, even complete with the matching basket. 

"Oh! You have one of these down here, too?" Mari sat on her legs and opened the basket, relieved to find food this time. Inside were Hero's sandwiches, Turkey for five of them, Tuna for Kel. Six different drinks, each one catering to their individual tastebuds. Mari's brow furrowed deeper as she reached the bottom, removing an empty porcelain plate with saran wrap covering the top.

"There's a picnic in every corner, Mari! It's so much fun!" Aubrey's eyes sparkled as she filled the older girl in.

"Yeah! We're always stopping for snacks! Hero's sandwiches are the best!" Kel grinned, and Mari noted Hero's sheepish expression.

"There was just one thing that was missing." Hero spoke this time, scooching closer to unwrap the plate in her hands. 

"Sunny kept reminding us." Basil said. She looked around confusedly at their hopeful expressions, eyes landing on Sunny. 

"Picnics… aren't the same without your cookies." Sunny said with a serious tone and his sister's eyes widened, touched. She leaned forward to pull him in for one more hug.

If Mari had known how much her brother was missing her, how much they all missed her, she would've tried to get here sooner. She would've grown wings and skipped the ladder entirely, if she could. If she could...

Wait.

"But..." Mari pulled away, confused all over again. 

"This... doesn't look like a place that has a kitchen... or ingredients. I'm sorry you guys, we can't make cookies without those things." Weren't they a bit too old for her to be explaining this? 

All she received were faces mirroring her puzzlement. 

"Can't you just create it? Like this, look!" Kel held out his hands, and to Mari's surprise, a bright orange light in the shape of a golf ball appeared in the space above. It twirled and twinkled, increasing in speed and growing in size. 

She blinked, at a loss for words as a basketball plopped into Kel's hands. 

"Yeah-hah!" He laughed with excitement before running off into the field to play with his ball, Aubrey clutching Mr. Plantegg as she tailed him with an aerial shaking fist. Basil took Sunny's hand and ran after them. In the distance, she could see toys originating from a myriad of colored lights. Pink, orange, yellow and green orbs danced in the sky like butterflies before falling to the earth as anything the children wanted. Trying, and failing, to disguise her shock, she watched her brother stick his hand forward, summoning a ball of light the size of a tractor. Mari flinched as a huge red and yellow swing set hit the ground with an echoing thump.

Staring at the four-seated contraption with her mouth agape, the children shouted in delight. Aubrey and Kel had already begun fighting over a spot, and Basil and Sunny calmly took to the first two seats, beginning to swing.

Stunned into silence, she watched the kids play in awe. 

"We can create anything we want here. You probably can too, Mari," Hero pointed to the empty plate. She merely looked back at him, a bit panicked.

"J-just like that? Are you sure?" Hero laughed and shook his head, raising his hand. Mari didn't think she'd ever get used to the sight, watching in wonder as a sparkly blue ball of light appeared. The light slowly stretched out into the shape of something long and thin.

In Hero's hand now lay a delicate flower. Deep, purple blossoms radiated from the bottom of the stem, shrinking as they reached the top. Mari flushed, leaving the plate in her lap as Hero gingerly handed it over. 

"It's a hyacinth, really pretty right? I’ve been seeing them all around the place lately and they k-kinda… reminded me of you." He'd begun to grow nervous with her lack of response.

She was really flustered now, making an attempt to hide it as she turned her head to clear her throat. 

"Thank you. It is really pretty." The girl let her eyes fall back on the marvel in her hands, twirling it slowly between her thumb and index finger.

"So? Think you can do it? Looks easy enough, right?" Looking back into his eyes, she realized they held all the faith in the world. 

They'd all been in this beautiful place, waiting for Mari to complete their time together. Letting air out her nostrils, she placed the lily beside her, before picking up the plate in her lap with a hand. She placed another hand above the plate, cringing internally as she closed her eyes. 

Gosh, this is kinda embarrassing… I feel like Kel after he finished watching that—

That…

Huh.

I… forgot…

"Should I just... imagine?" Mari shook her head before asking, and Hero nodded with a soft hum of agreement. 

She tried her best to conjure up the image of cookies on a plate in her mind, urging herself to stay focused despite the shock of the warmth that grew in her palm. 

Hearing a loud clink, the hand holding the plate dipped with a sudden weight. Mari opened one eye hesitantly before both flew open in surprise. 

Glossy, porcelain hearts indented its edges, and the plate in her hand glimmered with a pearly sheen. In the middle lay a pile of chocolate chip cookies, steaming as if fresh from the oven. Overjoyed at her success, Mari flushed when she realized her mistake. 

She’d imagined her own plate as well, and summoned a brand new one.

"You did it!" Hero's face lit up at her achievement, paying the new plate no mind. 

"I knew you could!" He hugged her tightly, and Mari sunk into it comfortably, still holding up the cookies and plates. 

The brunette finally noticed the extra, lifting the occupied plate before taking the empty one from her hands. 

"I'll take that, m'lady." He smiled casually, thinking nothing as he threw it over his shoulder. Mari's eyes were like saucers for a whole new reason, setting the cookies down and flinching hard at the sound of shattering porcelain. 

"Hero!" She scolded, standing up to look for where he'd thrown it. 

"That was a perfectly good plate! Why would you break..." Mari's voice trailed off when she spotted the shattered pieces. They'd begun crumbling to dust, and before she could continue, a pile of purple dust was all that remained, gone with the wind in seconds.

"S-sorry, I should've told you about that, too." Hero stood to meet her puzzled gaze, arms spread wide.

"Here, nothing ever really gets destroyed, just rebuilt! The thing we use to create, I guess you could call it magic, is all around us." He turned to gesture to the big open field. In the distance, the children were now competing to see who could swing the highest. 

"When we don't need things anymore, we throw them away. Eventually, they return to the world for us to reuse! As long as we aren't greedy with our wants, there'll always be enough. Isn't that how things should be?" He finished his speech proudly, and Mari blinked, brain processing information she... couldn't seem to disagree with.

It was how things should be. 

"I see," her usual smile made its way back, and the couple sat back down.

"So," he beamed. "Where to? The world's your oyster, and you…" Hero took her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles as if she were royalty.

 "The pearl."

Instinctively she blushed, and tried her best to imagine a toy hammer. When the large, plastic object plopped into her hand, she attacked. 

"...You!" Hero smile grew with every squeaking hit, running back to the kids in mock fear as she chased after him.

"I'm sorry, hey! Ah! Mari!" Hero caught her wrist, stopping the next attack before they tumbled over. Rolling through the grass, they laughed as they tussled. 

Getting lost in their fun meant they didn't notice the children circling them. Kel wore a disgusted look before exaggeratedly covering Sunny’s eyes, and the boy slowly removed it with a small glare. Aubrey and Basil smirked at each other knowingly, joining hands and beginning to chant as they spun in circles. 

"Hero and Mari, sittin' in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N- AHHH!" The two ran back to the swings, screaming as Hero rose from the floor. Positioning his arms above his head in mimicry of a monster before belting out an exaggerated roar. Trudging towards the fleeing pair with a zombie's gait, Mari could see the back of his neck flushing pink. Aubrey and Basil summoned a mountain of toys and stuffed animals to hide in, and exaggerated shrieks erupted from the pile when Hero dove in after them. 

Mari fondly watched the scene unfold. Throwing the hammer behind her mindlessly, she turned away from the tickle monster's brutal attack of innocent children to face Kel and her brother.

"Yuck! Romance..." Kel’s face wrinkled and she stood to pinch his cheeks, laughing. 

"Oh, you'll understand one day, Kel." With this statement the boy looked horrified, running back to the rest of the group with his hands in the air. 

"NOOOO!" His little voice faded into the distance. 

"Mari." She looked at her brother and smiled. 

"Hm?" 

"We can explore now." Sunny pointed to the hills, and Mari squinted. She could see the faintest silhouette of civilization over the mounds. What looked like the top of a grand castle poked its way through pink clouds, an unidentifiable flag whipping in the wind.

"Where is that?" 

"Charm Kingdom, where Charmie rules." 

"Charmie?" 

"She's nice. We can introduce you." Sunny took her hand, leading her further up the hill for a better view. 

"When you were gone, she tried to make us cookies. But they weren't… good. So Hero had to take over." Mari held back a giggle at the displeasure on his face.

"Maybe we can bring her some of my cookies. Do you think Queen Charmie would like that?" 

"Princess Queen," Sunny corrected.

"Princess... Queen Charmie?" The boy nodded.

"She thinks 'Queen' makes her sound old."

"Well, how old is she?"

"831." Mari choked. 

"I-I'm sure she's a very pretty, young Queen Prin- I mean, Princess Queen." He shrugged.

"Well," she started, the siblings looking to each other once more and Sunny couldn't help but return Mari's excited expression.

"No time like the present, right? Guys!" She shouted, waving for the rest of the group, and they met the siblings halfway on the tip of a hill.

"Sunny suggested we go see Q- Princess Queen Charmie. Thought it could be good for us to get introduced and maybe even… gift her some cookies?" Hearing this, Aubrey and Kel exploded. 

"Yay! I love Princess Queen Charmie's castle. You'll love it there, Mari!" Aubrey took her hand, hopping up and down excitedly. 

"I love her royal cooks! Yay for more delicious food!" Kel pumped a fist in the air.

"Kel," Aubrey deadpanned, squinting judgmentally. "You're always hungry." 

"So what if I am?! I’m a growing boy!"

"Anyway," Hero put a hand on each of their shoulders to settle them down before another argument could begin. "We can do it all. We have all the time in the world, right? And now Mari's finally here! So let's go have fun, okay?" 

The children cheered, and he dipped his head, sighing in relief. They'd finally begun their journey as a team, making their way through the field to reach the castle. Mari’s lips pressed thin, holding back a laugh at the sight of Kel, who made a point of rolling down every hill.

"He claims it’s for efficiency." Hero leaned towards her, muttering. "I'm not sure he can even spell that yet…"