Out in the forest, Mikey was still leading Lia away from the lodge. Lia was starting to get worried. She didn't know what was going on or how Chris would've even seen Pixle so far away from the lodge.

"Babe, where exactly did you say you saw Pixle again?" Lia asked.

"Oh, I saw her... this way. She really should've been somewhere around this clearing." Mikey answered.

"Are you sure? We're getting really far from the lodge." Lia said.

"Y-you don't want to help me to find Pixle?" Mikey asked.

"That's not it at all. Of course I wanna help you find Pixle, it's just the storm is really picking up, and we're really far from the lodge." Lia said.

"Are you upset that I like Pixle?" Mikey asked.

"W-what? No! Not at all! Why are you even asking that?" Lia asked.

"It's just weird that you're acting like you don't want to help me find Pixle." Mikey said.

"Chris, I know you're under a lot of stress right now, so maybe your judgement is off a bit." Lia said.

"Jealousy doesn't look good on you, Lia." Mikey replied.

"I'm not jealous in the slightest bit, you know that. I just don't see the point of putting ourselves in danger. I know Pixle wouldn't want you to do that!" Lia yelled.

"Jealous!" Mikey said in a singing tone.

"Argh fine, we'll keep moving."

"Perfect. This way!"

"Ugh, Pixle missing has really messed with his mind... Hopefully we find her soon."

Back at the lodge, Chris was hugging Pixle, crying tears of joy.

"Pixle! I was so worried about you! You have no idea!"

"Shshshshshshsh, it's okay, Christian. I'm here now. Ah-ah-achoo!"

"Oh, your cold. Here you can have my other jacket."

"Thanks Chris." Once Pixle had the jacket on, she went back to hugging Chris.

"I put Pixle's clothes in the wash. Also Jianna I moved your clothes to the dryer." Belle said.

"Thank you, Belle."

"You're welcome. How is Pixle?" Belle asked.

"I... I don't know. She's acting really odd." Jianna answered.

"Are they still hugging?" Belle asked.

"Yes! That's the thing! Ugh, from what Christian said, she's not that touchy. Her body language seems so different somehow." Jianna answered.

"I wonder what happened to her."

"She hasn't said a word about that. She's just been holding Christian."

"That little hassle better get his hands off her!"

"Huh?"

"Hmm?"

"I..I thought you said something." Jianna said.

"I just said 'I wonder what happened to her'." Belle answered.

"Uhhh... okay.. It just sounded like you said something else." Jianna replied.

"Where on earth were you, Pixle?! We were worried sick about you!" Skellington yelled.

"I was out looking around. Why do you ask?" Pixle asked.

"Looking around?! Pixle, there were signs of a struggle! You disappeared without- Christian could you stop hugging Pixle for one minute and start asking questions?!" Skellington yelled.

"But she's back safe and that's all that matters!" Chris said.

"Christian, I understand that you're happy that Pixle's back, but I think you need to take a step back and listen to Skellington... He does bring up a good point. Haven't you realized you've been hugging Pixle for a long time? Longer than usual?" Jianna asked.

"*Giggles* Huh? N-n-now that you mention it... you're right. Pixle what exactly happened to you?" Chris asked.

"What do you mean?" Pixle asked.

"I mean you were missing for longer than what you would without contacting anybody." Chris replied.

"I was taking a stroll outside, that's all." Pixle said.

"Uhhh... but you... Claw marks... secret door!" 

"What Skellington is trying to say is... we saw there was struggle in the room you went missing from... Then we found a secret door that led us through some mines." Chris said.

"With really weird rooms." Jianna added.

"Right! We spent a long time looking for you! We thought you were kidnapped!" Chris said.

"Kidnapped?! Hahahahahaha! Oh Christian! That's a good one! I wasn't kidnapped, I'm perfectly fine! I just went out for a stroll before the storm got worse." Pixle said.

Realization started to hit the others. It wasn't like Pixle to go out randomly. She's always been so paranoid to go out without anybody with her for protection.

"Pixle, you don't go out on strolls." Skellington said.

"How would you know?" Pixle asked.

"Pixle, you cringe at the very IDEA of going outside to do anything besides training or ending a war!! You've been like that ever since we met as kids!" Skellington yelled.

"I don't think we met as kids, Skellington."

"Pixle... what did you say?" Chris asked.

"Skellington and I never met as kids." Pixle answered.

"This is what I was talking to you guys about! Pixle's acting odd!" Skellington yelled.

"Pixle.. do you know who I am?" Chris asked.

"Of course Christian. You're one of my best friends. We've been great friends for a long time now. I've never been more happy to have someone like you in my life." Pixle answered.

"Okay... Pixle, do you know who this is?" Chris asked, walking towards Jianna.

"Jianna."

"How long have you known her?" Chris asked.

"A while. I don't know her too well, but she's really nice. Almost like my cousin." Pixle answered.

"Oh-hahaha! That's very nice of you to say, Pixle! Thank you. I don't think I've been complimented by you!" Jianna said.

"You haven't? Well I should compliment you more then. Not just on your actions but your intelligence as well." Pixle said.

"I don't know what's gotten into Pixle, but I'll take the flattery any day." Jianna said.

"Hmm... Pixle, do you know you know who she is?" Chris asked.

"Belle and I have known each other for a long time since we found my brother. I know she's been out on her own a bunch with family matters, but I know she had a crush on somebody named Michael," Pixle answered.

"Hahahaha! What?! no way! He's my nephew, and as charming as he is I wouldn't want to be sharing a life with him!" Belle said.

"That checks out as well. Alright Pixle last one, who is this?" Chris asked.

"Hmm, well I'm not sure exactly." Pixle answered.

"But... you've met him before, like all of us." Chris said.

"Well no. I just met him outside. But I know his name is Skellington." Pixle said.

"What the..."

"See! She's acting like she doesn't remember me!" Skellington yelled.

"Again, I'm pretty sure I would remember someone like you. Heh, you are pretty loud." Pixle said.

"Hey!"

"Hahahaha! Hmm, be right back real quick. Gotta go to the bathroom!"

As Pixle went to the bathroom, Chris and the others had a private conversation.

"Guys, I think something is wrong with Pixle." Chris said.

"She doesn't even remember me!*Sobs*" Skellington yelled.

"No... Christian is right. Skellington, I think Pixle has mild amnesia." Jianna said.

"What?"

"I was thinking the same thing. I think that whatever happened to Pixle, caused her to forget and jumbled her memory. Think about it! She was complementing Jianna, someone that she only knew for a few years." Chris said.

"Yeah... it was weird, but it was kind of pleasant too. I kind of like this Pixle." Jianna said.

"Well I don't! I don't want my battle partner to forget me!"

"Skellington, it's fine. This might just be a temporary thing. We just need to keep our cool around her, and try to jog her memory without shattering it." Chris said.

"Agreed. Any trauma to the head might have caused this. We shouldn't upset her." Belle said.

"Well alright."

"Few! Sorry about that. I was holding it in for so long. I'm really glad I followed the path Lia came from back here or I might have had to go outside." Pixle said.

"The path Lia came from? What do you mean?" Chris asked.

"Oh, I saw Lia running through the woods and I followed where she came from to get back here. I think she was following someone." Pixle answered.

"What?! Wait, Lia isn't back?!" Chris yelled.

"No. I thought that was weird too." Jianna replied.

"Yeah, it's been a while now." Belle said.

"Seriously?! But the storm is picking up!" Chris yelled.

"Yeah, it's getting pretty bad out there." Pixle said.

"I have to find her! I can't lose her too!" Chris yelled.

"Christian wait!"

But it was too late, Chris was already out the door. He was in so much of a panic that he ran straight out into the woods to find Lia. He didn't want to lose her, she meant the world to him.

Back with Mikey and Lia, they've gotten really far from the lodge and Lia was starting to freeze. The cold was getting to her so much she was starting to get weaker than before.

"This way! I'm sure!"

"You said that twenty minutes ago!" Lia yelled, as she tried to catch her breath.

"This time, I'm sure."

"Chris..."

"We're going to find her."

"Chris!"

"Just a little further." But before they continued, Lia got in front of Mikey.

"Chris!"

"Huh?"

"I'm sorry but I'm saying this now: You are NOT acting like the Christian I know! I understand you're hurting because your friend is lost, but getting ourselves lost isn't going to solve anything! We've been going around in circles and we're so far away from the lodge that we're in serious danger! Chris... please... Let's go back. The snow is picking up even more and it's ridiculously cold!" Lia yelled.

"You're just jealous." Mikey said.

"I am not! Please listen to me!"

"You don't deserve me!" Mikey's eyes turned bright green.

"What?!" 

Then Mikey pushed Lia down to the ground with a single punch giving her a black eye.

"Chris what has gotten into you?!"

"Do you even know what you took from me? I'll make you pay!" Mikey yelled.

"Chris!" Lia pushed Mikey to the ground with her legs as she got back up, and then the potion that Mikey used wore off.

"You!"

"W-what was that?" Mikey asked.

"How dare you! I knew you were!"

"Wait! T-t-t-that wasn't... I..."

"You what?!"

"You don't understand! Mikey couldn't control... I-I think... Mikey out!"

And Mikey ran off back to his village.

"*Grunts more of frustration* I can't believe I fell for that! J-just Ugh! I need to get back to the lodge.*Sniffs* This way..."

Lia tried getting back to the lodge, but the storm was getting worse. At the same time, Chris was trying to find her. Eventually they ran into each other.

"L-Lia?"

"Chris?"

"Lia!"

Lia ran to give Chris a hug but then backed off he could do anything.

"Wait... how do I know you're the real Christian?" she asked.

"Huh?"

"Please try to understand, I-I just need to ask you a question that only you would know."

"What's... going on?"

"Please..."

"Okay."

"When and where did we have our first kiss?" Lia asked.

"T-that's easy. It was in my room and it was the night you helped me stop a party that no one would leave. You would cut your hand on the window glass too." Then Lia hugged Chris.

"*Sighs* It really is you."

"Of course it is. What happened, Lia?"

"It's a long story, but for now, we REALLY need to get back to the lodge. The storm is picking up." Lia said.

"It is."

"Come on. We have to go now."

"R-right." They traveled through the forest as the storm got worse, but they couldn't find the lodge. Lia and Chris were starting to freeze.

Back at the lodge, Skellington was making Pixle some soup.

"Here you go, Commander. I made chicken noodle soup."

"Thanks. Um... but I have to ask. Is calling me 'Commander' like a thing for you?"

"Pixle, I understand you and I have had our difficulties in the past-"

"No we haven't. I just met you." Pixle interrupted.

"Rahhh!" Just then, Belle came into the room.

"Skellington, can I speak with you a moment?" Belle asked.

"Sure. Bone Appetite Pixle."

"Thanks."

"Skellington, I understand you want Pixle to remember you, but you can't force it. You need to let her mind rest. Just treat her as if she's a new person for now." Belle said.

"But... uh... but!"

"I understand. It hurts to have someone ignore you, but she's not ignoring you. She just has an issue with her mind right now." Belle said.

"Alright... I understand."

"Good!"

"Well, at least she still remembers Christian."

"I wish I could make her forget."

"Belle?"

"Yeah?"

"Did you say something?" Skellington asked.

"Yeah. I said it was good that you understood." she answered.

"Uh... Okay then. Say Belle, want some chicken noodle soup?" Skellington asked.

"Of course!" 

Back in the forest, Lia and Chris weren't even close to the lodge. They were struggling in the cold and needed to find some form of shelter and fast.

"*Shivers* We won't make it back to the lodge in time. Chris, over there! Come on!" Lia had spotted a cave.

"*Shivers* The storm is just getting worse!" Chris said.

"I know... Chris, you're freezing! Where is your jacket?!" Lia asked.

"I left it at the lodge. Then I realized you were gone, how you just left and-"

"Here." Lia gave Chris her jacket.

"Lia! You.. You can't! You'll freeze!"

"I'm perfectly fine. You need this more than I do." Even though Lia's wearing a shirt with only one non torn sleeve.

"Lia!"

"Come on. We just need to sit for a moment. We need the storm to die down before we can attempt to navigate back to the lodge!"

"Lia, are you sure, you're going to be okay without your jacket?" Chris asked.

"It'll be fine. Just rest for now."

"O-o-okay."

"Darn it, it's so cold. If we don't get back soon, my left eye's going to turn black, and we won't be able to survive." Lia said.

Thanks for reading.

Next story: Chapter 6 - Saying goodbye

Hope you enjoyed this story at your own risk.