The city was massive, far bigger than any city I'd ever been to before, and I've been to Brooklyn and New Donk. It made sense that it was so big, the living world had a more limited number of souls, but the Underwhere was always taking in more. I wondered if it was possible to run out of room in the Underwhere. Was there an end to this dimension, or did it go on forever?

The tower where I was to return the sun was right in the center of town, but because the place was so massive, we spent a few days completely lost. There were so many streets, so many buildings. It was hard not to lose my way, especially since I was the one leading us all through a place I had never been before.  It took days just to get close to the center tower, but today was it. This was the day, I could feel it. 

I was going to return the sun to its rightful place and save the people of the Underwhere. No one else would have to fade away, the dark wouldn't claim any more souls. Everyone's hope would return, their smiles would be back. 

About ten hours ago we stopped to stay in a hotel close by. I wanted to go straight to the tower and get this done, but we were all too exhausted to keep going. Besides, I didn't know what I'd have to do to put the sun back. I'd rather be safe and do it with energy than somehow mess everything up by falling asleep on the job. Besides, Bobby and I learned earlier that sometimes getting fuel and sleep is better than pushing forward without any of those necessities. The lack of energy can make my judgement skills completely vanish, like they did with that guy by the river.

Although, I wasn't sure I'd react much differently had I been more alert.

The tower was about a block away from where we were staying. I could see it from the window. Our room was massive. There were four beds, each separated into their own little mini-room. Most of the buildings in the city were incredibly tall. Our window overlooked the city from hundreds of feet in the air. It was beautiful, but a little scary. 

Luckily, the window didn't open, so no one would be at risk of falling or being pushed out. Unless someone were to break the glass, of course, but I doubted that would happen. Bobby couldn't reach the window and didn't seem strong enough, and if Dimentio wanted to kill me he already would have, right?

I woke up early. There was a clock on the wall, so I was able to look at the time. It was close to 4:00 AM. Both Dimentio and Bobby were sound asleep in their own beds while I waited by that same window. I placed my hand on it. The glass was thick, so even if he did want to kill me, he'd have a hard time doing it. He'd probably have to find another way. Something easier, like slitting my throat in my sleep. Although that was messy, and he'd be sure to be caught. I bet could make the window look like an accident, but not that.

Why was I thinking about this stuff? Did I seriously believe that he wanted to kill me?

Did I seriously believe that he didn't want to kill me? 

I let out a sigh. There was no use in asking those questions. 

The sunrise would probably have looked incredible from that window, had a sun existed in the Underwhere. I've always loved sunrises. Sometimes it was hard to tell which I enjoyed more; the sunrise or the sunset. I used to tell myself that sunrises were far superior because they were the beginning of a new day--they were followed by brightness and warmth. But... sunsets were easier to see. I guess that's a little silly, but it's true. Sometimes people have to wake up at unreasonable hours to see the sunrise, but it was always easy to see the sunset. Plus, sunsets being followed by a beautiful night sky wasn't a bad thing. 

It was always comforting, actually, watching the sun set on a day, because I always knew it would rise again. 

I wondered what the last sunset in the Underwhere felt like. Did anyone know it would be the last one? Did it even rise and set from its place in the tower? How did that work? I'm sure there was some kind of system in place. 

Bobby woke up soon after me. He wasn't a morning person, I discovered this weeks ago, but he usually could sense when I woke up. It was a weird talent of his. I think he always did that because of some internal fear of being left behind. Not sure, though. Even after spending weeks with him, I didn't feel like I knew him well enough to make that judgment. 

Oddly enough, I didn't feel like I knew anyone in that room well enough. Not even myself. Dimentio was still so quiet, and I... well, my mind has always been a mess, I guess. Bobby was the easiest to memorize, to figure out. He was a simple Bob-Omb who missed his friends.

No one was truly simple, though. 

"L?" he asked. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, nothing, just thinking," I breathed. I kept the lantern attached to my hip as I kept my hand on the glass of the window. I could feel the coolness through my gloves. It was nice. 

It didn't feel like we were living in a sunless world. This just felt like night. Peaceful, natural night. 

"We're finishing this today?" he asked.

I nodded.

There would be a sunrise. I was sure of it. 

I walked over to Dimentio and gently shook his shoulder. I didn't want to spook him, so I made sure to be careful. He slept with his mask on, which felt a little odd. Strangly enough, this was the first time I ever saw him asleep. He usually fell asleep after me and woke up before. Sometimes, I was convinced that he just didn't sleep at all. 

He didn't quite look peaceful. He looked dead. His chest didn't rise and fall. 

Panic started to form deep within my stomach, but I didn't let him spread. He wasn't dying. He was dead. This was normal. He was supposed to look like this. He didn't need to breathe anymore.

So why was I so afraid and squeamish? 

I never saw his body when he died. Maybe that was it. He died so close to me, we were both practically fused together, yet I never saw him--never found his body. Countless nights were spent awake; imagining what he must have looked like, how it felt. I always hoped it didn't hurt.

I always knew it did. 

Did he always wear his mask in his sleep? Did he do this back at Castle Bleck too, or was he just doing it now because he had to share a hotel room with us? Sure, he had his own little section, but there was no door to keep everyone completely separate. I offered to get him his own room, but he refused. 

Maybe that was a good sign. His choice to stay with Bobby and me, I mean. I wanted to believe he was starting to let loose, but that might have just been wishful thinking. He did seem a little less tense around me, and he was less afraid of looking into my eyes, but he still never spoke. 

I don't think he's choosing to stay silent anymore...

"Dimentio?" I whispered as I gently nudged his shoulder. "Hey... we're... we're going to finish this."

He shifted slightly, then slowly opened his eyes. He seemed a little groggy as he sat up and ran his hands through his hair. A silent yawn escaped his mouth as he blinked and waved his hand. I'm not 100% positive what he was trying to say, but I took the gesture to mean, Come again?

"The tower. It's time for me to put the sun back where it belongs," I explained. "Are you going to come with?"

He blinked again, suddenly alert. His pupils seemed to dilate slightly as he turned his gaze to Bobby. 

"Um, it's a yes or no question," the Bob-Omb breathed. He sounded slightly annoyed. He always acted this way with Dimentio, though. He still seemed cautious of him, which was probably good, this was Dimentio we were talking about. Still, Bobby was starting to let loose a little more. Sometimes, I'd start to wonder if maybe the three of us could have been good friends, had we been born in other lives. It was a nice thought.

I wasn't sure what we all were. Dimentio certainly wouldn't call any of us friends, and Bobby clearly already had his own friends. 

Would I call either of them my friends? 

Well, yes, but I wasn't going to say that out loud. I didn't want to make them uncomfortable. Besides, soon I'd have to leave. 

Maybe I could come back and visit, though?

Gee, the idea of me even considering coming down to the Underwhere to visit someone like Dimentio was absolutely crazy. Mario would probably sign me up for therapy if he could hear my thoughts. 

I did need therapy. 

For a lot of reasons, actually, but I'm not going to open that door.

Dimentio seemed to ponder for a moment, then slowly shook his head no. 

I felt my stomach drop. 

"What?" I asked.

He shook his head no again. 

There was a heavy feeling in my chest. It hurt a little, though I didn't know why. Why was I so disappointed by this? Did I expect him to say yes? Did I want him to say yes?

"Oh..." I muttered as I forced a smile. "Well... that's okay."

He nodded, then fell back into his bed again and closed his eyes. 

"Wh-seriously?!" Bobby exclaimed.

"Bobby, it's alright," I breathed. "We can't make him do anything. It's fine, really. The two of us will just go. Unless you'd rather stay."

Bobby immediately shook his head and cast a brief glare in Dimentio's direction. 

"Of course, I'll go with you," he stated. "That's what a good friend would do."

I tried not to let out a slightly sad chuckle. It was sweet of Bobby to try and be passive-aggressive toward Dimentio for my benefit, but I doubted any of those words meant anything to the jester-

Wait, did he say friend?

He thought of me as a friend?!

Or was he just saying that to be snarky with Dimentio? Maybe he didn't mean it. I shouldn't jump to conclusions.

Dimentio spoke not a word. Bobby let out a sigh and marched toward the door. 

I gave the jester one last glance before following. I suppose this would probably be the last time I'd ever see him. I mean, even if I did visit the Underwhere, the chances of finding him were slim. Very slim. 

"I think I'll miss you," I breathed as I turned away and gently closed the door behind me. 

I knew he wouldn't say anything in response. 

Bobby and I took an elevator to the bottom floor of the hotel. The innkeepers were nice enough to give me a discount because I was the museau or whatever, but that didn't stop them from looking at me with this strange, sorrowful gaze. Almost everyone in the city looked at me that way.

I tipped my hat slightly to the innkeepers as Bobby and I walked outside. There were no lights aside from my lantern, so I had to be careful not to run into anyone. The city was far more crowded than any other place I had been in the Underwhere, including the room where all the fresh souls would wait to meet Queen Jaydes. We passed countless souls walking the streets with their heads down, surrounded by darkness. I tried not to focus on them or their sad demeanors. They'd all be saved soon. 

It didn't take long for us to arrive at the tower. It looked even taller up closer. My heart raced as I looked up at it. I couldn't even see where it ended. The deep purple walls pierced the sky. 

"Well... you did it, L," Bobby said.

"We did it," I corrected. 

I tried to smile, but it didn't feel completely genuine. I wished Dimentio was with us. Did that make me weird? 

I suppose it did. 

I took a deep breath, then grasped the handles of the door at the bottom. 

It didn't budge. 

"Huh?" I muttered. 

I tried to fiddle with the handle and loosen it. 

It wouldn't move. 

My grip tightened and I pulled. Nothing. Pushed--also nothing.

"What's wrong?" Bobby questioned. 

"It's... locked," I said as I squinted at the golden doorknob. Surely enough, there was a keyhole. "We need a key."

This isn't over.

"The guy who gave you the lantern didn't give you a key too?!" Bobby exclaimed. 

"Guess not," I muttered, trying to ignore the slightly warm feeling in my chest. 

The adventure wasn't over. Not yet. 

That was bad. But... it made me happy, for some reason. It was like I had gotten a second chance. For what, though?

"What do we do?!" Bobby cried out as he started pacing. "Can you pick locks? You have to get up there, L! What'll you do?"

"Hey, calm down," I said. "We'll just go back and... come up with a plan. Once we do that, that'll be easy. After all, we're already here."

Bobby nodded, though he didn't seem completely comforted. I didn't blame him. The lives of everyone in the Underwhere, including him, were on my shoulders. Maybe I was selfish for not wanting this journey to end yet.

I felt a little guilty for feeling this way, actually.

Guilt... another thing I was deathly afraid of. 

. . .

Dimentio was standing by the window, looking out at the city. I think he was waiting for the sunrise. Another spike of guilt formed within me, knowing that I couldn't bring the sunrise to him just yet. 

He flinched as I opened the door.

"Hey, it's just me," I assured him as he whirled around. His eyes were wide and shocked. He clearly didn't expect to see me again. I couldn't blame him, I didn't expect to be back. 

He reached toward me, but drew back. He tilted his head slightly, simply staring at me as if he were trying to solve a puzzle.

"It was locked," Bobby breathed as he marched in and plopped down on the floor. "We need a key."

Dimentio squinted his eyes slightly. Did people squint their eyes when deep in thought? I always thought it was just something they did whenever they were trying to ironically see more. 

He turned back to the window and pointed at a building. It was about a mile or so away. 

"The clock tower?" I asked.

He nodded.

I stepped next to him. It was old, made of wood. It was hard to see the details because of how dark the building was. It reminded me of the Old Clockworks, one of many haunted mansions I handled when the Dark Moon broke over Evershade Valley. I had many fond and terrifying memories of the place. There was one time I spent hours chasing Polterpup through the abandoned warehouse, back before I had adopted her. Hours were spent chasing her all over the place. I'm glad she's on my side now because she was such a handful. 

Oh, who am I kidding? She's still a handful.

"You guys make a plan. I'm gonna sleep," Bobby breathed. 

He almost instantly started snoring, which made me chuckle a little. 

"Have you been there?" I asked Dimentio as I nodded to the clock tower.

He shook his head, then tapped his ear as if saying I've heard of it.

I nodded. 

"Well... maybe we can explore together," I suggested.

He tensed slightly. 

"O-only if you want to," I stuttered, suddenly embarrassed. "I mean, I just... well, I knew you. When you were alive. And you knew me. Kinda... and... I know we aren't friends and... a lot happened, but... I don't know. I just... you feel real, I guess."

He tilted his head. I must have sounded so awkward and stupid.

"What I mean is, um, I guess... even down here, you still feel alive to me. Except when you were sleeping. You looked pretty dead, then. N-not that I watched you sleep! I was just there to wake you up! What I mean is; you feel alive to me when you're awake. Because I knew you when you were alive. So... I just want to know more about you, I suppose. I don't really know why... sorry."

He remained still for a moment, then smiled slightly and rolled his eyes. 

I quickly looked away, still embarrassed. Although, a small part of me felt victorious. I hadn't seen him smile in fourteen years. And... somehow, this one looked different than the smiles I remembered. 

"What I wanted to say was..." I continued, unsure if continuing to talk was a wise idea. Probably not. "Well, when we were alive, I never really got to know you. I wanted to, but everyone was in such a rush. That's how life works, I guess. Everyone's in a big rush all the time. But... I like taking my time. I want to take my time. I don't want to rush and get this mission done all at once on my own. So many people live their lives that way and miss out on so much. I missed out on truly meeting you, and... deep down, I think that's something I've been regretting for a long time."

Guilt. I feared guilt. Maybe that's what was driving me at the moment. 

He looked at me again and blinked a few times. 

I wished he'd just talk. I missed his voice. It was so bold and theatrical. Listening to it felt nice. 

What was wrong with me? I never liked his voice before, did I? 

"I just... while I'm down here, I don't want to miss out on the second chance I've been offered," I admitted without thinking. "That's all."

What did I even mean by that? Second chance? 

Second chance for what?