Dreams Come True

Purgatory Promenade

"Wait, wait, wait", I said, shaking my head and waving my hands around. Me, Vanellope, Ralph, Jenny and Steve were all sitting in front of Majima. He was smoking a cigarette and leaning back in his chair, propping his feet up on the desk. I was just utterly baffled at what he wanted. Gladius was hovering next to him, translating everything.

"Let me get this straight", I said in utter confusion, "You want us to fight in Purgatory's colosseum, win this tournament you set up, and then...what?"

"基本的 (Basically)", Majima started, sticking his cigar in an ashtray. "私は昨日と今日あなたの3人の友人に夢中になって感動しました。 (I was crazy impressed with your three friends yesterday and today.)." He pointed out Jenny, Steve and Ralph. "そして、私はこれを大したことにしたいのです。たくさんのお金でたくさんのホットショットをドラッグしてください。それに、もし君たちが上手くいけば、私はあなたに加わることを考えるかもしれない... (And I want this to be a big deal, drag in a lot of hot shots with lots of money. Plus, if you guys do good, I might think about joining you...)"

That last part caught my attention. "Wait, so if the others do good, you'll join us?" I shot him a look of disbelief. "I kinda thought a robot, living video game characters and a talking sword would be enough?"

Majima laughed. "ほとんど。しかし、私は本当にあなたのフリークがワイルドになるのを見たいです。理由でシマノの狂犬と呼ばれています。(Almost. But I really want to see you freaks get wild. I am called The Mad Dog Of Shimano for a reason.)"

"How do we keep running into people like this?" Ralph said in exasperation. Vanellope shrugged.

"Because we're all danger magnets in our worlds", Jenny said bluntly with her arms crossed.

"I kinda like Majima's idea", Steve said. The rest of us (sans Majima) gave him utterly dumbfounded looks. "What? I'm being serious. After what happened in the Nether, I feel like it'll be a good idea to fight guys who have crazy abilities. If we're all with Caleb in this adventure, I feel like we shouldn't slack."

"Shouldn't slack!?" Jenny angrily spat, "I've never gotten a real break in my life, and the three of us just took down an army of thugs two days in a row!" She glared at Majima. "I'm not doing it."

"Well I am", Steve said with determination, "Besides, fighting things that are actually competent would be a nic change of pace."

Ralph scratched the back of his head. "I don't know..." He muttered quietly. He looked at Vanellope, but her face didn't house pleading eyes. She knew this was Ralph's choice. So with a deep sigh, Ralph nodded. "Yeah, I'm in."

Jenny looked between the two of them, then groaned. "Fine, I'll do this stupid tournament." She leaned forward and glared harshly at the eyepatched man. "But you try anything, and you're done." Majima just smirked. I, meanwhile, just stared at everything happening lifelessly. Something about Steve's reasoning about wanting to participate did something to me. It...made me scared, for some reason. I didn't know why, but it felt...familiar, like a weird sense of deja vu. That's when I started filling with dread, the memory flooding into my head.

"This is why you can't let someone else fight your battles", a venomous woman spat, "Because then they can't handle it anymore."

"Kid, you okay?"

I snapped back to reality at the sound of Ralph's voice. I looked at them, breathing heavily, to see all their faces painted in concern. Except Majima, who looked at me in confusion.

"I-I'm fine...Ralph..." I said to my large friend. Suddenly, I stood up. "I just n-need some air." I quickly sped out of the room, slamming the door behind me. When I was alone, I slid down the door and sat on the floor, taking long, deep breaths in an attempt to calm down. My mind felt so heavy, but I heard the others talking through the door, but I couldn't make anything out. So I stood up and exited the building, choosing to lean over the railing of the bridge, feeling the gentle breeze and occasional cherry blossom petal hit my face.