This Little Piggy

“This Little Piggy”  (Volume 7, Story 8)

    Somewhere in the Dream Universe, Fawful was hiding from the Three Heroes and their friends. It had been a while since he had done anything mischievous, and he hoped that the heroes and their friends wouldn’t be searching for him.

    Using a crystal ball, he was spying on the group while they were in the Mushroom Kingdom. He noticed that some people from the Minecraft Universe were over for a visit. And he frowned when he saw a particular person in the crystal ball.

    Reuben.

    He frowned when he remembered him. When Reuben respawned in the Dream Universe, Fawful was the one who found him. He treated Reuben like a servant, but when he was ready to execute a plan on having the Three Heroes become his puppets, Reuben helped foil those plans, because he escaped and warned the others about how to snap the heroes out of their trance.

    Suddenly, his frown shifted into an eerie smile.

    “It’s about time I get revenge on the twerp for ruining my plan…” he whispered.

    Over at the Mushroom Kingdom, the new order, Ivor, and Harper were there for a visit. They were chatting with the Mario and Kate, while Sonic, Tails, and Luigi played some soccer with Reuben.

    “You guys really haven’t been doing much adventuring lately?” asked Kate.

    “Yeah. Any ideas for a good adventure in this universe, because I think we could use one…” said Petra.

    “Lots of dangerous places around here. Probably best you don’t go looking for adventure here. But we’ll see if there’s somewhere you guys can explore without the chances of dying,” said Kate.

    “Besides, a lot of places in this world are hard to navigate through if you don’t have any special abilities like Sonic or can use power ups like me,” said Mario.

    “Still will take any suggestion over boredom,” said Petra.

    “I agree. Ivor and I will be planning to go out on an adventure sometime soon,” said Harper.

    “Don’t you mean go out on a date?” Kate said, smirking at Harper.

    Harper frowned at her while Petra started to giggle. As the girls chatted for a bit, Sonic, Tails, Luigi, and Reuben were still playing soccer. At one point, Luigi kicked the ball and it started to get in the net.

    “I got it!” said Reuben.

    He tried to kick it back, but it slipped right past him and fell into the net.

    “Aw dang it… I don’t got it…” he said.

    “It’s okay, Reuben. You’re still getting used to soccer,” said Sonic.

    “I know, but I wanna be good at it,” said Reuben. “If anything, I’m trying to find something I can be good at like the rest of my group,” he said.

    “You can play acoustic guitar,” said Tails.

    “I know, but everyone’s got a role in the group. Petra’s the warrior, Axel’s the griefer, Olivia’s the redstone engineer, Lukas is the architect, and the twins are the leaders. What can I do for the group?” said Reuben.

    “You know Reuben, sometimes, you gotta not compare yourself in terms of skills to others. Remember that the others still love you for who you are. I learned that when I first joined Sonic on my first adventure with him,” said Tails.

    “Yeah. Tails originally became my sidekick because I figured his techno skills could combat Eggman’s, but during our first adventure, he became my best friend. He’s my little brother. And it’s not because of his skills. It’s his character that I liked,” said Sonic.

    “I guess…” said Reuben.

    He sighed and kicked the ball softly. He suddenly frowned and kicked the ball harder, sending it flying off to the forest right outside the Mushroom Kingdom.

    “Oops. I got it!” he said.

    He ran off after the ball before anyone could object.

    “What were you guys talking about?” Ivor said, as he walked up to the others.

    “Nothing,” said Luigi, Sonic, and Tails at the same time.

    Outside in the woods, Reuben looked around for the ball. It was hard to find it because of the bushes, but after a few minutes of looking, he spotted it.

    “Ha! Found you!” he said happily.

    He picked it up and started to head back. But as he did, someone suddenly grabbed him.

    “AHHHH!” he cried.

    The group heard Reuben shout in panic.

    “Reuben?!” cried F. Jesse.

    She ran into the forest, followed by Ivor and Sonic. She rushed into the area, but she saw no sign of Reuben. The soccer ball was lying on the ground, but Reuben wasn’t around.

    “REUBEN!” she shouted. “REUBEN WHERE ARE YOU?!”

    “Don’t worry, Jesse! We’ll find him!” said Sonic.

    Hours passed, and no one found Reuben. It was now night time, and the Three Heroes went out on a further search. They figured he must’ve gotten kidnapped by Bowser or Eggman, so they were going to break into the bad guys’ bases to investigate.

    When the heroes hadn’t found anyone, the new order asked for more help on expanding the search. Not only were their friends in the Dream Universe helping out, but some of their friends from their own universe came over, including their Ground City friends.

    “I hope someone finds Reuben. I’m worried about my best friend…” said Benedict sadly.

    “Don’t worry, Benedict. I’m sure we’ll find him soon. That’s why we came to help with the search,” said Isa.

    “I hope so…” said Benedict. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

    “You could come with us to the forest where he last was. The boys and I are going to search for clues,” said Vector.

    “I’ll come. I want to help,” said Benedict.

    “Just keep her with you, please. I don’t want her getting kidnapped to,” said Isa.

    “Don’t worry. We are aware. We’re keeping Charmy close to us as well,” said Espio.

    The Chaotix led Benedict outside to the forests so that they could start looking for clues. It was night, so they had to carry flashlights with them so that they could see.

    “Don’t worry Miss! We’ll find your boyfriend soon!” said Charmy, sounding confident.

    Benedict blushed and said, “Wh-what?”

    “Well, you and Reuben hang out all the time. Aren’t you his girlfriend or something?” asked Charmy.

    “Charmy!” Espio snapped at him.

    “What? It’s just a question,” said Charmy.

    Espio facepalmed.

    “You’re never going to grow up…” he muttered.

    Suddenly, the group heard the sound of a bush rustling.  Benedict pointed her flashlight at it, and a pig popped out. But it didn’t look like a normal pig. It looked like it was from the Minecraft universe.

    “What’s a Minecraft pig doing out here?” asked Espio.

    The pig looked up, and he suddenly gasped happily.

    “Benedict!” it said.

    “AH! It talked!” cried Charmy.

    Espio and Vector backed up, but Benedict only gasped when she heard the pig speak.

    “Reuben!?” she said.

    “Benedict! It’s me!” said the pig.

    Benedict dropped her flashlight and got down on her knees. Reuben ran up to her and she threw her arms around him, giving him a hug.

    “Oh Reuben! I was worried about you!” she cried happily.

    But she quickly let go of the hug. Her smile faded.

    “But… what happened to you? Who did this to you?” she asked sadly.

    “I’ll explain later! Just please get me back to the others! Before he finds me!” said Reuben.

    “Fawful did this to you?!” cried F. Jesse.

    “He turned you into a pig again so that he can cook you and eat you?!” cried M. Jesse.

    “He did! He was mad at me for escaping him when he captured me, so… he thought that this was the perfect revenge…” he said.

    “Oh Reuben…” said F. Jesse. She looked like she was going to cry.

    “Guys, can you please turn me back into a human?” said Reuben.

    “But you were a pig before right? You want to be back to being human?” asked Charmy.

    “Of course! I want to be a human like everyone else! And just like Benedict to, because she became human to…” said Reuben.

    “I’ll see if I can turn you back, Reuben. I can’t always turn an animal into a human…” said Kate nervously.

    “But you were able to turn me into a human!’ said Benedict.

    “Yeah, but maybe because you weren’t affected by a curse before. I have two Pokemon, my Pikachu and Pansage, who were once human. They got cursed by Dark King, but no matter what, I can’t turn them back…” said Kate.

    She sighed and said, “I’ll try Reuben. But if it fails, I’ll have to read through my books and see if I can find the right spell in them to see if there’s a way to break it.”

    Reuben followed her into Tails lab, and they shut the door so that they could get work.

    “I hope they can turn him back,” said M. Jesse.

    “I especially want to get him home since Fawful wants to eat him!” said F. Jesse.

    About an hour later, and Kate couldn’t change Reuben back to a human. She tried doing the same technique she used to turn Benedict into a human, potions, and a couple other ideas. But nothing worked.

    “I can’t do it. I’m sorry, but I can’t turn him back. Fawful must’ve used some sort of spell I can’t counteract with my powers…” she said sadly.

    “So I’m stuck as a pig?!” cried Reuben.

    “I’ll have to look through my books and see if I can find the spell Fawful used and see if there’s a way to undo it. Until then, since Fawful’s hunting him, keep him safe somewhere away from that bastard,” said Kate.

    “We should get him back to Beacontown!” said F. Jesse.

    “Wait Jesse, can Reuben stay with us in Ground City?” said Benedict.

    “You want to look after him?” asked M. Jesse.

    “Fawful might not look for him there. I promise, I’ll keep him safe. He’s my best friend and I will protect him from harm,” said Benedict.

    F. Jesse looked at Reuben, as if she wanted him to make the choice.

    “I’ll stay with her if you’re okay with it,” said Reuben.

    F. Jesse sighed and said, “Just please keep him safe.”

    Benedict nodded her head.

    A while later, Isa and Benedict returned to Ground City. They brought Reuben with them and filled in Reginald and Milo about what happened and how they were going to guard Reuben until then.

    While the adults discussed what they were going to do, Benedict took Reuben to her room. She set up some sheets on the floor so that she could make a bed.

    “Here, I’ll sleep on the floor so you can rest in my bed,” she told him.

    “What? But I can stay on the floor. I’m the animal after all,” said Reuben.

    “You’re still my best friend, and my guest. I want you to be okay,” said Benedict.

    Reuben didn’t like that. He appreciated the gesture, but he didn’t want Benedict treating him better than how she treated herself. But before he could object, Benedict picked him up gently and put him down on her bed. She patted him on the head and pulled her sheet over him.

    “Good night Reuben,” she told him.

    She crawled down onto the floor and got cozy underneath her sheets. Reuben looked at her, but he didn’t like how she was doing this for him.

    A short while later, Reuben saw Benedict shivering. He got up and nuzzled his face against hers. Benedict opened her eyes and looked up at him.

    “Come on. Sleep with me. Your bed’s much warmer anyway,” he whispered to her, smiling a bit.

    Benedict sat up, and Reuben grabbed her sleeve with his teeth, tugging her arm. She smiled at him and crawled into her bed. Reuben jumped up and curled into a ball next to her, and Benedict pulled the sheet over them. She hugged him and closed her eyes.

    “Good night…” she whispered to him.

    “Good night Benedict…” Reuben whispered back.

    The next morning arrived. Reginald headed to Benedict’s room to wake her and Reuben up, and when the head guard entered the room, he saw Benedict cuddling with the pig. He couldn’t help but smile, because he found it cute. He walked over to them and gently shook Benedict on the shoulder.

    “Hmm… Captain Reginald?” Benedict said.

    “Morning Benedict. Time to get up,” he said.

    Benedict sat up and yawned. Reuben stirred and woke up to. He let out a yawn.

    “Good morning Reuben,” said Benedict.

    Reuben oinked. He didn’t speak any English. That caught Reginald and Benedict off guard.

    “Reuben? What did you say?” asked Reginald.

    Reuben oinked again. He gave them a confused look.

    “Oh no! You can’t talk like us! The spell might be turning you into a real pig to!” said Benedict.

    Reuben oinked again, but as he oinked more, he began to panic.

    “He might lose his personality to, since a normal pig doesn’t have one!” said Reginald. “I’ll call Kate and see if she found an update on how to change Reuben back!”

    He quickly rushed out of the room.

    “Reuben, if you can understand me, please nod your head yes,” said Benedict.

    Reuben nodded his head sadly. He looked like he might cry.

    “Oh Reuben…” said Benedict.

    She gently pulled him into a hug to comfort him.

    “We’re going to figure this out. I promise,” said Benedict.

    A short while later, the Jesse twins and Kate came over. Kate looked tired, probably because she had been up all night reading through books.

    “I couldn’t find anything. I don’t know what kind of spell Fawful used on him. I’m sorry guys. I tried everything…” said Kate.

    She let out a yawn after she finished talking.

    F. Jesse looked at Reuben sadly.

    “I’m sorry buddy. I’m sorry we couldn’t turn you back to human…” she said sadly.

    Reuben gave her a sad look. He started to tear up, and he ended up running away from the group.

    “Reuben wait!” cried F. Jesse.

    “I’ll get him!” said Benedict.

    She rushed after the crying pig.

    F. Jesse sighed sadly and looked down. M. Jesse gave his sister a pat on the back.

    “You did everything you could Kate, so at least you tried,” said M. Jesse.

    “I failed you guys… I’m sorry…” said Kate. She yawned again.

    “Uh Kate… don’t you think you could use some sleep? You look exhausted,” asked Reginald nervously.

    She glared at the head guard and said, “I look awesome…”

    While the others tried to discuss what to do regarding how Reuben got turned into a pig, Benedict chased after Reuben.

    “Reuben?! Reuben, where are you?” she called out.

    She suddenly heard the sound of a pig crying. She followed it and found Reuben sitting on the ground, crying hard. Benedict approached him and sat down next to. She patted him on the back to comfort him. Reuben slowly calmed down and looked up at Benedict with his glassy eyes.

    “It’s okay Reuben. I know we can’t change you back, but no matter what, you’re still my best friend. I still want to hang out with you, and I’ll still take care of you in any way I can,” said Benedict.

    Reuben managed to smile at Benedict. He felt touched by her words, and he made another noise, probably to say, “Thank you…”

    Suddenly, Reuben’s smile faded. It looked like he was dazed for a second.

    “Reuben?” said Benedict.

    Reuben looked up, but now he sniffed Benedict, like he didn’t recognize her.

    “Reuben, nod your head if you can understand me…” said Benedict.

    Reuben didn’t nod his head. Instead, he turned around and took a few steps away from Benedict. Benedict got up and gently grabbed him.

    “You lost your personality… the you inside you is gone to…” she said.

    Benedict began to tear up. She hugged Reuben again.

    “Reuben… I wish you could understand me right now, so I can tell you that no matter what, I still love you. You’re still my best friend, and I’ll still take care of you… not even this new form of yours can change how much I love you…” she whispered.

    Benedict gently kissed Reuben on the forehead. Suddenly, she noticed that Reuben was glowing. She gasped and jumped back.

    “Reuben?!” she cried.

    The glowing light disappeared, and when it did, Reuben was lying unconscious on the ground, but he was human again.

    “Reuben!” Benedict shouted. “Reuben! Reuben wake up!” she said, shaking him a bit.

    Reuben groaned a bit, and he slowly opened his eyes. As he did, he saw that Benedict was looking down at him, tears in her eyes.

    “Reuben?” she whispered.

    “Huh… Benedict?” he whispered.

    Benedict began to cry, but now she was smiling. She helped him set up and she pulled him into a hug.

    “I don’t know how, but I changed you back! You lost your personality! But I changed you back! I changed you back!” she said, sobbing.

    Reuben returned the hug. He wasn’t sure what was going on at first, but he returned the hug to comfort Benedict. But after she told him what happened, he remembered how he turned into a pig again and started to lose his personality.

    “You did change me back… thank you…” he whispered to her, smiling.

    After a while, Benedict managed to calm down. Reuben stood up, extending his hand to her. Benedict took his hand and the two walked back to the others, holding hands.

    “Guys!” Benedict called out to the others.

    Isa, Reginald, the Jesse twins, and Kate turned around, and when they saw Reuben and Benedict coming over they were shocked to see that Reuben was back to being human.

    “REUBEN!?” cried the twins.

    They rushed over to him and gave him a hug. Both M. Jesse and F. Jesse were crying, but they were smiling, as they embraced Reuben.

    “Benedict, what happened?! Did the spell wear off, or did you do something to undo it?!” said Reginald.

    “I don’t know… Reuben lost his personality on the inside, and I told him how even if he was gone inside, I would still look after him because he’s my best friend. I gave him a kiss on the forehead, and this bright light came around him. When it vanished, Reuben was back to normal!” said Benedict.

    Isa and Reginald only smiled at her, but it looked like they were grinning.

    “Benedict, how much do you like Reuben?” Isa asked.

    “Uh…” said Benedict. She blushed and formed a nervous look on her face.

    “Benedict…” said a voice.

    She turned around to see that it was Reuben who spoke to her. The twins let go of their hug around him and allowed Reuben to walk up to Benedict.

    “Benedict, you restored my human form… because you kissed me on the forehead?” asked Reuben. Now he was blushing.

    “I… I guess…” said Benedict.

    “Ah ha… I see why you restored Reuben…” said M. Jesse, smirking. “True love’s kiss…”

    “Jesse!” Reuben said. He frowned at him and was still blushing.

    “Oh come on, dude. I’m just messing with you,” said M. Jesse.

    “I don’t buy it…” Reuben said, still frowning.

    A while later, Reuben pulled Benedict aside so that he could talk to her, regarding what she said and how she restored his human form by kissing him on the forehead. He had something he wanted to ask her, and after how both of them got teased earlier, he figured it was best to ask her now to get things straightened out.

    “Reuben, what’s the matter?” asked Benedict.

    Reuben breathed in and exhaled. He was very nervous.

    “Oh boy…” he said.

    He hadn’t asked anyone for advice on this.

    “Benedict… I… I like you a lot…” he said, blushing.

    Benedict blushed in return.

    “I’ve liked you a lot for a while, which is why… I need to ask, how do you feel towards me?” he said, still blushing.

    “I… I’ve never imagined us becoming friends. You’re my best friend, and… possibly one of my only friends. I love it when we get to hang out, whether we play music together or we play games together,” said Benedict.

    “I know, and I like hanging out with you to,” said Reuben. “But… if you don’t like me a lot, I understand… I don’t wanna lose you as a friend…”

    Benedict managed to smile at him. She was blushing, but she was smiling slightly.

    “I’m not sure how I feel towards you, but maybe I’ll find out soon. Until then, our friendship isn’t going to end. I still like hanging out with you, and I won’t let this situation end our friendship. I’ll still be there,” said Benedict.

    Reuben smiled back at her.

    “So… when we’re older, will you figure out by then?” he asked.

    “Yeah… I’ll know for sure by then. We’re still kids in a sense, and we’re still growing. But even so, we’re still friends,” she told him.

    Reuben stopped blushing, but he was still smiling.

    “We should head back inside. I know that the Jesse twins want to take you home, and I need to eat dinner with Isa, Milo, and Reginald,” said Benedict.

    “I understand. I’ll walk you inside,” said Reuben.

    Holding hands, the two headed back inside the palace. When they regrouped with the others, they saw that their friends were waiting for them.

    “So he’s really back to being human… huh. Guess that means I can get to the next order of business…” said Kate. She cracked her knuckles as she finished talking.

    “What’s that?” asked Isa.

    Kate didn’t respond. Instead, she walked over to a couch and lied down on it, face first.

    “Uh… Kate?” asked Reginald.

    The group just stared at her as they heard her start to snore. She fell asleep.

    The end!

    And till next time on “The Adventures of the Three Heroes”!