The kids followed the faint energy source. The energy was familiar and they were determined to follow it. The kids followed the source all the way till sunrise. They panted as they stood before a cave.

"A-a cave?" Brad panted.

"The energy is coming from inside the cave." Mokuba said as he caught his breath.

"Let's check it out. But first," Cody then got a rope out from his bag. He tied it around a stone near the entrance of the cave.

"Everyone hold on." Cody said as he got out his flashlight. The others took hold of the rope and took out their lights as well. With Cody in front, they entered the cave together.

They weren't very far in when they felt a sense of familiarity from the cave.

"Why does it feel like we've been here before?" Eri asked.

"So it isn't just me. Good to know." Brad muttered. Cody suddenly stopped and shined his light at the walls around them.

"What are you looking at Cody?" Mokuba asked as the others copied their leader. The lights from their flashlights then started to reflect off of some of the smaller rocks in the wall.

"No. You don't think." Mokuba muttered.

"It's the only explanation." Cody said as he reached out and swiped the dust off one of the reflective surfaces. Once the dust was gone, there was a small crystal, shaped like a star.

"This confirms it." Cody said as he pulled the foggy crystal out of the wall. "This is the tunnel that brought us to Ryoko's world in the first place."

"But why? Wouldn't it have been destroyed with everything else?" Brad asked.

"Not only that, there's nowhere else for it to go." Mokuba muttered as he looked deeper down the tunnel.

"I don't know. But there is some odd energy emitting from this cave. So we need to investigate further." Cody said as he carried on forward. The others followed after the blonde. The deeper they went, the stronger the energy was.

"We're getting close. Prepare yourselves everyone." Cody said as the guard on his forearm turned into a battle ax. Brad pulled his staff off his back, Mokuba unlocked his Duel disk and Eri released Meowstic from his pokeball. The kids carefully crept through the darkness. They suddenly made it to a large opening.

"Keep your guards up." Cody said as they spread out. As they did that, the rope split off into four, connecting to each child. The four kids scouted the entire room. There was something in this room that was calling to them. They searched and searched till they met in the center.

"What did you guys find?" Eri asked.

"I didn't find anything." Brad scoffed.

"Nothing here." Mokuba sighed.

"Oh come on. This cave literally called out to us. There's no way that there isn't something here." Cody said as he shone his light around the room once more. Suddenly, something else reflected off the light.

"Wait! What was that?!" Eri gasped, pointing her light in the direction of the shimmer. The boys followed her lead, looking for the reflection. It was then found, a little yellow shimmer in the dark.

"What is that?" Mokuba asked out loud, squinting to see what it was.

"Get me up there, Meowstic." Eri said.

"Meowstic!" He called as he unfolded his ears and used psychic. Eri was then surrounded by a blue aura and lifted up to the object. Once there, she gasped as she saw a familiar sight. She carefully took the object from the wall and carefully brushed the dust off. Meowstic then brought the girl down.

"What is it Eri?" Cody asked as she turned to them.

"It's Mokuba's item from the maze." She said, holding it out. Mokuba's eyes widened as he saw the locket in Eri's hands.

"S-Seriously...?" He softly stuttered. He carefully reached out and took it into his own hands. Tears filled his eyes.

"I-I never thought I'd see this again..." Mokuba muttered as he carefully popped the locket open. He choked out a sob as he saw the photo of him and Seto. It was surreal. To think that at one point they were such small happy children.

"If that's here..." Cody then looked around, searching the walls for any of the other items from the maze. Mokuba and Eri began to do the same thing. Eri then remembered something.

"Wait, is there something for Alice in this cave? She never ran the course." The boys paused as they thought about it.

"Does anyone remember what she had?" The boys shook their heads. None of them could remember the items that Ryoko had given to Alice.

"Well, we'll find it eventually. If our items are in here, Alice's has to be too." Cody said as they continued the search. After looking for another ten minutes, they had found all their items from the maze; the bandage, the photo, the dog collar. But they couldn't find Alice's item.

"Man it would be so much easier if we could remember what Alice had!" Mokuba scoffed, kicking a rock.

"Come on. It has to be here. Our things were." Brad groaned as he stood to his full height.

"Maybe it isnt here cause she didn't run the course?" Eri suggested.

"That's a possibility." Cody muttered. He scanned the room with his light one more time. Then he noticed a small crevice near the floor. Cody walked up to it and shined his light through it. Just inside was a small metal object.

"Is that it?" He muttered as he tried to reach his arm in. But the object was just out of reach.

"Dang it." He sighed as he pulled his arm out.

"What is it?" Mokuba asked as he walked up to Cody.

"I think Alice's item is back there. But my arm isn't long enough to grab it."

"Meowstic might be able to get it." Eri said, turning to Meowstic. "Can you try?"

"Meowstic meow." Meowstic said as he stepped up to the crevice . He lifted his ears and his eyes glow blue. The box then began to glow blue as well. It carefully lifted from its place and came floating towards the group. Meowstic then carefully brought it out, handing it to Eri. Eri carefully held the item in her hands.

"What is that thing?" Mokuba muttered as he looked over her shoulder.

"Some kind of device." Brad muttered. "Open it, see what's inside."

"I am I am." Eri huffed as she tried to open the device. But no matter what she did, it didn't budge.

"What the heck? Is it rusted?" Eri muttered as she handed it over to Brad to inspect. Brad turned the rounded device in his hands.

"It's not rusted." He said as he dusted off some of the dirt. "But it may have a lock mechanism."

"Whatever it is, we found it. These items must've been what was drawing us here." Cody said as he looked around.

"We should go then. If more exploring is needed, we can come back with better cave equipment." Brad said.

"You're right." Cody said as he cleared his throat.

"Let's go guys." The group of four then left the cave. As they did, the crevice that the device was in slowly crumbled.

**********

The four friends made it back to their treehouse. They exhaustedly climbed up into the structure and trudged over to their rooms. Eri however, walked past her room and went to Alice's instead. She peeked in to see Viarrah holding Alice in her arms.

"Was she good for you?" Eri softly asked. The spirit turned around and chuckled.

"She was fussy at first. But she warmed up to me." She said, putting the girl down in her bed. Eri chuckled and took Via's hand.

"I now relinquish you spirit. May you go back to rest in peace." Eri said. Once she removed her hand from Via's, the spirit faded away back into the afterlife, resting once again. Eri sighed as she watched Alice sleep.

"I wonder how this thing is connected to her." Eri muttered as she pulled the device out of her bag. Most of the dust and dirt have come off of it. It seemed to be some sort of jewelry box. But why it had a lock, Eri may never know.

"This is for you Alice." Eri softly said as she placed the device on the nightstand next to Alice's bed.

"Maybe you'll know what to do with it."

**********

Eri was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of something clicking.

"Wha-what?" Eri climbed out of bed and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Then, she heard music. It was soft and almost piano-like.

"Where is that coming from?" Eri asked herself as she exited her room. She followed the music down the hall and into Alice's room. Just as Eri reached the door, the music stopped and Alice giggled. Eri opened the door and watched as Alice held the device they had found earlier.

"Alice? What are you doing?" Eri asked as she walked up to the child. Alice looked up and smiled brightly.

"It's Iko!" She said as she happily held the, now open, device up to the albino girl. Eri's eyes widened as she saw Ryoko's smiling face.

"Let me see it Alice." Eri softly said as she held her hands out. Alice handed the device to Eri, and she inspected the picture closer. Eri felt her eyes water as she remembered the photo on the lid. It was from the obstacle course.

"Eri?" Eri took a breath and cleared her throat.

"Yes Alice?" Eri tore her eyes from Ryoko's smile, turning her attention to the five year old.

"When will Iko come back?" Eri's breath hitched as Alice asked her question. Alice stared at Eri expectantly, awaiting an answer from the older girl. Eri sighed.

"I don't know Alice." Eri said as she handed the device back to Alice. "But take good care of your toy. It's special, you know."

"I know! Iko gave it to me!" Alice said as she closed the lid and picked up a key on a chain. Alice suddenly inserted the key into the device. Eri watched in amazement as Alice wound the key and the device started playing music again. Alice smiled and swayed with the music. Seeing Alice's happiness made Eri smile too.

"Well, I have to go now Alice. Good night." Eri quietly said. Alice didn't reply as Eri left the room.

She sighed as she closed the door and leaned against it.

"So that was her special item huh? I wonder what it meant to her before she came here."

**********

Later in the day, the kids were casually lounging around in the main room. They were still feeling the effects from the night before.

"I'm bored!" Alice pouted. Mokuba looked down at the little girl in his lap.

"Wanna watch a movie?" He suggested. Alice shook her head.

"Nuh uh!" The five year old then stood and ran over to the trap door.

"I wanna go outside!" She said, trying to lift the door. Mokuba quickly ran over and stood on the door.

"Don't do that Alice! You could get hurt!" He said.

"I wanna go outside!!" The little brunette demanded. Mokuba looked back at the others for help. Cody chuckled and rose from his spot on the couch.

"I don't see why not." Alice smiled and started cheering.

"Yeah!! Outside!!" She squealed, hopping around. Mokuba chuckled.

"Alright, alright." He kneeled and Alice quickly climbed onto his back. He stood, adjusting the little girl on his back.

"Hang on tight!" Mokuba said as he opened the trap door and slid down the ladder. Alice squealed with joy as the wind rushed by her. Once on the ground, Mokuba opened the secret door and put Alice down. Alice immediately ran out and around. She squealed and laughed as she was surrounded by nature. Soon, the other three joined them down below.

"Well she's enjoying herself." Cody chuckled.

"Oh, what I'd give to be that young again." Brad snorted.

"You're not that old yet." Eri said with a giggle.

"Still." Brad simply stated as he went over to the garden to tend to the plants and flowers. Alice suddenly came running back to the older kids.

"Mokie! Mokie look!" She shouted as the long haired boy turned to her.

"Yeah? What is it Tiny?" He asked, kneeling. Alice ran up to Mokuba and held out a dandelion.

"It's a wishmaker!! That's what Iko told me!!" Alice said happily. Mokuba and Cody's faces fell a bit. They remembered that day, out by the little lake.

"Well, why don't you make a wish then?" Mokuba softly said. Alice nodded before muttering her wish.

"I wish that-"

"Don't say it out loud! It won't come true." Cody said.

"Oh! Yeah!" Alice said as she closed her eyes. And stayed still for a few seconds before blowing on the dandelion. The seeds broke loose and flew away in the wind. Alice smiled as she watched the seeds fly away.

"Bye bye!!!" She said, waving as the seeds drifted away. Mokuba chuckled and looked down at the grass. He carefully plucked one and stared at it.

"Hey Alice." The little girl turned back to Mokuba.

"Wanna learn how to make grass squeak?"

**********

After an hour of trying, Alice still couldn't make the grass squeak, and it was upsetting her.

"I can't do it!" She cried, tossing her blade of grass.

"But you were close. If you keep-"

"No!! I don't wanna!!" Alice screamed as she fell over into her puddle of sadness. Mokuba sighed and laid down next to her. Alice tended to have these tantrums. So to make sure she knew she wasn't alone, Mokuba would lay there with her.

"You're gonna be a little froggie if you keep screaming like that." Mokuba softly said, poking the little girl. She fussed and pushed his hand away. Mokuba sighed and laid there with the upset child.

"Another one?" Eri asked as she walked up to the two. Mokuba sighed and sat up.

"Yeah. But it's fine. She just doesn't know how to process her emotions yet." Eri hummed as she looked at the little girl.

"She's lucky to have you Mokuba." Eri suddenly said.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, once upon a time, I was like her yaknow. Lost and confused."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm. And well, I didn't have anyone to guide me. I was just... taken advantage of..." Eri muttered, rubbing her arms. Mokuba's eyes widened.

"Your foster father...?" Eri nodded.

"He experimented on me. He abused me. And I didn't have anyone to guide me or care for me like you care for Alice. So, she's very lucky to have you." Eri said. Mokuba let Eri's words sink in.

"I... I guess she is..." Mokuba said. He turned to look at the little girl but she wasn't there anymore. Mokuba's heart stopped. He quickly got to his feet and looked around.

"ALICE?!?!?" He shouted with panic. Eri panicked as well.

"ALICE?!?!" She called. The pair frantically looked for the five year old girl. Cody came running.

"What happened?! What happened to Alice?!" Cody demanded.

"I-I don't know! I-I was talking to Eri and she disappeared!!" Mokuba gasped as tears flowed freely out of his eyes. Cody's eyes widened. Brad then walked over with a watermelon.

"What's going on over here?" He asked obliviously.

"Alice is missing and it's all my fault!!" Mokuba cried.

"Mokuba! It isn't your fault!" Eri said, grabbing Mokuba by his shoulders and shaking him.

"It's my fault!! I distracted you!! I'm sorry!!" Eri sobbed.

"Now's not the time to take blame! We need to find her before she gets hurt!!" Cody shouted as he turned and ran for the tree.

"Let's split up! We'll cover more ground!" And with that, the four kids scattered, looking for the young brunette.