Welcome to Red Space.

You haven't been here in years.

Hero stands up, looking around the room before him. There's only three things of note within the room.

The first is a stove, turned off. He examines it.

"I don't really feel like cooking," he thinks aloud.

He examines the second object, a surgical table, where he thinks aloud, "I've never liked this stuff."

He examines the third object, a door, and opens it to visit Mari.

He enters a totally black space, bare save for a single tree, thick forests part to make a corridor towards it. Grass crunches as he walks until he spots a kid with a knife in a black shirt. The kid finishes tying a rope before jumping down from the tree.

"Mari!" Hero exclaims, "What did you do to her!?!"

The kid stays silent, gripping his knife. He slowly turns to face Hero, showing the blade.

"You think you're gonna scare me off after what you did you got another thing coming!" Hero yells before rushing forward.

The Culpirt stands there, unblinking with that cold gaze of apathy.

Hero chooses to fight, striking The Culpirt whom is uninjured by the attack, the blow merely colliding harmlessly with his stomach.

In response The Culpirt strangles Hero, gripping his neck. Hero feels his strength leaves him and a sharp pain in his neck as he desperately prys himself free.

Hero coughs, struggling to breathe as his visions darkens. His heart pounds in his ears as he starres daggers at The Culprit. He feels himself losing consciousness, realzing he can't defeat this foe...

But Hero did not succumb.

"You won't get away with this..." Hero gasps out.

The Culprit shoves Hero. Hero staggers back, unable to continue fighting.

"Mari..." He growls, "You... you'll pay for this..."

The ground begins to crack beneath Hero's feet, causing him to fall into the black depths below.

The Culprit swings his knife at the air, looking at the blade, and disappears into the forest.

Hero falls from the sky onto a pile of orange sand that breaks his fall.

"Mari..." He mutters to himself, crying, "No..."

Hero forces himself to his feet, determination and rage in his eyes, "I'll avenge you. I will find The Culprit, I swear."

Hero walks across the cool sands of the oasis, spotting many odd beings as he wanders. Two citrus humanoids sit, sunbathing in beach chairs.

"Pardon me," he greets one, "I'm a bit lost."

The orange one replies, "You're in Orange Oasis friend, and I must say you look familar. Doesn't he brother?"

The other replies, "Yes he does Orange Man. Do we know you from somewhere?"

"Can't say I recall," Hero replies, "Have you seen a kid with a knife?"

"Oh I've heard he's in the space," Orange man nods, "Why would you want to see him? He seems like a cool dude to me."

"And how would I get there?" Hero asks politely, omitting his motive while hiding his irritation at the kind words directed at his enemy.

"Well tickets are sold out you would have to buy one from a scalper," Orange Man replies, "There is one behind Dino Dig but she's pretty sketchy. Pretty sure she sells stolen tickets."

"That'll have to do thank you kindly," Hero replies.

He walks away finding his way to the scalper, a young woman with a large, tattered bow and a worn pink dress. She's thin, to thin, like she hasn't eaten in days.

"I heard you got tickets?" Hero inquires.

"Who's asking?" The woman replies.

"Just a young man looking to travel," Hero replies with his charming smile.

"Wait I know you!" The young woman exclaims, "You're Hero!"

"I'm sorry?" Hero inquires, confused, "We haven't met. Who are you?"

"It's..." The woman sighs, "It's been a long time but it's me. Sweetheart as you knew me but... I go by Brokenheart now."

Brokenheart looks down at her feet and sighs, "Here. For old's time sake. Just... take it."

Hero received train tickets.

"You quite alright madam?" Hero inquires, becoming concerned for the young woman.

"No," Brokenheart admits.

Hero sighs, thinking to himself, "I can't just leave her like this she's starving to death out here...."

"I could use an extra set of hands," Hero explains extending a hand to Brokenheart, "Why don't you tag along?"

Brokenheart inquires, "Where are we going?"

"First to get you some food," Hero replies, "Then we're going after The Culprit. You familar?"

"I've heard of him vaugley," Brokenheart admits, "But no not really."

"Well that's fine two heads are better than one," Hero replies, "Let's go."

Brokenheart joins Hero's party.

"Any places to grab a bite around here?" Hero inquires.

"Don't worry about it I can eat later," Sweetheart replies, "I-"

Hero takes out a pan and starts a fire, "I'll just whip something up."

Hero cooks for a moment, Brokenheart inquiring after an awkward silence outside the station, "So... why are you... here?"

"Pardon?" Hero inquires.

"I thought you would be with your friends," Brokenheart replies, "Looking for... what were you guys doing?"

"I haven't met you before," Hero reiterates, "You must be mistaken."

"You were shorter a week ago," Brokenheart concedes, "But I know it was you. It doesn't add up."

"Well frankly I don't really care," Hero concedes, offering Brokenheart a stack of pancakes on a plate, "Eat up."

"Thank you," Brokenheart replies.

Hero waits for her to eat before stating, "Alright let's go."

With that the two enter the train station. As they get on the train the conductor stops them, "Wait... I know you... Thief! Stop her!"

"Now now sir," Hero replies turning on the charm, "She stole only to survive. You would have done the same to feed yourself. Is this not true? A life is worth more than some tickets. Does this not mean that she did nothing wrong?"

"I missed the part where that's my problem," the ticket puncher retorts, "Police!"

Two sprout moles with police batons attack.

"Two on one then?" Hero asks, "Fine. I tried to be reasonable."

"Oh you're not doing this alone," Brokenheart interjects, "Let's get em!"

Hero strikes the first in the face with a frying pan as Brokenheart follows, swinging her broken flail at the cop.

The cops counter, striking Brokenheart with their batons. Brokenheart recoils in pain yet remains standing.

Hero once more strikes, hitting the first cop right in the heart. The officer flies back from the heavy blow, defeated.

"You bastards!" The remaining cop yells, becoming enraged. He strikes Hero hard in the heart with a wrath fueled blow from his baton. Hero staggers back, his vision darkening from what should be a lethal blow...

But Hero did not succumb.

Sweetheart forces a smile at Hero, trying to feign happiness to reassure him despite it hurting herself to force it. Hero smiles at this kindness, feeling happy as Sweetheart, from the pain of this fake joy, becomes sad.

Hero strikes the cop with a blow to the heart, knocking him over with a truly moving attack that finishes off the officer.

The train blows a whistle.

"That's our cue!" Hero exclaims taking Brokenheart's hand, he rushes her onto the train.

"Stop!" The ticket puncher yells, but it's to late as the train starts to its next location.

The two sit down on opposite sides of the train.

Hero catches his breath, "Well... that was tense."

"Thank you," Brokenheart mutters.

"Huh?" Hero inquires.

"Thank you," Brokenheart repeats, "People don't like me much."

"I mean I wasn't gonna leave you to waste away," Hero replies, "Who are you though? You said you knew me and I'm very lost."

"You really don't remember?"

"No."

"... You must be like him."

"Huh?"

"It's nothing. It's a long ride to the forest maybe you should get some shut eye."

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Wake me up when we get there."

Brokenheart nods as Hero nods off into slumber. She sighs, "You really are... my hero..."