Wrong Time, Wrong Place

Factory

Nick stepped out of the boat and walked back into town.

"Right, so I should go to sweet skies next? The cannon should be fixed by now"

He quietly passed by the fountain, not wanting Mason to see him. He runs off towards the cannon and gets to sweet skies through it. He reached the place and noticed other paths around him, he wanders into them, getting stars. After climbing a whole mountain for a star, he reaches the factory. A man stands outside it.

"Sir, what are you doing outside the factory?"

"Oh it's nothing, I was just thinking"

"About what?"

"There's only one thing money can't buy in this world and that's a golden ticket. I've searched for one ever since I was a child..."

"Why do you want it?"

"With it, I would be able to take a grand tour of the factory. I'd even trade my most prized possession for it, a-"

"-star?"

"Oh yes a star, how did you know?"

"Many people asked me for favors in return for a star, not surprised"

"Well you need them don't you?"

"Of course, I'll go get your ticket"

"Thank you! Though be careful around these parts, you might get lost"

"Uhhh, it's okay, I know this place since I was a kid"

"Oh okay! Alright, be careful still though, Dilly Donka isn't that kind to trespassers"

He nodded and went into the factory, he finds the ticket and puts it in his pocket. He spots a star nearby and runs towards it, he gets stopped by Dilly Donka.

"Eh, what are you doing here? You're not here for that star... Are you?"

"Mason Maynot requested me to get those to open the gates, if I can just have it and be on my way-"

"Sure! But only if you beat me in a fight."

"But I'm not someone that fights, let alone have any combat skills-"

"Too bad, if you wanted to talk this out. You can't, you may only fight me for it"

"Sir-"

Dilly Donka throws his hat at him, he barely dodges it. He runs into a room and notices two things: a glass elevator and a hole above. Nick understands what it's for and started sprinting towards it as Dilly Donka passes ahead of him and stands at the platform just below the hole, slashing his cane at him, as if to knock him off the platforms. He dodges him and jumps into the glass elevator.

"Get back down here! Coward!"

"Never!"

He takes control of the glass elevator and aims it towards the hole, the timer drops to zero and it falls, landing directly on Dilly Donka. He hops out of the glass elevator.

"Uhm... Are you alright there or-"

"Fine. You're clever for using that glass elevator, do not worry about me. I can lift this off of me. Go take the star"

"But do you want some help lifting the glass elevator"

"You think I can't do it myself?"

"No, of course you can do it, but wouldn't you want to at least lift it off of your easier with my help?"

"You have a point. Come, help me out of this heavy thing"

Nick moves closer to Dilly Donka and helps him lift the glass elevator off, it floats away after it almost falls to the edge, leaving him skeptical.

"Don't worry it is like that, don't focus on it, take the star"

"... Alright"

He runs towards the star and picked it up. He stops short just near Dilly Donka.

"Oh, why are you just standing there? Dont you have something to do with that star?"

"I don't really understand it, everything feels weird"

"Now what do you mean by that?"

"One day I would be stargazing, the next I'm out here, getting stars because of some guy trying to do evil things with them"

"hm, suddenly put in the position of a hero?"

"I sorta chose to do it, but I don't understand how things suddenly shift into this, I'm already confused about some conflict I have over something. Then I have to be a Star Saviour"

"Try talking about that conflict to a friend? If you've been collecting stars for all this time, take a little break. Sort out that other problem before you go save the world. Your wellbeing is important, Saviour"

"Mmm I don't know, my only friend around is busy"

"Who is your friend?"

"Mason Maynot"

"Wait- wait. Don't tell me, Nicholas Veraze?"

"Yeah... That's me"

"You're the kid that fell into the chocolate riv-"

"Shhh don't talk about it, let me live without shame"

"Okay alright, though I think he could spare some time for you, you shouldn't overwork yourself trying to be a hero of some sort"

"I'll put it to mind"

"I've stall you long enough, you may go now"

"Thank you"

Dilly Donka gave him a smile before he left the factory, he hands the guy outside the ticket.

"I'm sorry I took a while, had to hit Dilly Donka with a glass elevator"

"... What?"

"Crushed him with a glass elevator, because I can't fight but he wanted a fight"

"Is he okay???"

"He's fine."

"Uhm, okay, but thanks for getting me the ticket"

"You're welcome"

"Okay but does he not have broken bones?"

"He was able to lift the elevator, but with a bit of my help"

"How did he survive that"

"He's good in combat. He even utilizes his hat and cane as a weapon, now I should part ways. I have a town to save"

"Alright, be careful out there, while I accomplish my childhood dream"

"Have fun"

He nods and Nick goes back to Maytown.