Chapter 2: Jungle Jinx

Somewhere far away, in a peaceful jungle, where the animals live according to the food chain and circle of life... two huge, void black hands appeared and tore a hole in the fabric of space, pulling at the cosmos until they broke, allowing for a rift between one spot and another.

With the hands dissipating, Riba stepped through the portal between here and there, and set foot into the jungle. He had brought his casual clothes, as he didn't want to stay in the soaked funeral wear from before. The grass was sticky with a sweet substance. It clung to the bottom of his shoe with the droplets of Honey Syrup acting as an adhesive. "What is this place?" Riba asked.

"You'll find out soon enough," Len stated, hopping up on Riba's shoulders and sitting down.

"Um..." Riba sputtered in annoyance. Len looked at him and then turned back into a black cat. This was for some reason a lot more normal. "Okay. That's better." Riba stared off into the distance. "Where do we go now?"

"There is a Memory Fragment nearby. I couldn't take you directly to it, as I sense danger near its exact location," Len replied. "And due to your meltdown, you have lost all of your Flower Points. A shame, really."

"Flower Points?" Riba asked. It sounded like pure nonsense to him.

"Flower Points are given by the gods to those who show joy. The more joy you display, the more Flower Points you are rewarded," Len explained. "I already sense your high amount of EXP, which you gain from killing other living beings. This could mean your basic attacks can already destroy whatever danger is nearby... But we're better safe than sorry. Perhaps a little adventure will lift your spirits, thus giving you the Flower Points needed to take on this task and those that follow."

"That makes sense... I guess," Riba sighed. He looked at a creek of Honey Syrup, and one lone maple tree log making its way through the brisk flow of the substance. He followed it in a jog, and then thought of what Mario would do. Mario loved making dangerous actions just for the fun of it. So maybe doing this would make him happy... he quickened his pace, swallowing his fear. He would do what Mario would do. Mario would run... then... jump!

Riba hopped over the calm honeyway, and made it onto the log, which he used as a surfboard. His feet stuck to the top, and they ventured onward through the tributary at a decent speed.

Then, that speed began to pick up. "Len, are those... rocks?" Riba asked, seeing something in the distance.

"Yes," Len replied, as blank as ever. Riba nearly screamed. "Focus. Focus," Len said, calmly.

"How could you possibly be so calm in this situation?!" Riba shouted. They were approaching the rocks. What would Riba do?

"Agh!" Riba shouted as he went over the rocks. He landed with a loud SPLOOSH, and the log went under the Honey Syrup. Everything below Riba's knees was submerged in Honey Syrup, but the log floated right back up. Riba had to dodge many oncoming rocks by leaning his body backward and forward. Riba had gotten lucky that he didn't land on anything but his feet. He had never used any kind of board before despite living right by the ocean, so this was very new territory for him.

Still, he kept calm and directed his gaze forward to the yellow sky. So much so, that he didn't take care to notice that there was a steep decline coming up. Until he came to that point. He then realized it wasn't just steep... it was a waterfall of Honey Syrup!

Riba fell downwards instantly. But the thick syrup kept him at least somewhat afloat by the edge of the log. His heart was pounding out of his chest, and his vision was getting hazy. What would he do? He screamed and shut his eyes tight, preparing for the worst, when suddenly he felt himself falling slower. He opened his eyes and looked up, ceasing his cry. To realize Len had sprouted white bird wings and was now using them to safely lower him.

This continued until they were finally on the ground, on the shore right next to the lake which the honeyfall deposited its contents into. Riba breathed heavily out of fear, his heart still racing. "What's the matter? Why aren't we going anywhere?" Len asked.

Riba was sweating. He could have died. He could have died and possibly never returned. Riba collapsed onto the grass, not caring for the droplets of Honey Syrup getting his hair sticky. Len just stared, expecting a response. Before turning away and walking towards the lake. "And just where are you going?" Riba asked.

Len transformed back into a girl. She knelt down to the lake and scooped up some of the liquid in her hands, bringing it over to Riba. "Here, drink this."

Riba looked at her hands, the Honey Syrup starting to leak through. "Why?" He asked. Along with this question having no definite answer he could think of, he was also not so sure how he'd feel just drinking out of her hands. Wouldn't that be just a little weird?

"It's not just any regular honey syrup," Len stated. "This kind will replenish your energy quickly, if only a little bit. I also recall that it may give you Flower Points." Riba looked hesitant, before dipping his finger into the Honey Syrup in her hands. He only got a little on his fingertip, and then placed it into his mouth, licking it off. It was... sweet beyond words!

Riba immediately shot over to the lake and scooped up more of the delicious syrup. Len just watched with a raised eyebrow. Riba in that moment didn't ever want to taste anything else again. Although... this taste... was somehow familiar.

"Beware the forest's Honey Syrup..." Len stated. "The closer to the heart of the forest the syrup is... the more you'll just want to stuff your face with its serum for all of eternity." Riba didn't listen. He didn't want to listen. Len sighed indifferently, then glided over and grabbed him by the collar, dragging him away from the body of syrup against his will.