“Hey you! Seen any bad guys around here?”

Why’s Pete asking us that? We’re just gonna point to him. After all, we’re thinking that Pete’s got to be the one who’s up to no good.

But, in that world, that strange black and white world that we entered in the Hall of the Cornerstone - Timeless River - that Pete was a bit different.

“Who are ya? You new around here?”

“Cut the act.”

I had my Keyblade out, ready to strike, but before I could do anything Donald cast his magic on Pete, who was trying to stand up, and he fell right there on his back.

“Woah! Oh, ow….”

“You know, somethin’ doesn’t seem quite right here. Are you sure you’re Pete?” I turned to look at Goofy, we finally realized that this Pete wasn’t the Pete we were used to.

“Well, of *course* I’m Pete. I’m the captain of the steamboat. So stop botherin’ me, see? So hit the road! I gotta go find the little runt what stole my boat!”

As Pete sits there rubbing his lower back and complaining, we put our heads together and talk.

“Gwarsh, maybe we made a mistake.”

“I’m starting to think the same thing. He hasn’t even called any Heartless.” I whisper to Donald. Right after this, Goofy goes over to help Pete.

“Sorry we attacked ya like that, Capt'n Pete.”

“Oh, yeah? Well, if you’re really sorry, then go find my steamboat! ….Ooh, my achin’ back!”

He said this while finally standing up, though the pain in his lower back must have been pretty unbearable, since he collapsed back to the ground again. And with that, we went off in search of the stolen steamboat —-

On our way there, we saved a Mickey that was near identical to the King, but wasn’t him, and finally found the steamboat.

“My boat!”

Pete took off running ahead of us, towards the Pete we were used to, who was riding on the boat. Ugh, it’s confusing!

“Shaddup! Your future’s on the line pallie, so back off and give me the boat!” Shouts back the Pete that we were used to to this Pete. He then blows the steam whistle as the boat departs. We jump onto the departing boat. Then this Pete followed, the weight causing the boat to sway. The Pete that we were used to then slipped and fell into the river, case closed….or so I thought. Pete, who had fallen into the river, finally reached the riverbank, and then, still soaking wet, took off running.

“I’ll never forgive ya!” Said this Pete, jumping off of the boat.

We exchange glances with each other and then chase after Pete who is chasing after Pete. Then the next thing we saw where the two Pete’s going at each other.

“Why you!”’

“Let’s do this!”

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!”

“Ha! You’re still wet behind the ears!”

“I don’t know which is which….” Donald is walking around the two, who are shouting at each other, looking troubled. The only thing different about the two of them are their clothes. Well, they’re a bit different in other ways too, but when the two of them are wrestling with each other, it really *is* hard to tell which is which.

One of the Petes got sent flying back. The two were finally separated so we were able to get a good look at them. The Pete that went flying backwards was this world’s Pete!

We block the path of the Pete that we’re used to before he can get away.

“Then try us!”

We chase Pete around, running from here to there —

It was when I was playing a game that I recalled all that.

“There, you’ve just downloaded a promo game for the film.”

Olette told me about it, how there are games that you can download onto your Gummiphone. You can get the games in a bunch of different worlds, and you can play a bunch of different stuff, but, I don’t know, something about this world feels similar to Timeless River. Like the black and white feel of it all or something.

“Me next!”

Donald snatched the Gummiphone out of my hands and peered into the screen.

“Come on, Donald, isn’t it impossible for you to beat my high score?”

“You just see! Here I go!”

“Aren’t you two about even?” Says Goofy, who is looking at the screen from behind Donald and me.

In the middle of the screen are the King and me sliding down a snow mountain, trying to have an encounter with Pete.

Thinking about it, I wonder what happened to Pete from that world - from back then - to now? Though it looks like this Pete is still up to wicked scheming with Maleficent — somehow or another, I get the feeling that Maleficent finds something about him to be a bit lovable, ya know~

It feels a bit special, because he shows up in all sorts of worlds with us and with a slightly different appearance. He’s also known Donald, Goofy, and the King for a long time.

And it seems like he’ll be sticking around for a long while more now too.