It seems like just a few moments ago, everybody was having so much fun. As a human traversing the Underground, you stumbled into the Feisty Five's antics and of course got wrapped up in it. The group of half-baked vigilantes is, or was, entertaining, to be honest! Ed, Moray, Ace and Mooch are all unique characters. But the one that really sticks out from the crowd of cowboys is the heroic sheriff. The justice bringer, gunslinger, human expert, North Star himself. Some say there's no other sheriff for them, others say he's a great friend. And your experiences with him, mixed as they may have been, admittedly weren't the worst. You followed him through his posse's adventures, not by choice but still cooperating. And that definitely made him fond of you. You already earned points from him for being a human, but your abilities in his field charmed him. And so, came time for your "final challenge", whatever that is. Hopefully when this is over you can get back on track to Hotland.

Of course, that didn't happen.

There was no final challenge. North Star's favoritism went to his head so much that he decided to not only skip all the steps, but make you deputy immediately. There was a huge confrontation between him and the other members of the Feisty Five. And now tumbleweeds blow through the ghost town that was once so full of fun. All the members resigned, leaving North Star to his own devices. Wandering out of town, you see that familiar star-shaped monster's head with that familiar hat placed on top. The green tips of his antennae shift and sway with the wind as he looks out beyond the Dunes. The wind howls. No, that's not right. The sound is more like a whisper. A cruel whisper that reminds him of how much the silence hurts. North Star sems to be monologuing.

"Why did this happen? I did everything in my power to entertain...so monsters wouldn't have to worry about being stuck down here. At every turn I tried to cheer Ceroba up...I just wanted Kanako off her mind. I'm trying my best to honor her memory. Aren't distractions what's best for all of that?

North Star's fists clench against themselves, his gloves stretching onto them. You could only presume that with the sheer force they'd be turning pale underneath. He lets out a deep, raspy sigh. The man's life is wrecked. All his friends are gone, and he can't seem to understand why it's his fault in the first place. Despite everything, he thinks he can fix it. He wants to fix it, he has to fix it. Suddenly, he perks up.

"?"

He turns around. Seems he's noticed you. Of course, how wouldn't he notice the deputy, after all? He seems almost angry for a moment.

"You...why'd you follow me?"

His voice turns gentler for a moment.

"Are you still my friend?"