Six Against Infinity, Part 5

Six Against Infinity, Part 5 is the nineteenth episode of the second season of TFAWPS. It is the forty-fifth episode overall.

Plot
After being thrown into a portal by Genesect, Paco finds himself in a western, where he is caught in the middle of a conflict between con-man Reeces and notorious gunslinger outlaw, Captain Cowboy.

Synopsis
Out in space, Genesect says that he wishes TFAWPS luck wherever and whenever they end up. As he says this, Paco is thrown into a wormhole and disappears.

On the back of a wagon, riding towards a dusty western town, Paco wakes up and finds himself chained to the floor of the wagon. Paco asks the jailer what's going on and where he's being taken, but the jailer tells him to shut up. Cell then speaks up from next to Paco and tells him that he really should shut up. Frightened, Paco asks what he's doing here, but the jailer responds that he really needs to shut up or he'll just shoot him right here. Cell asks Paco if he's catching on yet. Realizing that Cell is only in his head, Paco asks Cell if he's not cured of the mind control and Cell just nods. Paco then begins to break down and cry, prompting the jailer to laugh at him. Cell tells Paco that he isn't going anywhere. Cell hears something off in the distance and looks over, prompting Paco to look over as well and notices a group of outlaws riding towards the wagon. Hearing this as well, the jailer angrily pulls out his gun, but is killed by the outlaws. Other lawmen in the convoy attempt the same, but they are soon stopped. Paco recognizes the leader as Captain Cowboy and calls out to him in question. Captain Cowboy tells Paco that they've never met before and prepares to shoot him when someone suddenly shoots the gun out of Captain Cowboy's hand, causing him to flee along with his gang members. As Paco waits for the attackers to approach, Cell reappears next to him and stares at him, much to Paco's discomfort. Reeces and Hershey then arrive and Reeces tells Hershey to unchain him and blindfold him. Hershey does so and they two take Paco into their custody.

Later on at night, Reeces sits at a campfire as Hershey unties the blindfold and gives a can of beans to Paco and tells him to eat. Paco asks where he is and Reeces replies that he's at their camp, but he's not going to disclose the exact location. Paco then notices Cell sitting at the campfire with them, smiling knowingly at him. Paco then asks Reeces if he can ask a weird question. Reeces suspiciously asks him to go on and Paco points to where Cell is sitting and asks if he can see him. Reeces and Hershey both look and ask if Paco is all right in the head. Paco says that he thinks he's fine, but maybe not and asks if they can use their magic to help him be free of whatever is running around in his head. Hershey looks cautiously at Reeces and Reeces replies that he doesn't know anything about magic, but Paco replies that he knows who he is and about his magical abilities, the both of them. Reeces and Hershey then confront Paco and ask him just how much he knows. Cell continues to smile, but Paco forces Cell away and tells Reeces and Hershey that he knows they're magic users and that he needs their help. Hershey asks if he's going to turn them in, but Paco replies that he wouldn't turn them in because he needs them. Reeces tells Hershey to relax because Paco is a wanted man, just like them and tells him to remember where they got him from. Paco asks what it is that he did and Reeces looks at him and asks him how he doesn't know. Either way, Reeces apologizes to him for getting him almost shot and explains how he and Hershey have had a racket going where they use their magic to win at poker, blackjack, and several other games and Captain Cowboy caught on and has been chasing them ever since. Paco nods in understanding, but Reeces persists, asking him what Paco did, but Paco honestly answers that he has no idea. Reeces says that he senses Paco is serious about that. Reeces then agrees to help Paco, but on the condition that Paco deals with Captain Cowboy for them, which Paco agrees.

Riding into town, Captain Cowboy and his gang hitch their horses in front of a saloon and his gang enters, with Captain Cowboy noticing a wanted poster on a nearby wall. Approaching it, he realizes that the bounty is for Paco, wanted for the destruction of a small town and murder of the mayor. Captain Cowboy brings the poster into the saloon and shows his gang. He explains that this is the prisoner that they let escape from the wagon and letting him go was the dumbest thing they've done yet. He says that they're going after him and this time they're going to collect on that bounty. One of Captain Cowboy's gang members asks how they can do that with a bounty on their heads. Captain Cowboy says that the bounty on Paco's head is much larger than the one they have and bringing him in will surely clear their names, but first they have to find him.

The next day, Paco, Reeces, and Hershey travel into town and Reeces tips his hat to the clerk at the inn and the clerk shows them to their room. The clerk tells Reeces that he recognizes his friend and knows what he did. Reeces says that he'll keep a lid on it. Paco says that he's leaving for a bit, informing them that he needs to figure out what's going on. Reeces tells him to go, but be safe and come back in once piece. Paco nods and leaves the room. As he walks down the hallway, Cell reappears next to Paco and tells him that he's going to love what he finds out. Paco then assumes that whatever happened had something to do with Cell and Cell replies that it has everything to do with him. Paco then stops in the hallway and asks Cell what's going on, saying that he thought the Rainbow Twins got rid of Cell from his mind and then he watched him die. Cell replies that the Rainbow Twins aren't strong enough to destroy him, but they did manage slow him down. Back in the lobby, Paco speaks to the clerk, who is immediately uneasy. Paco assures him that he won't hurt him, he just wants to know what he did. The clerk asks if he thinks this is funny, but Paco says that he's just trying to understand. The clerk hands him a wanted poster and says that Reeces and Hershey are good friends of his and he hands Paco a wanted poster of himself, saying that he should know what kind of people are going after him, but he's not doing this for him, he's doing it for Reeces and Hershey. Paco reads the poster and learns of what he did. Paco turns to Cell and says that he knows he did this. Cell says that it's no secret, but nobody will ever know it's him and that doesn't just apply in this universe. Paco promises Cell that he'll find a way to get rid of him forever, but Cell says that he doesn't think so and then disappears. Paco returns to his room.

Paco informs Reeces and Hershey what he did and explains to them that it was Cell and they need to help him get rid of him. Reeces tells Paco that he told him that he will help him, as soon as Paco helps him first. Paco angrily tells Reeces that he's just as bad if he's willing to put innocent lives at risk when Cell could come back out at any moment. Reeces tells Paco that he's not a good man. Paco asks why Reeces can't just help him first and then he'll help him, but Reeces says that there's no way he'll trust that deal, saying that he has no idea if Paco is telling the truth or not. Hershey breaks up the argument saying that he's had enough of this and suggests they head for another town, further away and leave all this behind us. Both Paco and Reeces agree to this, and go to sleep for the night, heading out in the morning.

The next morning, Captain Cowboy arrives at the inn and speaks with the clerk. The clerk immediately tells Captain Cowboy that he knows why he's there, but says that he just missed them. Captain Cowboy asks the clerk, threateningly, if he knows where they went. The clerk says that he knows, but it'll come at a price. Angrily, Captain Cowboy throws down a bag of coins and the clerk says that they left an hour ago for a nearby town to the north, and if he hurries he can catch them, but asks if Captain Cowboy can take them alive, since they are good customers of his. Captain Cowboy says that he should be careful who he does business with and leaves.

Arriving in the new town, the group get a room at the saloon and discuss their next moves. Paco suggests they lie low for a while and Reeces agrees. Hershey says that they have a whole new group of suckers downstairs waiting to get scammed. Reeces says that he knows that, but has no idea how their new friend will feel about that. Paco says that they can do whatever they want, as long as they don't get caught. Reeces and Hershey prepare to head downstairs, when Hershey asks if Paco is coming with them. Paco says he'll go, but he'll stay quiet, saying that he doesn't know what might bring Cell out. Heading downstairs, Reeces takes a seat at a poker game, while Hershey sits at a blackjack table. Paco watches the both of them from the bar. While sitting at the bar, Cell appears on the stool next to him. Angrily, Paco tells Cell to leave and tells him that he can't be enjoying this. Cell replies that he only enjoys it as much as Paco does, which must not be very much. Paco then tells Cell that if he doesn't leave, he will. Paco then gets up from the stool and joins Hershey at the blackjack table and plays a few rounds. Cell remains at the bar and watches Paco play. After winning a hand fair and square, Paco cheers. Hershey challenges Paco to play again, but this time Hershey uses his magic and wins the hand. Paco asks Hershey how he did it, and Hershey challenges him to figure it out. After several more rounds, Paco is unable to figure out Hershey's trick, much to Hershey's amusement. Reeces then calls Paco over to try his hand in poker, which Paco does. Cell gets up and leaves the saloon.

Outside the saloon, Captain Cowboy and his gang hitch their horses in front of the saloon. Inside, Paco watches Reeces use his magic to discretely clear out everybody else at the table. Hershey and Paco agree to call it a night after several successful wins. Hershey asks Paco if he's still hearing voices and Paco replies that he's not at the moment and thanks them for a night of fun. Upon hearing this, Captain Cowboy says that, in that case, the fun shouldn't stop and challenges them to another hand of poker. Paco says that he'd really rather not and starts to head upstairs with Reeces and Hershey, but Captain Cowboy loudly tells them not to move, draws his gun, and tells them to sit down. As the four sit down around the poker table, Captain Cowboy begins dealing the cards and says to the people watching that Reeces has been on a winning streak tonight, but they're about to watch it all come to an end right now. Paco asks Reeces what he's going to do and Reeces responds that he's just going to play the hand and suggests Paco and Hershey do the same. Hershey and Paco fold immediately after Captain Cowboy raises the pot. As Captain Cowboy and Reeces continue to play, Cell appears behind Paco and tells him that the game just got interesting. During the final round of betting, Reeces loses the hand to Captain Cowboy. Reeces tells Captain Cowboy that his luck must've run out and urges Hershey and Paco to leave, but Captain Cowboy stops them, saying that he's proved his point, exposing Reeces as a cheat, while also outing Hershey and his dishonest blackjack winnings. Captain Cowboy also points out that it appears they have a new partner in crime. Paco tells Captain Cowboy that he's made his point and it's time to move on. Captain Cowboy turns to Paco and asks him if he knows how much money Reeces and Hershey have cost him and of the size of the bounties on all three of their heads. Paco says that he's aware, but he's not going to allow him to collect. Angered, Captain Cowboy declares the conversation over and orders his men to pull their guns on them and asks them to come with him. The three begin exiting the saloon with their arms above their head, when Cell begins speaking to Paco calling him weak and a pushover and says that if he stopped holding back, Genesect would never have been able to do what he did to TFAWPS. Upon hearing this, Paco stops in his tracks and turns towards Captain Cowboy. Cocking his gun, Captain Cowboy gives Paco one more chance to get moving before he delivers him dead. Paco then disarms Captain Cowboy, distracting his gang members as Reeces and Hershey subdue them. Paco and Captain Cowboy end up in a lengthy fight, destroying much of the saloon, while Paco simultaneously fights off Cell in his mind. Unable to focus on both a physical and mental fight, Paco cedes victory to Cell in order to defeat Captain Cowboy. This sends Paco on a rampage, throwing Captain Cowboy through the side of the wall and into the streets. Captain Cowboy quickly gets up on his horse and promises him he'd be back the next morning where the two of them will settle it like men in a duel and Captain Cowboy rides off, while Paco, Reeces, and Hershey leave the saloon and ride further north.

At their new camp, Reeces asks Paco if what they saw back there was Cell and Paco confirms that it was and that's what he needs Reeces' help with. Reeces asks Paco why he believes he can help him. Paco explains that he's not really sure what happened, but the Reeces where he comes from would know how to handle this. Reeces says that he's not sure if his magic is good enough to help with that. Paco once again asks, now having seen what Cell is capable of, if Reeces is willing to help now, but Reeces sticks to his original deal, saying that one night of fun that ended in a disaster isn't enough to make him trust him, but still apologizes. He says that Paco has to duel Captain Cowboy tomorrow and win and then he promises his help, until then, he suggests Paco get some rest. Returning to their tent, Paco tries to sleep, but is tormented by Cell, who comments on how they shouldn't have stopped at just the saloon, but rather took the fight to the rest of the town. Paco asks Cell if he ever gets tired of destruction, but Cell tells Paco that destruction is all he is and all he ever will be. Paco says that it's not what he is. Cell angrily retorts that Paco should understand by now that their is no more Paco and that Cell will always be apart of him and then leaves, leaving Paco confused and distressed and tries to go to sleep.

In the morning, Captain Cowboy wakes up his gang and tells them that they need to ride into town, saying he wants this duel done before breakfast.

Paco emerges from the tent to Reeces and Hershey making breakfast. Hershey asks how Paco slept and Paco replies that he didn't and asks them to get going into town to get this over with. Reeces asks Paco if he knows how to use a gun, and Paco replies that he's sure he'll figure it out, looking over at Cell, once again smiling. Reeces then gets the horses and the three ride out towards the town. While on the horses, Cell asks Paco why he's so quick to want to get rid of him, pointing out how he helped him win the fight back in the saloon, but Paco replies that he doesn't believe in fighting unless it's absolutely necessary, such as when TFAWPS took on Cell, a fight he plans on continuing. Cell tells Paco that he couldn't defeat him before so he shouldn't expect to do so now and that he should just get over it and accept it.

Arriving in the town, Captain Cowboy tells Paco to hurry up, saying that he's late. Paco and Captain Cowboy stand off in the streets. Captain Cowboy tells Paco to draw. As the two stand off, Cell tries to grab the gun from Paco's holster, but as he does so, Reeces and Hershey discreetly use their magic to lift the gun first and fire it at Captain Cowboy's hand, disarming him, much to Cell's shock. As Paco turns to see what's happened, he witnesses lawmen arresting Captain Cowboy. Reeces and Hershey urge Paco to get back on the horse and get out of here before the lawmen come for them. The three quickly ride out of town as lawmen chase after them.

THREE DAYS LATER

At a campsite several miles from town, Paco sits on a cliff, overlooking the countryside, as Reeces asks if he's ready. Reeces attempts to use his magic to remove Cell from Paco's mind, but finds that he is unable to access it, much to Paco's sadness. Reeces deeply apologizes to him and offers him a place with himself and Hershey, but Paco declines, saying that he's not fit for the outlaw life and decides to continue on his own. Reeces respects this decision, giving Paco a satchel full of food, money, and other supplies. Hershey and Paco shake hands and Reeces offers Paco his gun. Cell says that Reeces should keep his gun because Paco won't need it. Paco then declines Reeces' offer, telling him that he won't need it. Cell smiles, as Paco turns around smiling, lining up exactly with Cell and continues to walk away, leaving Reeces and Hershey behind.

Meanwhile on Planet Popstar, the populace riot outside of the palace, chanting for change and holding up posters and banners plastered with Kirby's face. Inside the palace, Meta Knight insists on being allowed to go outside and put down the rebellion. King Kai refuses, saying that he needs Meta Knight to stay focused on the war. Meta Knight asks how they can win a war without the support of their people, but King Kai asks if Meta Knight is disobeying him and asks if he should be outside with the rebels. Meta Knight replies, somewhat agitated, that he is loyal to King Kai. He goes on to say that this revolution is solely the fault of TFAWPS and their meddling in a conflict that isn't theirs. Meta Knight reminds King Kai that it's only a revolution if it succeeds. King Kai says that he needs to let the people know that TFAWPS are to blame and prepares a speech, and also informs Meta Knight that he has a new mission: bring TFAWPS back to Planet Popstar, dead or alive.

Characters

 * Paco
 * Cell
 * Reeces (alternate version)
 * Hershey (alternate version)
 * Captain Cowboy (alternate version)
 * Genesect
 * King Kai
 * Meta Knight

Trivia

 * This episode is the fifth in the Six Against Infinity saga.
 * This episode focuses on Paco's complicated mental issues as a result of Cell living inside his mind after the events of Blind Rage Knows No Color. Paco tries to find a cure for this after the Rainbow Twins were able to bring him back, instead seeking the help of Reeces, only to find that Reeces' magic, and by extension the entire Masters of Magic organization, are unable to help him.
 * The revolution on Planet Popstar is officially underway.
 * The scene where Captain Cowboy wakes up his gang members to go to a duel before breakfast is a reference to a similar scene in Back to the Future Part III.