He didn't tug him by his bright yellow jumpsuit or yell at him to quicken his pace. His voice didn't become angry when Lucas hesitated at his office door and he certainly showed no discomposure when Lucas silently refused to sit in the shiny purple recliner that sat before Mister Master's desk. Lucas stood behind the chair, feeling too awkward and bothered to get comfortable. No matter how nice he was, Mister Master called the shots and he usually never did it with uncertainty. It was either this or that; yes or no; one or the other. There were no maybes or I thinks.

If Mister Master ordered someone to rape and abuse and even possibly kill Lucas they'd do it with no questions, refusals or complaints. That's the Happy Factory for you.

Mister Master messed with a few papers on his desk and shoved a box of tissues to the side. He placed a folder with a sunflower on it and a folder with a baseball on it in the clear spot. Then there was silence. Lucas could here people outside the door yelling and laughing. What was Mister Master going to do? What was he going to say? Was Lucas finally being let out into the outside world? Would he be executed like his pessimistic brain thought would happen? There were so many possibilities of what might happen, and Mister Master always had a trick up his glove. Lucas didn't want to know what kind of tricks those were.

"Lucas," Mister Master began, "I've been receiving complaints."

Lucas was silent.

"Complaints from the doctors as well as the other children. Complaints that you aren't happy," Mister Master began tapping his desk, his fingers falling in four slow thumps each time. "You don't look happy. You never seem happy. What's the matter? Why aren't you happy?"

Lucas wanted to scream all the problems out, to yell at this figure of authority of why he wasn't happy. If he could list all the reasons of why he wasn't happy, he'd probably need about a hundred pens and miles and miles of paper. He wanted to cry, to sob, to hiccup to Mister Master about why he was so unhappy; why he so dreaded the place he was in at this moment. He took Lucas from home, forced him into a hell of happy colors and smashing fun and expected him to be happy. Why couldn't he had just left him be? Lucas wanted to say all this. Tell him why he wasn't happy and ask the rhetorical questions. The sweet taste of truth was right at the tip of his tongue. He could've said something.

Though Lucas stayed completely silent.

Mister Master sighed. Lucas liked Mister Master, but not a whole lot. "Lucas, I need you to speak. If you could help me understand, then maybe I can return the favor of assistance. So, tell me? What is the reason of your unhappiness?" Mister Master said unhappiness as if it put a bad taste in his mouth.

Lucas looked down. He noticed a patch of drying blood on his shirt. Now how did that get there? He asked himself. In reality, it was probably one of the other kids. Though none of the other kids touched him that day. There were so many kids with bloody hands. He couldn't possibly narrow it down to one child. The blond continued to keep his mouth shut. He wasn't doing this on purpose, but sometimes he never spoke and his lips just kind of glues themselves together.

Mister Master cleared his throat and sighed again. He obviously wasn't appreciating the silence the blond was giving. "Lucas, if you keep this up you'll be visiting the doctors and also," he picked up the baseball folder, "you'll be moving to a new room as well as gaining a new roommate."

"No!" Lucas shouted. His lips painfully separated during the outburst like a head splitting open after painfully hitting the cement ground. He knew he had it in him, he just never wanted to let it out. Lucas's eyes widened. It was the first time he had raised his voice ever in the past few days and his voice sounded so new, so fresh. Almost as if he hadn't talked when learned how to and almost as if he hadn't cried when he exited his mother's womb. But that's not what scared him the most.

Mister Master shifted behind the desk. "Well, why not?" And as Lucas mumbled something inaudible, Mister Master's thumb cracked. "What was that?"

"Because I like being alone."

Mister Master's laugh was booming and loud, so much that it made the blond jump. "Why, that must be the reason of your unneeded depression! You're so lonely! You need someone to chat with, someone to tell stories to. And plus, this boy is nice. If I think that he's nice, then you should to."

"But-"

Mister Master pressed a button with a yellow triangle and solid green background. It was a Triforce. Was he calling Toon Link? What would he need Toon Link for?

A voice came from the button. "Yes, Mister Master?"

"Link, could you please lead Lucas to Ness's room? You know where his room is, right?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then hurry up, please."

"Understood."

Mister Master took his finger from the button and his pinky knocked down a stack of folders that sat behind his desk. He let out yet another tired sigh and he sounded old. So, so old. "Lucas, I suggest you begin to speak or the doctors will have to get you." The tone of his voice was grim. "I don't want the doctors to get you because, well, I kind of like you. But my patience is waning with you and believe me when I say I don't want to hurt you. Others have been hurt by me, and they liked none of it. Would you like me to hurt you?"

Lucas shook his head.

"Exactly. So, please, stay on my good side. I wouldn't want to see you gone. You're my favorite client. Do you want to know why?"

Lucas nodded his head.

"You're my favorite client because you are a challenge. And do you have any idea of why you are such a challenge?"

Lucas stared at the hand, saying nothing, refusing to speak.

Mister Master chuckled. "Exactly."


"You'll like him, he's very nice." Link said with a warm smile.

Little had Lucas known that Toon Link had an "older brother", or, that's what Link said that he was. Though he said it as if he was unsure. He told Lucas to think of him as "an older brother to his younger self". That made no sense in Lucas's mind. Link was short and from the look of it, he seemed very fit. He had a mop of choppy hair, the color of it was a healthy golden brown. His eyes were a vibrant blue and his lashes were long. If Lucas had ever heard Toon Link speak, he's sure that him and Link would sound similar.

"I've known Ness for some time. He won't hurt you, I promise." Link wasn't like the others. He didn't look at Lucas with malice or the intent to do something sick. In his eyes gleamed truth and honesty. In his eyes shined ambiance and compassion.

In his eyes shined courage and honor. He had the eyes of the hero, and hopefully he'd save Lucas from the Happy Factory.

"Is that too heavy for you? I could carry it for you if you'd like," Link gestured to the box in Lucas's hands. It only had a blanket and a pillow inside. Lucas had taken the sunflower clock as well. He questioned why he had even put the darned thing in there. The box only had three items in it, yet Link acted like he was carrying a stack of heavy books. Lucas shook his head. No, he didn't need the help.

Link looked surprised, but only for a second. The surprise then turned into a small smile. "Oh, alright then. Are you sure it's not too heavy for you?"

Lucas nodded.

"You know, Ness is probably going to be really happy when he meets you. He's been in the factory for a really long time, and this whole time he's been alone in that same room. When he came here, Mister Master sent him to the doctors to help fix him. After they were finished with him, Ness never left his room and Mister Master kind of left him there."

Lucas kept his mouth shut and kept his eyes on the hot pink tiles that went in a checkered pattern. He didn't know what to say, how to feel. He'd never met this Ness character so he wasn't affected by this story, though he did feel some sympathy as well as fear.

The music that sputtered out of the intercoms was quiet though simultaneously upbeat. The walls had glittery designs and colorful animals. He didn't know whether the red splatters on the wall was from an unlucky someone or an artist who expressed themselves differently. Latin words in the format of a poem lit up on the ceiling in gold and crimson. Audi famam illius was the first line. As soon as Lucas tried to read the rest the words stopped glowing.

"We're almost there. His room is just around the corner."

At this, Lucas's heart sped up. What was Ness like? Was he… crazy? Was he one of the people who constantly screamed in agony or moaned in sexual libido? He sure hoped not. He hoped no screams of any kind would come from Ness's room.

"Lucas? We're here. You have to knock. Here, I'll hold your box."

Link grabbed the box from the child's hands and Lucas was stood frozen. He really didn't want to knock. His fists were balled up at his chest and he bit his lip. He hadn't even wanted to change rooms in the first place. Why couldn't everything stay the same? Already the child missed the boring lameness of his sunflower themed room and laying on its itchy green floor. They're probably renovating his room for someone else now that they have room for soon-to-be clients of the Happy Factory.

Then the world stopped when Link knocked on the door. Lucas's cerulean eyes widened and he looked up at Link with a dumbfounded expression. "Wh-why'd you-"

"Lucas, you don't have to be so afraid. Ness isn't going to hurt you. I won't hurt you. No one will hurt you. Why can't you see that? If someone does hurt you, you'll have to stand up for yourself. You know how to stand up for yourself, right?"

"Well, yeah but-"

"Then stop being such a scaredy-cat," he reached down and pinched one of Lucas's rosy cheeks.

The attention was soon brought to the doorknob which slowly began moving. Link stared at it with a smile. Lucas stared at the doorknob in downright fear. How old was Ness? What was he like? Was he pessimistic or optimistic? The questions weren't asked in curiosity but in a form of assurance. Lucas didn't care about Ness. In actuality, he only really cares about his safety. Someone told him that it's better to worry about yourself before you begin worrying about others. It was selfish, but it was also a way to survive.

The door began to open and Link was still smiling. Lucas stood behind his leg and watched as Ness opened it. Whatever was on the other side awaited Lucas. He didn't know if happily or angrily but soon he would know.

Though soon was now, and as the door opened all the way Lucas bit his lip harder and closed his eyes. Why couldn't things just stay the same?