Luigi was the bringer of bad news.
He just broke up with Daisy!
…
Of course, that wasn't the bad news Luigi was going to tell Mario. Although he did not like to admit it, Luigi knew Mario didn't care for Daisy—these days, all his brother cared about was executing every one of Lord Tabuu's demands. Upon hearing that Luigi let the Defyers get away, Mario was sure to be disappointed. If not, he was sure to be angry, at the very least. Luigi sighed, a slow long breath that would bring anyyone around him down. He failed his brother, and now he had to cope with feeling like garbage.
What exactly happened? Suddenly, Daisy knew that he had provided her with cheap and expired products. Luigi was sure Daisy would have never noticed it for herself, so it was safe to assume someone had told her. The question is, who? No one ever goes to Daisy's Bakery because of its bad reputation, and the only people that would go in there for a bite would be travelers that have never been to the place.
The Defyers.
Luigi was a lover, not a fighter, but sometimes one must fight for the person they love. They caused his break up, and now Luigi was going to make them pay…
… if he had any idea where they were.
He had searched all of the Plains, but they were nowhere to be seen. Unless Daisy had given them asylum, which was unlikely, Luigi would have to say that the Defyers have disappeared into thin air. With no other choice, he was left to return to the Imperial Tower. The journey was a short one, as each Original is given a device that opens a gate that can lead to any place in the World of Trophies. It uses Tabuu's power, that over the realm of subspace. A mile can be a step away; a wrinkle in time.
The Imperial Tower was made of different colored stones and clockwork machinery. Spiraling the outside of the tower was a set of stairs that led directly to the open altar, where there lies a locked portal in which Tabuu resides. The key to opening the portal is inside the tower, which wasn't at all an inconvenience since Mario and the other Originals live within the tower walls. Each floor was reminiscent of each trophy's background, starting with Twelfth, Jigglypuff. Before reaching any of the characters' rooms, though, one must pass through a series of trials and traps for unwanted visitors. An Original can easily climb up the first five floors through secret passageways and hidden tunnels. Past Mario's room is the meeting room—a long empty chamber consisting of a single, wide, rectangular table with one chair at each end and five chairs at each length. Upon entering the room, Luigi saw his brother on his seat at the far end of the table, as if he has been waiting for Luigi since his departure.
"Mario—"
The Original cut him off, "Ninth, I trust you bring good news?"
"It's all in how you handle it," Luigi said cheerfully.
At his brother's tone, Mario had narrowed his eyes, "What happened?"
Luigi looked down at his feet like a child getting scolded, "I couldn't find them."
Mario frowned, "Ninth, the Plains is a flat landscape. It shouldn't be too hard to find the Defyers."
"Send a search party—they aren't there. I checked Daisy's Bakery, but it was empty as usual. According to her, I had just missed them. She told me they went to Barrio, and so I went there… I realized she had lied to me upon asking the refugees of Allys Town. They went the other way, but I no longer saw them when I searched the Plains past the bakery."
"Strange," Mario said, "Do you think Daisy hid them?"
"I wouldn't be surprised. We broke up after she found out I had been supplying her with bad products."
Mario groaned at his brother's idiocy, "It was bound to happen, but forget about that," he sat back, studying Luigi, "The Plains is large. It would take the Defyers about an hour to reach Entrei Mountain, the location of the next key. By teleporting, you should have caught up to them whether Daisy mislead you or not."
"What do you suppose that means?" Luigi asked.
"It's as if they disappeared into thin air…"
Luigi frowned at Mario's choice of words, the same he had used to describe the absence of the Defyers, "Do you really believe that?"
"Tell me, Ninth, did you forget about them for a moment?"
Luigi's eyes widened; he had goofed off in Barrio for a couple of days when it had suddenly hit him that he was on a mission. It was only for a moment, but he had forgotten about the Defyers. It could only mean one thing—
Mario smiled, "We found the Forgotten Forest."
"What should we do?"
"Tell the others," Mario said.
Luigi nodded and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something, "Speaking of which…" Mario waited for his brother to finish his sentence, "Has Ness left the Void?"
Mario looked up, "Eleventh? He has slipped my mind."
Luigi blinked at his brother before his words sunk in, "Ness is still in the Void!?"
Luigi was given a glance of apathy, "It sounds as if you care for the boy."
"Of course I do, he's an Original!"
Mario shrugged, "Then get him out of the Void yourself. I'm sure he's served his punishment."
Luigi left the meeting room without dismissing his brother. Sometimes, he felt as if Mario was beyond salvation. He had changed so much, and Luigi knew Tabuu was the one to blame. Still, what could he say? He was their god—the Originals served Tabuu. If Mario found out he accused Tabuu of giving him his new personality, he would be lucky to be sent to the Void. No, he had to stay silent, but he would never give up on his brother.
The Void was a section of subspace behind a colossal door that was padlocked on one of the top floors of the Imperial Tower. Hooked on tight beside the door was a rope of strong leather. Luigi strapped the end to the side of his overalls, and placed his hand over the lock. Upon contact, it clicked open, and the heavy door slid open, revealing a room that reached to infinity, resembling space. In the distance, Luigi saw a speck of red, and he recognized it as Ness' hat. He jumped in, arms spread out wide. There was no gravity in the Void, and unless one had something to tie them down, they would forever spin and pinwheel to the end of nowhere. Luigi got the boy with one hand, and with the other, he pulled himself and the boy out of the Void. The door closed upon their exit, and the padlock was secured.
Luigi set Ness down, who appeared to be unconscious. His skin was a sick grey, and his entire body was covered in cold sweat. Luigi shook the boy, and he immediately snapped his eyes open and cried out. He tried holding the boy, but Ness wouldn't quit flailing his arms and screaming.
"Ness, calm down! We're back in the Imperial Tower! You're going to be all right!"
His words failed to reach the boy's ears; however, he did quiet down. He was muttering nonsense, and Luigi couldn't help but feel pity towards him.
"Ness it's going to be okay."
The boy's eyes saw past Luigi, "I wasn't alone; there was somebody there with me!"
Luigi frowned, "What?"
Ness shivered, "Green hair… She had green hair!"
(Pit's PoV)
'She wasn't going to do anything,' Palutena said.
"How can you be so sure?"
I was walking away from Smashville, toward a nearby town a couple of miles away. I don't know what transpired after I left the Registration Building, but I wasn't about to go back to find out. I told myself it was for the best. Ike would inadvertently make me forget Roy, and Zelda would probably turn me in to Link, an Original she is really close to. If I were caught, I would be punished for going against my destiny. Master Hand made me a Recurrent, and that has been done for a reason. At least, that's what His followers would say. I'm not saying I don't believe in Him—I know for a fact Master Hand exists. I serve Lady Palutena, and She comes before Master Hand no matter what. I follow Her philosophy, and I pray to Her whenever I get lost. Despite that, however, Master Hand has ownership over me. It's true Lady Palutena created me to be Her servant, but She made the mistake of basing me off of His creations—a trophy. My own being is questionable, and it is for that reason I enjoyed the single company of my goddess. As the years went by, though, that changed. I longed to meet other people, and I especially longed to be a trophy that can fight. I used to watch Palutena's centurions duke it out in the courtyard, and it inspired me to do the same. I wanted to protect Lady Palutena just like them, as the captain of her guard.
But that was a dream even beyond a dream's standard. It's an idea that could have only been thought up of in a fool's paradise, yet I never questioned the credibility, much less the possibility of it ever coming true. I took the risk. I went to the surface, and I paid the ultimate price for it, although some would consider it a fair trade. I became an Unwanted, in exchange for a friend becoming a Forgotten.
"I regret it to this day," I said, "And you knew the whole time that I would sneak out of Skworld to the World of Trophies. Why didn't you ever stop me?"
'I've never seen you so happy.'
"All this could have been avoided if I stayed by your side like I'm supposed to."
There was a moment of silence before Palutena spoke, 'I always knew of your dreams, Pit. Your heart declared it every day, and it made me feel guilty knowing there was nothing I could have done to ever make it a reality. However, it was in my power to grant your wish halfway.'
"What are you saying?"
'I opened the door that day. I knew you were restless and would walk around my temple in hopes of dozing off from exhaustion. I knew you would come across the open door, and I knew you would want to jump out. Have you never realized this? I gave you the Power of Flight so that you would be able to make it to the surface. To that extent, this can all be considered my fault.'
"Don't take the blame…" I said, overwhelmed at what Palutena revealed to me, "In the end, there was no way out of it."
'Destiny,' Palutena said.
I chuckled, "Yeah."
There was a voice before me, "I want to know what's so funny."
I looked up, and froze when I saw the leader of the Originals—Mario. A stout man with a belly, at first glance, he didn't appear all that intimidating. I knew who he was, and so his appearance did not have me fooled. He wore a red cap with his signature letter 'M' labeled on the front. He wore overalls over a red flannel, and white gloves that looked eerily like Master Hand.
"Mario," I lowered my head, "It's an honor."
"If you don't mind, how about we skip the formalities? Master Hand wishes to see you."
I faked a wide grin, "Wow, I can't believe it! The god of this world wants to see little ol' me?"
Mario roughly got a hold of my wrist, "You and I both know the reason for his summons."
I pulled my hand away in order to free it, 'Palutena, what should I do?'
'Stall him—two trophies are approaching your location. Mario won't do anything in the eyes of a witness. The Originals are weary of conspiracies, and something like the capture of a rogue trophy is sure to bring rumors.'
"So Mario, how's it been with you?"
Mario didn't say anything. His mouth, partly hidden by his bushy mustache, was a stranger to a true smile. Action figures and dolls of Mario sold in toy stores always portray him smiling, as if he was a jovial man with little to no negativity inside him. It's a sham. Mario is stressed almost every day, keeping the world in order. Master Hand might be the ruler, but He does nothing more than watch over the World of Trophies. Mario does all the work, and I've always felt that he hated the immense responsibility his position demanded of him. The man never smiled. Even now, he had on his true face, that of a serious frown with the ends of his lips pointing downward.
"I have no desire to converse with you," Mario stated.
"Why's that?"
"You don't feel the gravity of the situation, do you?"
"Should I be worried?" I asked.
"You're in trouble for becoming a trophy, for attempting to change what Master Hand had intended for you. Not only that, but He's quite curious how your Forgotten friend was able to pull it off."
I looked at him amused, "You don't know his name, do you? Have you forgotten already?"
Mario scoffed, "As if you still remember."
"Roy."
Mario noticeably stiffened, and I laughed, "I don't have to answer to Master Hand. Lady Palutena is my creator, and it's up to Her whether I should be punished or not for my supposed 'crime'."
Mario's face distorted, "You insolent—"
"Pit!" Someone called.
I recognized the voice. Mario did as well.
'Just in time,' Lady Palutena said.
'You knew it was Zelda and Ike, didn't you!?'
Palutena giggled as they approached us, and Zelda curtsied before the Original once she was beside me, "Mario…" she started, but he interrupted her.
"You knew about Pit, and you didn't report him to me!?"
"I'm sorry, Mario, I had no idea. I thought he was a regular trophy…he was in the Registration Building when Ike introduced us, so I only assumed…"
"Well, I must take him to Master Hand." Mario held me roughly, and I struggled to free myself from his grasp. Mario was reaching for his teleporter when he took note of Ike. He froze immediately, and asked slowly, "Who's this?"
"This is Ike," Zelda said, "Ike, this is Mario, the Leader of the Originals."
I don't think Ike paid any attention to Zelda's introduction of Mario. He had his eyes on us the whole time, an expression of confusion written on his face. He pointed, "What's he doing to Pit?"
Mario gritted his teeth and threw me towards Zelda and Ike. Ike was able to catch me as I stumbled his way and the three of us looked at Mario. He was slowly walking towards the portal he had summoned, and he looked back at us to say, "Take him to the Imperial Tower. Master Hand shall be waiting up to his arrival," he disappeared, and we were left staring at the empty space before us.
After a few seconds of silence, Zelda grabbed my shoulders and practically yelled in my face, "Pit, what have you gotten yourself into!? How are you a trophy!?"
I pushed her away and started leaving them, "As if you really care."
"Pit, where are you going?" She cried.
"The next town over; I'm getting supplies."
"The Imperial Tower is the other way."
I sighed and turned around, "I'm not going there, Zelda."
It was always hard to tell what was on Zelda's mind. Her face was usually devoid of every possible emotion, which made her smiles and tears seem more meaningful… so I have heard. I've never seen Zelda when she was happy or sad. I've never seen her smile, frown, or pout. When I was a Recurrent, I remember the thin smile she gave to me upon our first encounter, but I thought nothing of it at the time. I never thought it would be the only smile I would get from her. It's because of her statue-like expression that many people feel inferior to Zelda. She gives off an aura of royalty, and her dress and accessories definitely helped strengthen that image. Right now, she was staring at me with the same look she had given me since the day after we met, "You can't be serious."
"I am."
"Pit, you have to beg Master Hand to pardon you."
"Or what!?" I cried. All I got from Zelda was silence, and it got me angry, "Is he going to strike me with lightning? Send me to Hell? What? I'm asking sincerely, what can He possibly do? All Master Hand does is freaking 'watch over' us as if that's the hardest thing to do. He doesn't do anything. People pray for good fortune, a blessing, health for a sick family member, and what do they get? Poverty, pain, and death. He doesn't do anything, at least, not anymore. The world is getting worse day by day, and He is doing nothing about it. When we need Him most, that is when he decides to sit back and 'watch over' us as if that's all he can do! Why then, should I beg to Him for a pardon? He's given up on the World of Trophies. What makes you think he gives a crap whether I come to him or not?"
"Pit—"
"He doesn't do anything!"
Zelda scoffed at me, "As if Palutena Herself is a diligent goddess."
I could feel Lady Palutena flinch at the insult, and I ran over to Zelda to grab her by the front roughly, "Don't you EVER talk about my goddess that way!"
Zelda was unfazed by the action, and she said, "If She really cared for you, She would know it'd be best to go to the Imperial Tower as Mario said."
My chest was heaving, and I took a moment to calm down, 'Lady Palutena?'
'She's right. Ask for a pardon from Master Hand. If he shall not give it, I will get you out of the situation myself. That way, Master Hand cannot say we didn't come to him.'
I let out a steady breath and released Zelda, "Fine."
"Shouldn't you ask for permission?" Zelda asked.
"You mean from Lady Palutena? We communicate telepathically."
I started heading towards the town I was going to get supplies from for my journey. Zelda followed, along with Ike, who hasn't said a word since Mario left.
"Oh, and Zelda? A message from Palutena—She has pardoned you."
She didn't say anything.
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I hated Zelda at first. Hate is a strong word, I know, but she had the nerve to insult my goddess. Palutena said it was justified, as she was just defending the god she stood for, Master Hand. It made me so livid. The majority of trophies worship Master Hand over Lady Palutena, and it made perfect sense. He is more powerful than Her, and as much as I loath to admit it, He has done more for the world than She has. I don't care about none of that, though. She created me, She has been kind to me, and She has done so much for me. She has done things I would never be able to forget or repay.
Ike was silent. We were staying at a hotel for the night when he suddenly sat next to me on the sofa. Zelda was taking a shower, and I was reading the Bible that was in the drawer the lamp beside me stood upon. It spoke of the World's Creation, and the Originals' first days of existence. I continued reading the long passages until Ike cleared his throat. I glanced at him, and was slightly shocked to see him nervous.
"What's going on?" I asked him.
"There's something wrong with me, Pit."
"Ike, there's nothing wrong with you," I shook my head, going back to the Bible.
Ike was silent for a while, "I get hot when I'm near Zelda…"
We were able to hear the water from the shower, and Zelda humming softly to herself. I closed the holy book and stared at Ike, a blush streaked across his face, "Um, what do you mean by that, exactly?"
"I don't know. My heart beats real fast, it feels weird. I tried keeping away from her, but I feel lonely when I'm not with her."
That explained why he stuck with me the entire time we were in this town, "Oh, thanks," I said.
"N-no, it's not like that. It's just…I like it when I'm with her, but I don't like what she does to me."
'Help me out here, Lady Palutena.'
Palutena sounded excited, 'Pit, it's obvious that the boy's in love!"
I rolled my eyes, 'Yeah, I figured that much. What do I tell him?'
'Answer vaguely. Zelda is currently Link's steady partner.'
I turned to Ike, "It's probably nothing," I said, "You should get some sleep."
Ike nodded, but I could tell from his face that he was dissatisfied with my answer.
It took us about a week to get to the Imperial Tower. Despite our expected arrival, we had to climb up the tower from the first floor. When we made it to the nineteenth story, Master Hand was waiting for us in the expansive room. The wall behind him was made of stained glass, depicting images of the three gods of the World of trophies, including Master Hand in the center and Lady Palutena. Light came in the room in many different colors, making Master Hand glow especially. Gears were turning in the corners of the room, and for a moment the three of us just stood by the entrance. Master Hand's booming voice welcomed us, and demanded me specifically to stand before Him.
I was nervous. I felt insignificant in the presence of Master Hand, something that always made Him different from Palutena. It was hard to walk, and I found my fingers trembling slightly. I made fists, and tried taking steady breaths. Zelda and Ike walked beside me as I made my way before Master Hand. He said nothing of their presence, and he pointed to me with his large finger.
"PIT, DO YOU KNOW WHY YOU ARE HERE?" His voice echoed throughout the room, loud enough to give me a headache. Palutena soothed me with words of encouragement, but it did not help one bit.
My voice came out shaky, "It's about me becoming an Unwanted, is that it?"
"YES…TELL ME HOW YOUR FRIEND WAS ABLE TO PERFORM THIS…MIRACULOUS PROCEDURE."
I looked down at the floor, noting Master Hand's large shadow, "It wasn't a procedure it was—" I paused, and frowned. There were thin lines behind Master Hand's shadow, and I slowly moved my eyes up to the hovering figure.
It was then that Zelda cried out. She pointed up, Ike and I following with our eyes. There were strings attached to the back of Master Hand, made of blue, intensified light. I had no idea how I was not able to notice it before. They led to a figure high up in the room, beyond the ceiling that had been torn apart by a large purple vortex. It was coming from the altar, the Imperial Tower's twentieth floor. At the time, I didn't know what it was. It appeared to be a humanoid shape hunched over, some kind of puppet master that had done something to Master Hand. Even then I knew it was a threat. Looking back, I seethe at the memory.
Tabuu.
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I pointed towards the waterfall in the distance, hundreds of feet in the air and crashing down to create various streams that branched off many directions. We were beside a stream right now, in fact, and the others were watching the fishes swim by until I had called them. They stared at the high cliff in awe and wonder, and I couldn't help but smile, "At the very top is the next key; specifically, the Diamond Key. The waterfall is known as Rumble Falls, but the side of the cliff you climb in order to get to the top is called Steep Jungle. The entire landmark is Entrei Mountain."
"A jungle?" Peach asked, "However will we make our way through?"
I took a deep breath. The others waited for an answer, but in reality I had none. I know they trust in me to lead the way on this Quest, since I still have my memories from before the Memory Loss. The truth is, the World of Trophies has changed dramatically since then, and so I don't really know any more than Peach, Junior, and possibly even Ike. My mind was also on Roy, and I wasn't in the best shape for a fight if we were to encounter one, "We'll figure it out when we get there," I said.
"How'd you go through it the first time?" Junior asked.
"There's a series of caves and tunnels inside the mountain. It's the easiest way to the top since it's monster-free."
"Great!" Peach exclaimed, "We'll go through the caves!"
I shook my head, "That would be impossible," I told them, "The only entrance is inaccessible because of the waterfall."
"Wait," Peach started, "How…?"
"Tabuu created the waterfall in order to trap me, Ike, and our other two companions inside the mountain. The only reason we escaped was because of our friend's magic, which transported us into the jungle. The way down was really dangerous; we almost didn't make it."
"How come?"
I looked over at Junior, who was listening intently to what I was saying, "Well, there were a lot of monsters. Also, the jungle isn't an easy place to maneuver. Trees got in the way of dodging, and thickets made us sitting ducks. The jungle traps in heat, making it a very hot place. We got thirsty very quickly, and I even remember fainting at one point. The only source of water was the waterfall, but going back would have taken us until nightfall. Overall, it was just unpleasant…"
Junior made a face, "That doesn't sound fun…"
"Funny," Ike said, and we all faced him. He stared at our shocked faces before asking why we were looking at him that particular way.
"He spoke!" Peach cried, acting terrified.
Ike grumbled, "Please, it's not that unusual." We gave him a look, and he scowled, "This is the reason why I choose not to say anything at all."
I chuckled, "Lighten up. What were you going to say?"
He looked me straight in the eye, "I just thought it was funny how you said, 'me, Ike, and our other two companions'. How bad do you want to keep the past from me?"
"I-I'm sorry," I said, a bit unnerved, "It just came out that way."
"In that case, you wouldn't mind telling me their names?"
"I'm curious, too," Peach said.
I stopped, and turned, slightly annoyed, "I'm starting to get perturbed over your longing to know everything. Can't you be satisfied with the clips and scenes you're getting in your dreams?"
I think Ike was surprised at my sudden rise in attitude, but he gained composure quick, "No, it's not enough. Do you know what it feels like to have no past? I feel like stranger to everyone I know, and that includes myself. I want to know who I am; I can't stand not knowing anything. You know, I'll be honest with you, Pit. The lack of trust you have for us is quite obvious."
I frowned, "What?"
"You don't tell us anything about yourself. I'd say it's natural for us to be suspicious, since you're the only one that has memories from before the so-called Memory Loss. What are you hiding, Pit? Is it so bad that you refuse to tell us what it is? For all I know, this could all be a lie—maybe you are the villain, and the Originals are the good guys. You spout lies and fallacies to make yourself appear the victim, but in reality you're just a mastermind with a hidden agenda. Tell me Pit, if Tabuu really wanted to destroy this world by bringing it into his realm, why has he not done it yet?"
Peach and Junior were silent as Ike stared me down. This is what Gardevoir warned me about. They'll lose their trust in me, if they had any to begin with. Avoid the town on the cliff. Last I checked, Entrei Mountain had no inhabitants. Still, that was five years ago. A lot could have changed.
"You want their names?"
Ike was silent for a while, "That would be a start."
"Sheik and Mr. Game and Watch—that's all I'm telling you," I turned my heel and started walking, not looking back to see if the others were following. "Next time, don't push it," I told Ike.
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"Hey, Pit." Peach tapped me, and I peered over my shoulder before I went back to staring at the stream before me.
"I thought you were cooking some fish," I told her.
"You would be correct," Peach handed me a fish on a stick, and I took it.
I was about to take a bite when Peach sat next to me. I sighed, "What do you want?"
"Can't I hang out with my friend?"
I was caught off guard, "You think of me as a friend?"
She nodded, "Of course. We've been through so much in so little time…I think I can consider you a friend."
"Do you…trust me?"
I wouldn't meet Peach's eyes, but I knew she was staring at me, "What's this, all of a sudden?"
"You heard what Ike said. Have you ever thought the same thing?"
"No." Her reply did not require thought, and I found myself facing her. She was smiling, and I had to look away.
"You're naïve."
"Am I?"
"You believe everything I have told you? By no means, you don't think I had fabricated anything?"
"Of course not."
"How could you be so sure?" I asked Peach.
"Well, you told me angels don't lie."
I didn't expect that. I gave a small laugh and took a bite out of the cooked fish, "Thank you."
"Pit?"
"What is it?"
"I was wondering about the time before the Memory Loss. Have we ever met?"
"No," Peach stayed silent, and I continued, "I worked for my goddess in Skyworld. I was rarely on the surface with other trophies because of my duties as Her servant."
"I'm sorry…"
I shook my head, "There's no reason to be," I said, "I couldn't have asked for better company."
Peach played with the ring on her finger, "I wonder where she is now. You said you no longer hear her voice."
"I have an idea where She is."
She blinked, "You do?"
"Tabuu has Her. I just know it. I fear… she may be trapped in subspace…"
"Tabuu's realm?" Peach guessed, and I nodded, "What does that mean?"
"She's not in this world. She… no longer exists."
I looked up at the sky, the faintest whisper passed by my ear, and I looked at Peach, "Did you say something?"
She frowned, "No."
My heart rose and I listened intently.
A breeze swept by. My shoulders sagged.
It was just the wind.
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After we finished eating, we set off once again for Entrei Mountain. The closer we came to the waterfall, the bigger it appeared to be, and the roaring of the cataract became louder as we approached it. Within the hour, we made it to the bottom of the waterfall. We skipped over rocks to the other side of the rushing stream, where we made our way around the Mountain's perimeter. Peach became tired not soon after, and she begged for us to take a break. She sat against the wall of the mountain, and Junior accompanied her. I stayed where I was standing, mostly because I was restless. The way we are now, I doubt we would survive a journey up the Steep Jungle if it was the same as the last time I've been there.
Ike approached my side, and I braced myself for the worst. Before he could say anything, I said, "We might have to set up camp here."
I succeeded in changing whatever subject he was about to bring up, "Is that so?" I knew from the tone he used he wanted to add something, but he thought better of it and said nothing after that. The sun was setting quickly, turning a shade darker every time I blinked. Ike was looking at the sunset as well, and he finally said, "You can't see the forest from here. Are we already that far away?"
"No, it has disappeared," I glanced and Ike, "It's strange, how we ended up there in the first place. The Forgotten Forest is supposed to be nonexistent in this realm."
"Pit, I want to tell you something."
"That's a first."
He glared, and I looked away, "Am I ruthless?"
I frowned, "Ruthless?" Ike didn't elaborate, and I shook my head, "We should sleep soon; that way we can wake up early in the morning." I left Ike standing where he was, and made it to the spot Peach and Junior were hanging out, "We're going to sleep here for the night."
Peach looked at me as if I was crazy, "Right here, out in the open?"
"I don't see any hotels," I responded sarcastically, "Besides, we're trophies. Sleeping outside in destitute won't affect us in a negative way, if that's what you're worried about."
Peach shook her head, "I swear, I'm never going traveling again unless it's first class."
"There's a hollowed out indention on the surface of the mountain. I'm thinking we can sleep there."
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The crashing of the waves emitted from the waterfall was always present. It wasn't loud enough to keep us awake, but it was a nuisance. Junior was snoring beside Peach, who had her eyes open just like me and Ike. The three of us had heavy minds, and I knew that with Peach, there was bound to be some sort of talk about it. The sky grew as dark as it can possibly get, and I hoped it would be enough to get Peach to go to sleep. I couldn't see her, Ike, or Junior, just the world outside our little cave. After a while of just staring, Peach spoke softly.
"Are you two awake?"
Ike grunted, and I sighed, "Yeah."
"I'm worried that with sleep, I'll forget Dr. Mario."
"You won't," I said, "It's been years, and I still remember Roy."
"I knew he was there," Ike said quickly, before Peach can answer to what I had said.
"What?"
More slowly, "I knew Roy was there," Ike repeated.
"Okay…?"
"Pit you don't get." I heard movement, and I knew that he was sitting up, "I never met Roy, but I knew he was in the forest. I… I wanted to kill him." The last part came out hushed, but Peach and I heard him clearly.
"Ike…why?" Peach asked.
"I don't know," he said. His voice shook, and I knew he was scared, "Mewtwo attacked me in the Forgotten Forest, and I fought back in self-defense. Soon I found myself wanting to hurt him for the pleasure. I pinned him down, and used a method of torture to force him to tell me where Roy was."
"That's horrible," Peach said, "I can't imagine you doing that."
"I can."
Ike and Peach became silent. The roar of the waterfall became fainter, as if the mountain also wanted to hear what I had to say. Peach grew the nerve to ask what I meant, and I sighed. I didn't want to tell them anything, but now there seemed to be no way out of it, "I lied… about how I met you, Ike."
He didn't say anything, and for a moment, I thought he had gone to sleep. I heard his quick breathing, and I knew he was more wide awake than ever, "I met you in Smashville, the center of the World of Trophies. Originally, the first quest only consisted of me and my goddess. The purpose for the quest was different in the beginning. The goal was to find Roy, who back then just recently became a Forgotten. I took it upon myself to save him from the prison that many have dubbed the Forgotten Forest."
"Today was the first time you saw Roy since he became a Forgotten?"
"That's right," I told Peach, "My priority changed. The world was in danger, and I had to put off Roy for a while in order to stop Tabuu from going through with his heinous plan," I shook my head at the memory, "But that's going off topic. I met you at the gate, Ike, and my goddess told me that you were Roy's Replacement."
"What does that mean?"
"It means you were created to take the place of a trophy that has become a Forgotten, to ensure that they never become remembered. I hated you. I was intimidated by you. I wanted nothing to do with you. But you were just born, and had the eager mind of a child wanting to converse with another one of your kind. It was through reluctance, but soon I found myself enjoying your company. You were a Replacement, but I knew had nothing to fear. You are nothing like Roy. You are your own person."
Ike remained silent. Peach didn't say anything. Junior's snores indicated that he was in a deep sleep. If only I could be in his position, safe in the world of dreams.
"Earlier you mentioned if you were ruthless. I was confused as to why you would ask that, but now I know. It's about the incident with Mewtwo and the jailbreak, correct?"
"The jailbreak?" Peach asked, and I explained.
"Didn't it seem a bit out of character the way Ike treated the guard? You said so yourself that it ignited fear."
"Of course," she said, "It wasn't necessary to continue hitting him, but Ike couldn't see that for himself. That's what scared me the most."
"It also wasn't necessary to torture Mewtwo after I had defeated him."
"That isn't you Ike—never forget that. Every Replacement has a mechanism that makes them agitated when near their Forgotten. It causes fury, and the urge to kill. The reason for that is to enable them to delete the Forgotten. You shouldn't worry about it."
"I shouldn't?" I was surprised when he spoke, "It takes over sometimes… the Monster."
I tried to take in what he just told me. Before, Ike was able to handle himself. I say that because it was never a problem any of us had to deal with. What if, because of his amnesia, he has forgotten how to deal with being a Replacement? The word he used to describe the manifestation of hate just now was concerning. He called it Monster.
"It's nothing to worry about; go to sleep."
Minutes passed, and Ike was breathing steadily. It seemed as if everything I have told him eased his mind, and I was grateful for that. I closed my eyes, but they soon snapped open when I heard Peach utter words that made me stiffen, "You hesitated."
I closed my eyes as if doing so would make Peach go away, "He's been through enough already. Besides, I'm not really sure if it's a cause for concern."
"I hope you're right," she said.
I muttered bitterly, "Sometimes, that's all you can ever do."
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I woke up before all the others, and I decided to go for a walk. I retraced the steps we have taken yesterday, and ended up right before the waterfall. It was crashing down with all its fury, bringing up mist that that sprayed all over my face as I came near. I sat by the edge, infinite ripples leaving what I could see of my image a distorted mess. I think it very well reflected the way I looked inside, and I splashed the water before me in hopes of making my reflection disappear all together. I did not expect for the colors on the surface to change, for the water to reflect the face of my goddess. A normal person would have thought he had gone crazy, but I was far too desperate to make the assumption.
"Lady Palutena!?" I bent over to get a better view, and gripped the earth as I noted the panic on her face.
"Pit, I can't keep up this vision for so long…"
"Lady Palutena, is that you!?"
"Pit, listen to me, and do not interrupt. I've tried contacting you, but I received no answer—" I was about to say something, but she held up her hand, "I realize I am not able to project my thoughts, but I am able to send a quick message…" She looked around as if worried she was not alone, "Pit, I just want you to know that I am safe. I am alive. Don't lose your faith in me, and never, I repeat, never abandon your quest. I'm trapped in a section of subspace known as the Void, and I'm looking for a way out… Don't worry about me…" Ripples showed my reflection for a fraction of a moment, and I knew we were losing touch, "I don't have much time left, Pit, I'm using all the strength I have here. Just… just…I'm safe. Just know that. I'll try to help you from the other side, but do not worry if you do not hear from me…" Her voice was getting cut off, and it was starting to get hard to hear her, "There's a trophy stalking your companions. He's a threat, but he will be able to help you get past the Steep J—ngle—"
"Palutena!" My face flickered on the water's surface, but then quickly replaced by Palutena's.
"I'm sorry there is nothing more I can do for you… g—d luck…and fa—well for the time being. I –contact you again. Until then, I will pray for your well being."
Her face disappeared, and my own reflected back my expression of hope and sadness. My lips formed a smile, and two more ripples appeared on the water from fallen tears.
She was alive. My goddess was alive.
I wiped my eyes with the back of my arm. I didn't celebrate. There was no time for that.
My friends were in danger.
(Ike's PoV)
The others were already up by the time I have awoken from my slumber. My back was aching from lying against an uneven surface, and I sat up, my eyes searching around for any one of my companions. I checked the area, and saw Peach looking at some sort of handkerchief she held in her hands. I approached her, and she smiled when she took note of me.
"Oh, hey Ike."
I've never been alone with Peach, and the realization of that got me nervous, "Peach… what's with the handkerchief?"
She showed me the initials, DM, "It belongs to Dr. Mario. He gave me this handkerchief to remember him by."
"That's nice."
Peach nodded, and put away the small white cloth, "So how are you?"
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Last night. Are you okay?"
I avoided her gaze, "Yes…"
"Ike, you know you can tell me anything. I can help you if you just tell me what's on your mind."
"Peach, how do I get Pit to tell me my past?"
"Last night wasn't enough, huh?"
I shook my head, "No… you have to understand Peach. You know the memories you have regained from before the Memory Loss? Is that enough for you?"
She thought about it for some time, "No, I guess not."
"Pit doesn't want to tell me anything."
"He sure is secretive," Peach agreed, "But how about you try this? Instead of asking him things that concern you, why don't you ask him about himself?"
"You think that would work?"
"It's worth a shot," Peach said.
There was a sudden explosion, and Peach and I looked over the direction it had come from.
"What was that?"
Peach looked terrified, "Junior!" She looked at me with fear in her eyes, "He went that way!"
I froze for a moment, but then started running towards the explosion, "Come on!" I called back, "We have to make sure your son is safe!" Peach ran after me, and was beside me in a few seconds. Worry was written all over her face, and it motivated me to find Junior.
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The smoke was fading by the time we had found Junior. He was coughing uncontrollably, and Peach held him tight before examining the boy for any injuries.
"Mom, I'm fine," he said through coughs.
Peach held Junior's face, arching it every angle, "Junior, what happened?"
"It was some guy dressed in camouflage. He attacked me out of nowhere."
"Dave didn't warn you?"
Junior shook his head, "I had him in my bag." Junior took out his shadow bug, which he almost dropped due to its uncontrollable spasms. Junior looked around wildly, "He's still here!"
The three of us stayed still, a gentle breeze making its way past. An object fell from the sky, and I stared at it confused when Peach tackled me to the ground. I was about to ask why she did that just now, when the object exploded. We scrambled up quickly, noting Junior doing the same a few yards away from us.
"Let's get out of here," I told Peach, who agreed without any argument. She was running towards Junior when the ground beneath her erupted. Peach flew through the air, and landed painfully on her back, where she remained motionless.
"Mom!" Junior was about to run to her side when I ordered for him to stop. Junior stared at me with wild eyes, and I looked around. My eye caught a distortion in the air, a small section of space that resembled heat waves
"Junior, come to me slowly…"
The boy did as I said, and I took the shadow bug from him, "Hey—"
I started running, placing Dave on my shoulder. I ran for the figure in the distance, keeping an eye on the shadow bug. He started trembling, and I sidestepped, continuing to make my way to the attacker. Dave trembled a final time, and I jumped, swinging my blade over the crouched figure. Ragnell made no contact, but the invisibility of the attacker wore off, revealing a man that fit Junior's description. He wore many belts strapped all over his body, each having a full set of what I assumed to be explosives. He had a on a headband, as well as a scowl on his face as he gave me a once-over.
"Who are you?" I demanded. The man did not say anything, and I grabbed him by the two belts across his chest, "Forget it. Give me a reason why I shouldn't kill you right now."
The man pushed me away, "The name's Snake."
"I'll put that on your gravestone." I raised Ragnell and swung the golden blade down.
Snake jumped out of the way, "Stand down! I have no quarrel with you."
I kept at it, Snake dodging every attack. I stopped, breathing heavily. My eyes were locked on Snake, and my vision began to tremble. This man hurt Peach, and he was going to pay, "You hurt my companion."
Snake glanced at Peach, "Why do you care? She's an Associate, a damn kiss-up to the Originals."
I clenched Ragnell tightly, "Is that why you attacked the boy!?"
Snake confronted me with a glare, "They treat us like garbage for being Unwanted. They think they are superior for the simple fact that they are based off the Original Twelve. You know what? It's about time someone shows them the truth. We'll see who's more superior after I send every Associate to recreation!"
"That's pathetic," I said, and Snake unhooked an explosive to throw at me. It was too sudden to avoid, and the blast lifted me off the ground. I was able to land on my feet, but my eyes stung from the smoke, and I was unable to see Snake coming for me.
"Ike, watch out!" I felt a fist to the side of my face, followed by a kick on the torso that knocked the wind out of me, "Ike, above you!" I rolled aside just as I heard another explosion go off on the area I was before. I rubbed my eyes and opened them, my vision blurry. I was able to see Snake's form, throwing up and down repeatedly another explosion in his hand. It reminded me of the time in the Forgotten Forest. If Junior can act as my eyes like Minun, then I would be able to fight back despite the loss of sight. "He's throwing another grenade at you!" I jumped to the side, where the ground beneath me exploded. I was flung in the air, and landed face down on the grassy field.
Snake was laughing, "I planted mines all over the place. Only I know their exact locations. Give up now, or better yet, eliminate the little Associate yourself. On my turf, there's no chance of victory for the opposing side."
"As if!" I got up, using Ragnell for support.
Snake was caught off guard, "How are you able to recover after that!?"
I was able to see again, and the fact reassured me, "Give me some credit Snake—After all, I am an Unwanted. Superior to Associates, am I right?" I teased.
Snake was at a loss of words, and I made sure Dave was still perched on my shoulder. Seeing he was well and accounted for, I ran straight towards Snake. Mines were no longer an issue, as Dave was able to detect them. The abilities of the shadow bug were amazing; it was no wonder why Peach changed her mind about Junior keeping it as a pet. It would no doubt keep him safe.
I was about to lunge at Snake when I heard Pit shout, "STOP!"
Everyone paused, and Pit descended from the sky between me and Snake. He turned towards Snake, who had oddly gotten on his knees in a praying fashion, "I cannot believe it, it's the Pit!"
I frowned, "Pit, do you know this guy?"
He shook his head, "No idea…" He looked down at Snake, "Why were you attacking my friends?"
Snake tensed, "I'm so sorry, Pit! If I knew these trophies were your friends I would have never—"
"Should I know you?" Pit interrupted.
Snake looked up, "No—but I know everything there is to know about you. You are Pit, the Unwanted that fights back against the Originals! You are my hero!"
Pit gave me a glance, obviously weirded out by his worshipper, "Well, my companions and I are actually going to climb up the Steep Jungle to obtain the Diamond key. If there's any way you can help, I might forgive you for almost killing Ike…"
"And Peach," I added.
Snake's eyes were wide, and he nodded furiously, "I can help you! There's an Original that's in charge of the Steep Jungle… he won't let a Defyer set a foot past the base of Entrei Mountain…but suppose the four of you had disguises…?"
"That would be great!" Pit exclaimed.
Snake nodded, pulling out certain colored vials from behind, "I'm a master of espionage; my disguises are the best in the world. By the time I'm done with the four of you, you won't even recognize yourself in the mirror."
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Peach hadn't suffered any serious injuries. Junior had made his to her while Snake and I were fighting, and was immensely worried for the both of us. Snake applied dye to our hair, making Peach and Junior ginger while Pit was made a blond. I myself had my hair turned into ebony, including my eyebrows. Snake's vials also changed the colors of our clothes. Peach's dress was turned light blue, the same as Junior's tunic. Pit's clothes were green, and mine were made black. Snake had a special solution that made Pit's wings invisible—I guessed he used something similar himself to blend in to his surroundings before. Snake left after giving us a small warning—the colors would fade to nothing in contact of water.
We continued our way to the Steep Jungle, going around the perimeter of Entrei Mountain. I was lost in thought while Peach was talking eagerly.
"We should have fake names! I always wished my name to be something fancy like… Fidelity."
"Nice name," Pit commented, "I think I'll go by Sky."
"My name's gonna be Destroyer!" Junior said.
Peach shook her head, "How about Thorton?"
Junior stared at his mom as if her skin was inside out, "Thorton!? That's lame!"
"Or how about… we actually call you Link!"
"Don't even joke about that," Junior said.
Peach giggled, "Thorton it is." Junior was about to protest, when Peach asked, "What about you, Ike?"
"Hm?" Everyone stared at me, and I looked away, "I don't know."
"Fake names would help," Pit said, "I'm sure the Originals know who we are. Along with disguises, we might be able to fool them."
No explanation was needed, but I found myself nodding, "What do you think my fake name should be?" I asked Peach.
She clapped her hands and smiled wide, "Kayden!"
"Very well."
We continued walking, and I found myself looking at Pit. I thought about what Peach told me. Instead of asking about myself, I should ask about him. That way, Pit would be more willing to share the past, "Pit?"
He looked back, "What is it?"
The others became silent, and I wondered what I should ask him. Suddenly, I knew the perfect question, "I was wondering… what's the name of your goddess?"
I could tell Pit was not expecting that. He turned away, with a hint of a smile, "Her name is Palutena."
Peach looked at the angel, "Somehow… you seem happier, Pit."
He was silent for a while, and for the first time, I saw him smile wide enough to reveal dimples I never knew he had, "I finally know She's safe."
He didn't explain what he meant.
