Nobody had been killed last night, as it seemed. That fact remained in everyone's mind and led them one step closer to believing that Yoshi indeed murdered all those smashers and commit suicide shortly after. However, the force field had not been cleared up, so nobody could leave. Teleportation was impossible, breakthroughs from windows were a failed attempt, and doors were shut tightly. Was Mewtwo behind this? Or was it Zelda? Might Ness decide to assist the killer and block off all exits? Answers would only come as the days waned on.
Unfortunately, Mewtwo did not volunteer to search for ghosts, but Ness decided to give it a shot. In the lonely clutches of darkness, Ness braved it and waited for an encounter with a bodiless soul. Fear only restrained him from falling asleep at those late hours, and he always poised himself ready for danger. To his distaste and everyone else's, not one ghost could be contacted.
"This is hopeless," Master Hand complained. "Why did I even bother?"
"Well, the murders go bye-bye," Crazy Hand brought up with half of his brain functioning. "Yoshi did it."
"No no no, Yoshi certainly did not commit the crime, you don't understand," Master Hand corrected sternly. Crazy Hand seemed surprised and particularily bemused. The right hand continued. "Mario was discovered in the kitchen, dead due to an assault with butcher knives." His voice echoed throughout the room solemnly as he recalled what he found that morning.
"Don't be sad. You'll get out!" the crazy one cheered. Master Hand shook side-to-side, obviously shaking his "head."
When the door busted open so abruptly, the more sane hand yelled out in surprise. "What now?" he questioned a little irritably. "Nothing can get worse, can it?"
"Uh… no, that's not it at all," Mr. Game and Watch said, a little confused. "I just stopped by to say the mess was cleaned up, no need to get all worked up!" He popped his 2D head back through the door, and closed it tight. Master Hand sighed heavily.
"I'm going ballistic."
-
Rummaging through the closet, throwing boxes down, outfits, weapons used in battle, and other sorts of objects, Kirby was frantic. "I swear I saw one in here!"
Pikachu rolled his eyes at how foolish Kirby seemed to be acting in his eyes. "You honestly think that will even work?"
Zelda, standing close by and observing what the two were doing up in the battle room searching anxiously in the closet, suggested, "Well, all of us are desperate, right?"
"Exactly!" Kirby shouted, nearly collapsing onto the ground with the super scopes he was dropping down. There were things used in battle littering the ground, but also miscellaneous objects such as board games, worn-out lamps, long lost socks or candleholders.
"Still… I think you're a little off your rocker. Ouija boards are rigged."
Kirby halted for a moment to talk to Pikachu. "Pikachu. Have YOU ever used one before?"
"No, but it seems impossible that it would work. You can't expect it to speak to the dead or whatever! We have Ness and Mewtwo to do that!"
Kirby sighed at the idiocy of the mouse Pokemon. "Then you obviously don't know, and the psychics can't find the dead; that's the only reason Ness couldn't accomplish it! So give me a break, will ya?" He turned and continued his nearly hopeless search, daring to move aside the pair of briefs that lay forbidden in the top corner of the closet.
"Ah, yes, here!" He threw the box across the floor, further away from the other objects. Pikachu and Zelda stared at the short box as it slid across the floor and then arrived at a stop near their feet. It was one of those inexplicable designs, ones that you'd expect a gypsy to use, displaying witchcraft and mystifying trials on the front. It also had some creepy looking ghosts or spirits perceptible. Kirby hopped down onto the pile of items and clothing, and rushed for the found box. He picked it up delicately.
"I'm off." Pikachu turned towards the exit and sped off impatiently without looking back.
"Whatever you say. Pikachu has become so unfriendly lately." He said this with a pout. Kirby followed the exit at his own pace, forcing Zelda to tag along as well. No one wanted to be left alone in this hostile mansion.
The hallways reflected an anguishing sense of gloom and disregard as the three ventured out; knowing that nowhere at any time of day was safe. Only the sound of soft footsteps echoed back to them, giving a chilly sense of loneliness. Anywhere, a pair of eyes could be lurking behind a doorway or in the shadows, ready to leap out and pull a dagger to the throat. It was a silence that could practically choke you with worry.
The princess of Hyrule decided to break this silence immediately, finding it to her utmost discomfort. "Where are we headed?"
Kirby never stopped walking ahead. "Maybe to a room downstairs, on floor one. I always feel a little safer down there nowadays."
Zelda was about to mention that Mario was recently killed in the kitchen, but swallowed her words and bucked up. There was Kirby nearby, and besides, the murder happened during the night. Unless Kirby was the murderer. She let that slide past her perception. Eventually, the two reached a recreational room to the east of the building and each positioned themselves on the floor in the center. Ness and Mr. Game and Watch looked on curiously at what they were doing, and then made the choice to participate as spectators.
"Now, how do these things work?" Kirby asked to no one in particular, the answer floating around invisibly in everyone's head, ceasing to exist.
"Never used one before," Ness responded, shaking his head. Mr. Game and Watch agreed with Ness.
Zelda thought a moment, picking up the directions from inside the box, unfolding the old paper and reading it silently. She was laced with a sense of uneasiness as all eyes laid on her, speech diffused. After a long pause, Zelda had a small idea of what to do.
"Okay, I'll read the directions aloud." She cleared her throat quietly. "This is to let all of you know what we're doing, or how to do it. First, make your surroundings comfortable and seemingly free of negative energies. Prepare paper and pencil or a tape recorder to record messages. You can use a camcorder if one is available. Using and infrared camcorder in a dim room is a great way to see the energies of spirit. Be sure your board is clean and free of dust. Wipe gently with a clean, soft cloth to begin. You do not have to use spooky lighting or candles, and it is best not to play distracting music. Spirits love flowers, so it is a good idea to place some in a vase of water near the area."
"Would you mind getting to the point?" Mr. Game and Watch interrupted impatiently.
"Hey, it might be a good idea to read every little detail," Ness countered, placing his head on the back of his hands against the couch for comfort.
"Yeah, but we don't really have any access to flowers," Zelda commented, then trailed her eyes back to the manual to read. "Use a protective white light of energy to surround yourself, the board, those you are working with, and even the room. You create this white light in your mind. See it coming down into the top of your head (Your crown chakra) and completely down your body-then extend it outwards as far as you would like it to go."
"Now it's starting to sound crazy," Mr. Game and Watch stated. "Only a psychic freak could do all this junk."
"Watch it," Ness warned. "Anybody can imagine an invisible light surrounding them."
Zelda ignored them, then continued. "Decide if you want to place the board on a table or upon your knees, whatever you find comfortable. You can work alone or in a group. If you work with others, be sure that they are not negative in their thinking." All of them glanced at Mr. Game and Watch.
"What?" he asked innocently.
"Never mind," Kirby said dismissively, turning away. "Everyone's so grumpy…"
"Anyway," Zelda proceeded, "Determine who wants to use the board and who will just observe. I think we have that settled. It is best if someone makes notes about the letters and words given." She looked up from the paper and nodded her head at Ness. "You can get some paper and take notes, can't you?"
"Sure thing," he replied, and scooted off the couch in a quest for paper.
"Decide which person will ask the first question. I will." Kirby accepted by nodding in an understanding manner. "If everyone wants a turn at the board, it is best to go clockwise around the board taking turns. The time for each turn will vary with the spirit you are answering. People may be contacted by more than one spirit. Sometimes the spirits argue over who will be first to come through. Though spiritual energy enters through the left side of the body, most people will use their dominant hand to work the board, which in most cases is the right hand. If you have telekinetic abilities, however, and feel you can move the indicator with your mind, then it is best not to use this board as you are guiding the answers." All eyes moved to Ness, who was currently searching through a stack of papers, bills, and all the sort on a desk. He turned around, realizing all eyes were pasted on his back and that telekinetic abilities meant him. "Oh, hi," he said casually with a cheesy grin on his face.
"Hi," Kirby replied with a wave and a satirical look in his eyes. Zelda grinned, glad to see some smiles going around in this dismal place. She continued reading aloud.
"You may also discover as you work with the board that you can subconsciously control the movement of the indicator. If you are not sure, close your eyes and allow the indicator to go where it will. Some spirits move across the board quickly, while others go very slow. One of the first questions you might want to ask is the names of your spirit guides. You can start by asking for a message from a spirit--or by asking a spirit a question. Always start with general questions. Save the personal questions for later when you are comfortable with what you are doing! Once an answer is given you can ask for more information. It is generally best to start with simple yes or no questions. Do not continue to ask the question over and over to seek the answer you want. Ask the question once and accept the answer. You CAN ask for clarification of the answer. Ask simple questions that can be verified in the next few days to determine if your question is from spirit or unconscious mind. You may get thought forms and mental images as you talk to the spirit such as an image of the spirit. When a new entity comes, always ask its name, who they came to talk to, and what they want to discuss. A name might come through as ICMAHEL-meaning MICHAEL. Remember that not all spirits speak in your language. Some have trouble spelling or creating sentences. You may also confront a "trapped spirit" that seeks help going to the light. If this is a matter of you releasing the spirit because you have an emotional link to it, you must set the spirit free and forgive whatever it wishes you to forgive from the time you knew it in the third dimension. If you do not know the spirit who wishes to be released, then send it away and say you are not qualified to help them. If spirits ask you to do weird things, stop using the board for that session."
Mr. Game and Watch chuckled. "Question is, what kind of weird things?"
"Just keep those thoughts to yourself and let me finish," Zelda said. "I'm almost done." She coughed once, then continued her long speech. "Do not ask spirits to bring you things that you want but would not otherwise have. All spirits have their boundaries. You must find all the limitations of the spirit you are talking to. Never ask spirits to harm others. Never use the board to control others. Keep the board in a special place when not in use. Do not get addicted to the board. Using the board seems not to matter whether one is psychic or not. Many psychics cannot even work an ouija board. With experience, you can learn to channel your deceased loved ones and entities from other realms. Thank you for reading this manual." Zelda finished, took a deep breath, and set the instructions back in the box.
"Talk about forever. I could have fallen asleep!" Kirby remarked with a small yawn.
"My knees are stiff," noticed Zelda, spreading out her sore legs more.
"Oh, and I hope you don't mind if Link and Roy are in the room watching," Mr. Game and Watch informed superficially. Zelda glanced up to see the redhead and blonde swordsmen.
"Hey," Roy greeted. "An… a…what's that again?"
"Ouija board," Zelda corrected. "It contacts deceased spirits. You can already guess what we're up to."
"Ah, I see." The redhead approached the couch to observe them as well, Link following behind, equally amused, eyes drawn to the fore coming activity.
"So… let's begin." Zelda took a deep breath, placing the palm of her hand in the indicated spot on the board. Kirby copied her actions. Closing her eyes, Zelda imagined her body slowly being surrounded by a protective white light, and she concentrated on her subconscious mind. It took a while, but she soon felt connected. She knew her first question right off the bat. "What is your name?" she asked calmly.
The board answered her. GERADL.
"Um…" Mr. Game and Watch began to point out, "I don't think we know a Gerald."
"Cool it, this is the first try!" Ness told him, fiddling with the pencil between his fingers. "You seem so grumpy lately."
Zelda nodded to Kirby, signaling that it was his turn. "What is your name?"
MARGARET.
"Told you. It's probably programmed to answer questions."
"Shhhh!" Link and Roy hissed at the 2D man.
Zelda continued. "Gerald, how old were you when you died?"
43.
Kirby took this opportunity to take his turn. "Do you know anything about the murders taking place in this mansion?"
NO.
"Hmm," Zelda said. This didn't seem to be going anywhere. "How did you die?"
CAR ACCIEDNT.
Kirby took his turn once more. "Are you having any trouble or do you need help in any way getting to the afterlife?"
NO.
Zelda. "What year did you die?"
1989.
Kirby. "May I speak with a different spirit? I am trying to find out if I can talk with a certain few spirits."
YES.
Zelda hesitated. Should she do the same? It sounded rude, but they weren't getting anywhere, and secretly she wasn't interested in talking to some dead stranger. She repeated what Kirby had said and got her answer.
YES.
Kirby moved on. "Who is this?"
PIHUC.
"Finally!" Mr. Game and watch exclaimed excitedly, now standing at the edge of the couch.
"Who's Pihuc?" Roy asked stupidly.
"I wonder," Link told him sarcastically, grinning somewhat lopsidedly at Roy's confusion.
Zelda laughed. "Well then, who is this?"
MAIRO.
Kirby remembered Pichu, annoying, hyper, kind of brainless, timid, and cute. If only Pikachu wasn't such a grouch, he would have been able to see this. He'd probably think it was fake, though. "Pichu! Okay, do you know how you died?"
UNCELAR.
"Wow, not even I spell as bad as these dead people!" Roy perceived, placing a hand to the side of his head. They ignored him. He'd get it eventually.
"Unclear?" Zelda wondered aloud. "I guess having your neck snapped all the way won't clarify your death."
Mr. Game and Watch kept his sight on Ness almost constantly. He didn't seem to be writing anything down, just concentrating intently on the board and the players. He became suspicious. What if Ness was controlling it? He had telekinetic abilities, and seemed distrustful. He was trying to fake answers. He lied that he couldn't find ghosts. He said he contacted Captain Falcon, but that could have been a lie, and he had known all along how he died, since he most likely killed him. He was capable of creating barriers with his psychic powers, as well as creating fires, and anybody could stab with knives or hit with poles, maybe he did everything.
Zelda began with the new question for Mario. "Who did you see kill you?"
COVERED UP. CAN'T ESE.
"By any chance did you see who killed you?" Kirby asked Pichu's spirit.
EVIL MALE.
"An evil male? It sounds like Ganondorf," Link remarked. "By any chance was he pig-like?"
Zelda continued. "How did he enter the room?"
I TUNERD ARUNDO NAD HE SATBBED ME.
It took all of them a while to decipher what Mario had said, but it made sense. Ness held a hand up. "Wait, hold up. I fell behind writing this stuff down, so could you pause for a moment? Thanks." About a minute of the pencil scribbling down, he gave them a thumbs-up to continue.
Kirby asked, "What did he look like?"
TOO DRAK. CAN'T SEE.
"This isn't getting us much anywhere," Roy noticed. "Just go on."
Zelda. "What were you doing?"
MIDNIGHT SNACK.
"Figures," Link said, rolling his eyes.
"Anyway," Kirby said, "Did you notice anything else? Make notes."
COLD HNADS. DARK VIOCE. HIENDD NI DRAKNESS.
"Let me make my own notes for a moment," Ness interrupted. After he finished scratching down some notes, he told them to proceed.
"Mario, did anything else happen?"
NOT MUCH.
"And Pichu, do you need us to do anything?"
SAY BYW FRO ME TO EVRYONE.
"Aw, that's sweet," Zelda said, smiling at the board.
"I think I lost contact," Kirby admitted. "But I will."
Zelda asked the same question to Mario.
NOT REALLY.
Roy suddenly spoke up. "You know, it's kind of sad talking to the ones we knew once before but aren't here anymore." Everyone agreed to that statement, and waited eagerly for the next spirit.
Kirby tried to envision the light, his soul becoming more alert, and asked, "Now who am I talking to?"
This reply took quite a while to show up, but soon it read FALCO.
Zelda found her spirit's name to be CASSIE.
"Falco, what happened when you died?" Kirby inquired curiously. Everyone wanted to know about the first victim's death.
COME FROM CLOSET. THREATENED ME. SAID FREAKSH TNHIGS. COME OUT TO KILL ME, COVERED UP IN CLOTHING, SAW GLIMPS OF FACE.
A rain of hope covered the inhabitants of the room. They were a step closer in discovering who did all this. Zelda soon got Cassie to leave, seeing she had no business with her.
"What did the face look like?"
DON'T KNOW BUT HAD BIG CUT ON FORHEAD.
"Who are you?"
PEACH.
"Hey, it's Peach!" Roy exclaimed. "I think she'll also spill a lot of information!"
Kirby continued asking Falco. "Did he have a reason to kill you?"
NOT THTA I KNOW OF.
"How did the fire start?"
I DON'T KNOW I WAS FALLING ASLEEP.
Mr. Game and Watch was getting sick due to his idea on Ness. He was most likely controlling the board to create lies. He needed to notify somebody. "Isn't it cheating having Ness in the room? He might be controlling the board."
"You're wrong. I've been writing notes," Ness corrected, a little livid at being accused because of his powers. It almost seemed like discrimination.
"You pause so long before you write them! You stare so closely at the board!" he countered.
"What if I find this interesting? Ever thought of that?" Ness replied, a little more heated. Mr. Game and Watch was also starting to get irritated.
"Let's just see what happens when Ness is out of the room, okay?" Link decided. "Then we'll invite you back in."
Ness stared at the paper fro a moment, thinking this over carefully. "Oh, alright," he finally said, dropping his pencil and getting up to his feet so that he could leave. Mr. Game and Watch stared at him triumphantly, feeling that he prevented the murderer from misleading them all.
"Anyway, Falco, uh… do you need anything?"
WHAT ARE YOU TLAKING ABOUT?
All eyes in the room gave each other glimpses. Ness might have been controlling the indicator to give them false answers.
"Oh come on, give Ness a break!" Kirby exclaimed. "Let's keep going. I'll go again. Falco, I'm talking about if you want us to do any unfinished business here. Do you?"
TELL FOX TO MOVE ON IN LIFE. TELL HIM TO STOP BEING A WUSS OVER SOMEONE LIKE ME.
It brought a smile to Kirby's mouth to see this. "I'll add that to my to-do list."
"Does this mean Ness is innocent?" Roy asked, bending over and reading the notes taken.
"I bet he's still controlling it outside the room," Mr. Game and Watch grumbled. He crossed his arms, becoming annoyed once again. He wanted to prove Ness wrong.
"You know, I also bet that you're framing Ness just to cover for yourself," Kirby accused. "You seem so critical." He gave the black 2D man a stern glare. He liked Ness, and didn't believe he had anything to do with the murders.
"Hey, hold up for a second!" Mr. Game and Watch yelled. "How could I do all those things that Ness is certainly capable of doing? The doors were locked in the middle of the night, too!"
"Hmm," Link murmured, observing the 2D person carefully. "You are a lot like paper. You'd be able to slip under locked doors."
Mr. Game and Watch was becoming anxious now. "No way! I have no intention of killing!"
"How can we believe you? You have no proof," Kirby added, his strict look never washing away.
Zelda began to get a little frustrated, but she managed to maintain her calm structure. "Okay, let's just continue and leave accusations for later. We still have answers to receive."
"Yeah, false ones made up by Ness!" Mr. Game and Watch interrupted.
Zelda ignored his rash attitude. "Peach, how long were you in your room until the fire ignited?"
TEN MINUTES.
"Let's stop taking turns, Kirby. It seems much easier for one of us to continue talking to one spirit at a time, until he or she leaves. Wait till I'm done. Anyway, why didn't you leave the room once the fire was ablaze?"
DOOR WOULDN'T BUDGE.
"Oh my… did it seem jammed?"
YES.
"Any green goo?"
NO.
"Do you want to speak with anyone?"
ROY MAYBE.
"Well well well… Roy, she wants to speak with you," Zelda told the redhead, a suspicious smile spread out on her face. He paused with the new notes, and looked at the princess. What did she think was going on, anyway? Did she suspect that he and Peach had something going on? It made him a little angry and uneasy, but he smiled weakly and approached the board.
"Hey, Peach," he began. "I'm sorry that happened. I miss you."
THINGS HAPPEN. SORRY FOR ANY PAIN.
"It's okay, I'll move on, unless something gets me here. But I won't forget you."
GOOD.
"It's nice talking to you, even still. Sorry about the pillow, though."
I'D LAUGH BUT IM DEAD.
This caused the living spirits to chuckle themselves, and after they did, the board said something.
GOODBYE.
"Bye," Roy said, getting up to his feet. It was awfully sad, saying goodbye to a friend. All Roy could do was grin and let his eyes become wet.
Kirby started to question Falco again. "Is it true that Nana saw you?"
YES.
"So you still haunt this place?"
SOMETIMES.
"Have you seen any killings?"
CAPTAN FALCON.
"Ooh, okay. Who killed him?"
I COULDENT TELL.
"Oh… then how tall was he or she?"
TALLER THAN FOUR FEET.
"And shorter than?"
SIX FEET.
"How exactly did he kill him?"
ANTIFREEZE AND OTHER TOXINS IN PIPE. HE DRANK THE WATER AND BECOMES POISENED.
"Just as we thought. Falco, did it hurt to die?"
ASK YOURSELF IF KNIVES HURT.
"Ouch, okay then." Kirby turned to the rest. "They never loose their personality when they die, you know?"
"That's the cool thing," Roy said, smiling while rapidly taking Ness' notes. "Hey, by the way, can we invite Ness back in?"
"Go ahead, Zelda allowed. Ness walked back in without any guidance.
"I heard," he said flatly, a little ticked off. It showed in his eyes and voice.
"Great, now let's continue," Kirby said. "Did you notice anything else that could relate to these murders?"
CRAZY HAND SEEMS SUSPICIOUS, CLOAKED FIGURE HAVE IMMORTAL POWERS, FOX INSANE TO VERY BAD POINT. HE'LL KILL.
Speech was drained away as Falco's spirit gave them this information. They knew Fox was taking it hard, but not that badly. Perhaps he killed Yoshi, and might proced to slay some more innocent souls. About Crazy Hand was new, and now he was another possible suspect.
"Thank you for your help," Kirby thanked, and he got the message of GOODBYE.
"Who is this?" he asked the new spirit, forgetting Zelda's turn.
YOSHI.
"Uh, Kirby… it's my turn, remember?" Zelda reminded.
"Sorry."
"Okay, then, who is this?"
MARTH.