Hey! We're back!
So, I have to say something about last chapter that I forgot to mention in that pre-chapter commentary.
Gamecube mentions that she was very sure that the Spirits sent her an idea. In reality, HealingPasts sent the ideas of giving Luigi healing mushrooms to me. So, many thanks to you and I'm sorry I didn't say this earlier! I only realized I had forgotten after I posted the chapter.
Disclaimer: Don't own anything you've seen in other fics, as well as the name "Gamecube." Do own Gamecube, portals, Realms layout.
Okay, let's go!
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"Trust me. When you think you know everything about it, you eventually find out you know nothing. I would know," Gamecube insisted.
"But you'd still know something, right?" Pikachu countered.
"No, I'm serious. Nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. Nada."
"Well, I'll tell you this. If your argument is true, then how do remember all the stories about us?"
"Oh… Oh, damn. You win again."
"You two are arguing about the silliest things," Ness chimed in. "I mean, come on. How much you really know about Earth when you think you know it all? Are you guys that bored?"
"Yes," the two replied in unison. The group had started out again the morning after Luigi had told his story. Ness was now leading them through the largest forest yet, northwest of their previous destination. They actually had to cross another ravine to get to where they were – and, yes, Gamecube had insisted on taking Pikachu herself this time.
She and the yellow electric rodent had been at the front the whole time, debating about the most serious and philosophical of matters – on Earth as well as in the Realms.
The current score was 4 (Pikachu) to 1 (Gamecube.) Ironically, the one Gamecube won was about a certain ending to a certain game, while the other four were one way or another related to her old home. Of course, in the debate she had won, Gamecube didn't know what she knew for an absolute fact, but she firmly believed it as if it were because of the evidence she had brought up and seen herself. And somehow, she had put Pikachu at wit's end.
After every debate that Gamecube had lost, Ness provided her with possible counters to back up her arguments and sometimes, Ness and Pikachu – or maybe even another group member – would continue the debate, with either the opponent abandoning the argument because someone called them or with Ness coming out on top. This time was not one of those 'sometimes,' but Ness' advice was no different.
"Well, Gamecube… I'm pretty sure you meant to say that in the end, you'd know only a small part about Earth. As in, so little, that it seems like you know nothing, when in truth, you know quite a bit. Just not much as compared to all the knowledge in the world."
Gamecube's jaw dropped and she gave her head a quick shake. Why can't I come up with stuff like this during the debate!
"When you've lived here long enough, you'll find that it's the same thing in the Realms. When you think you know it all, there's still far more to see," Ness finished.
Gamecube kept looking ahead of her, mystified by Ness' last comment. So much to see…and hear, and feel, and experience… Wow.
Her thoughts were interrupted by what she could swear was a purplish blur in front of the group. She and Ness immediately stopped in their tracks.
"Whoa," whispered Ness.
"What?" Pikachu asked.
"Didn't you see it?"
"See what?"
"Right in front of us… I'm sure there was a Wire Frame," Ness explained, raising his voice so that the entire group would catch the warning. Many murmurs and exclamations followed and the gorup stopped one at a time, almost circling around Ness:
"What!"
"A Wire Frame?"
"Oh, no! Not more!"
Gamecube began to shout: "We don't have time to wonder why the hell the Frame exposed itself, okay? Prepare yourselves for –" She gave off a grunt as she was tackled to the ground by a Male Frame.
Her eyes widened in surprise, but she kicked its stomach while scratching its shoulders. She was met by a furious backhand. She struggled to place her hands on its shoulders and her feet on its thighs, but the effort eventually paid off.
Spirits, let this work, she prayed. Ignoring the fists constantly flying at her and the developing headache as a result, she took in a deep breath between hits and gave a mighty shove, sending the Frame flying and landing a couple feet in front of her.
Gamecube could see that the forest had exploded into battle, with the Nintendians winning by a long shot. She just caught sight of Bowser body slamming a Female Frame, and DK pounding a Male into submission. Ness tossed PK Fire at three different Frames, one of which Kirby immediately tackled, following up with several jumps and a final crushing with the Stone attack. Wario and Snake used a Male as a punching bag while Link and Pit used a Female for target practice. The Ice Climbers had one frozen, which they were pounding at with their mallets, and Pikachu, Jigglypuff, and Yoshi were all bravely and unhesitant in either shocking or rolling into two Females.
Gamecube looked back at the Male she had been facing to find it scrambling to try and get back up, with almost little success. Gamecube used the opportunity, leaping into the air, landing squarely on top of her opponent's back, and dealing a fatal wound to the neck.
She leaped off the vanishing body and plunged into the fray once more, skidding to a halt and realizing that every Frame had an opponent to deal with. But she spotted a Male and a Female cornered by the Mario brothers. Mario glanced back at Gamecube and jerked his head as if inviting her to come join the scuffle.
She sprinted over and sprang at the Female as Luigi fired himself at the Male. Once again, Gamecube was able to pin down her victim, dealing another deadly blow.
This is my first battle where I made more than one kill, she realized with a pang of excitement. I must be getting a little better. As she rose off of the Frame, disappearing to the-Spirits-know-where, she glanced over her shoulder. She was pleased to see that two Males were dashing for their lives, Yoshi and Kirby giving quick chase. A Female was trying to drag herself away, but Pikachu sent a Thundershock wave, making it give a great shudder before it lay still and fade.
"Wherever you're going, tell the other Frames to expect all their buddies sooner or later!" He sneered.
Gamecube smirked at this, and she ignored the pain that was building up where the Frame had hit her as they waited for the two who had given chase to return. One they did, only a minute or two later, she and the group continued through the forest as if nothing had happened.
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Gamecube's lungs heaved for breath as she tried to throw off her attacker who had tackled her to the ground. She finally managed to shove herself to roll over. It worked – the "huff" sound she heard confirmed that. Feeling the ambusher let go, she got up off the ground and turned her head to see Popo catching his breath.
"Ha! I got you!" Gamecube yowled jubilantly.
"Yeah, but I almost had you!" Popo grunted, getting back up.
"That was a good move, though. Only saw it coming at the last second," she commented.
Nana was heard from behind her. "Like with the Wire Frame?" she joked, hanging form the second lowest branch of a young oak tree.
It was two days after the battle and the group had set up camp the night before, near the site of the portal. Ness had lost the exact location of the portal for a reason unknown even to him, but he could still determine a general direction. Gamecube had volunteered to take the Ice Climbers with her to scourge that part of the forest, and they were now just resting and playing around in a sandy clearing near a stream.
Gamecube turned to Nana, her hands on her hips, smiling. "Well, how many times have you been caught off guard?"
Nana shrugged. "Several. It happens to everyone." She let herself fall onto the sandy ground, landing on her feet perfectly.
"Which is why I told you, watch your goddamn back, Gamecube," a new voice, whose owner was silhouetted by the shadows given off by some ferns, mentioned.
"Alright! I got it, Pikachu!" Gamecube exclaimed.
The electric rodent stepped out of the shadows, shaking his head, smirking and tsking. "So you say, so you say."
"What was that word you used? 'Goddamn?'" Popo questioned. Gamecube's ears pricked and her eyes widened.
"Hey, Gamecube," Pikachu beckoned, taking note of her expression. "They're going to learn these words someday anyway, right? We had that freakin' argument."
Gamecube relaxed. "Right… sorry, you can blame my old society on that one. We didn't use curse words in front of kids."
"Yeah. Anyway, yeah, that's what I said. You already know 'damn,' don't you?"
The Ice Climbers nodded. Gamecube closed her eyes. She could not believe she was actually hearing this conversation. One part of her was appalled, but the rest of her was actually relieved that she could talk about cursing all she wanted without anyone to reprimand her.
"Well, all I did was stick 'God' in front of it. Puts on more emphasis."
Gamecube intervened, "Well, God as in the god that people in my old home believed in. We're not referring to any of the gods that people of the Realms believe in, oh no. And I've used his name in other expressions, too."
"Like what?" Popo prompted.
"Like 'I swear to God,' 'Oh, my God!' or, Gamecube's favorite, 'Goddammit!'" Pikachu listed off.
"Whoa…" The Ice Climbers whispered. They turned to Gamecube, looking at her in what she could swear to God was awe.
Gamecube, on the other hand, was unsure what was so awesome about new phrases. "Okay, guys, it's not that big a deal," she said, backing away, almost to the tiny creek in the clearing.
Suddenly, she felt a huge jolt of pain sear through her, and the images in her vision changed colors, shapes, dimensions as she felt the spark like a miniature lightning bolt. Finally, she was on the ground, feeling her tail thrash around as it twitched and jerked about the sand. Her left index finger followed suit.
"Jesus… Christ," she mumbled when it was over.
"Damn! What was that? You had some nasty shock, Gamecube! And I know nasty!" Pikachu exclaimed.
"I-I don't know. My back just… touched something."
Pikachu looked to where Gamecube just was and began to walk over there.
"Popo?"
"Yeah?" the addressed replied.
"Be prepared to pull my tail, okay?"
"Alright," he said, going to stand behind Pikachu. He didn't grab his tail, but he got himself ready to.
Pikachu reached out his stubby paw until he touched the invisible wall and started flinching as the electricity went through him.
"Ah, ah, ah! Ow, goddammit!" He screamed before Popo yanked him away. Pikachu twitched several times as well.
"Pikachu?" Gamecube asked, looming over her friend once the convulsions stopped. He only groaned in response.
Gamecube looked to the spot that had shocked her and Pikachu, the invincible threat, the source of strange powers. They didn't find a portal, but they found an invisible wall of shocks.
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Oooh! Slight cliffhanger! I also own that mysterious wall of shocks, by the way!
Okay, so to those who don't know, as of 7:00 Eastern Time this Sunday morning, I am gone on a trip. I should be back next weekend.
Don't get your hopes TOO high, but there is a fair chance I could get another chapter up when I get back, since I am taking my memory stick.
Of course, don't let my absence stop you form reviewing! If I'm lucky, I might be able to get access to the Internet. If you review, you'll know this because I'll be replying!
Happy Thanksgiving, and I will see you this weekend!