Day 20: Emptiness

When I awoke, my body was sore. I got up off of the ground of Lucas' room and looked around in the darkness. I stretched out; the floor wasn't comfortable at all. Then again, it was a wooden floor. There was no carpet, or anything to act as padding.

I went to the washroom, and when I came out a few minutes later Lucas was waiting at the door. He looked like he was still half asleep, his eyes were partly closed, and his hair was a mess. I just walked out, and he walked in.

I walked out of the room, and went through the mansion. It was still dark out, I expected everyone to still be asleep.

I felt empty.

I found myself in the kitchen. I looked at the cupboards full of flour and other items and soon just began to make pancakes.

When I was done, I ate the pancakes, and that emptiness still wasn't filled. I was certainly full, but the emptiness didn't come from hunger.

I felt confused.

I looked over my shoulder, and I expected someone to be there, but there wasn't. It was just like there was a void, and it was constantly drawing my attention.

I felt drained.

For some reason, just doing that simple task of making pancakes had exhausted me to no end. Both mentally, and physically. I didn't know why. I just found myself in the living room; I sat on the couch and watched TV.

And yet, I wasn't retaining any information that was presented. I couldn't focus. My mind was elsewhere. My eyes were just staring at a bunch of empty space. Had someone held up a gun to my head at that moment, I probably wouldn't have noticed it.

Something inside of me was constantly panging.

I felt like I had gone through this once before, and deep down I knew, this is what it feels like when someone close to you dies.

I didn't even register when the other Smashers came into the room. They walked by me, but they just seemed like quick blurs. When the TV station was changed to the morning weather I didn't respond. And soon I felt someone lightly shaking me.

I looked up. There was a hand on my arm. It was Ness'. "So, you finally respond." Ness said. "Geeze, we tried calling out to you and everything."

"Oh?" I said. I noticed he had a bucket of water behind him, I got the feeling that they were going to use that next.

"Come on, you've just been staring off into space all morning." Ness said. "Come with us." I looked beyond Ness and saw Lucas. Ness just grabbed my wrist and pulled me up.

I'm pretty sure Ness was actually dragging me. I just walked with him, not exactly putting up any resistance, or attempting to go in a different direction. They could have been leading me to my death and I wouldn't have cared.

We went outside, into the forest and then Ness began climbing a tree. "Come on!" He said.

I climbed the tree, and soon we got to a tree house. Ness just moved to a corner. "Wow, this place is great." Lucas said.

"Yeah, Popo, Nana, Young Link, and I built it during our Melee days." Ness said. "I was afraid that this was going to be brought down, but I'm glad it's still up."

He went into a hidden compartment, that was just a floorboard that was pulled up, and pulled out a box. "This is a time capsule." Ness said. "We decided to each put something in it for future generation of Smashers to open, and see what we were like."

He opened the box rather effortlessly, and soon pulled out a yo-yo, on the side it said "Hal Lab Nintendo 2001 Dolphin Loop."

"A box of trinkets?" I asked.

"What were you expecting?" Ness asked.

"I don't know." I replied.

He pulled out a few other items. An empty bottle with a label that said Lon Lon Milk. An ice axe.

Okay, an ice axe isn't a toy! What is it even doing in there?

"These were just items that we left behind." Ness said. He took the yo-yo and did a few tricks with it. "Anyways, this is the kid Smasher club house. There is some powerful magic here protecting this place, so you can't tell anyone about it."

"How did you get the magic?" Lucas wondered.

"Young Link helped with that." Ness laughed. "Anyways, only the Kid Smashers can know about this place, you got it?"

The two of us nodded. I honestly didn't think I was a kid, but… eh screw it. They didn't care.

"Okay, so I'm going to tell Red soon." Ness said. "Now, you two need to put an item into the box to prove that you're a true member."

We both looked at the box a bit confused. "Okay?" We said at the same time.

"You both have an item, right?" Ness asked.

Lucas pulled out a small golden badge. "I have my courage badge." He said. We both looked at it. It was a golden circular badge with a lightning bolt on it.

"And do you have anything to put in here Nugai?" Ness asked.

I just looked at the box. "No, I don't." I said.

"There's got to be some item in your room." Ness said.

"If my room was in the mansion." I said. "I'll find something."

Ness just nodded. "Don't forget though."

I nodded. I just looked out the window and into the forest. You couldn't see the crater where Lucario exploded from here, that was probably a good thing, as then I might of wanted to go there. Lucas and Ness however were whispering something.

"We can't leave him alone." Lucas said. "Who knows what he will do."

Ness just nodded.

I occasionally glanced over at them. Ness was reading a few comic books that he had stashed up here. "I'm done this comic." Lucas said. "Do you have another?"

"Not in that series." Ness sighed. "It really hasn't been updated in a year. Sorry about that."

"It's okay." Lucas said.

"Well, I've got a miniseries here." Ness said. "Non-Specific Action Figure issues 1-4."

"Okay." Lucas said.

"Do you have any Sonic the Hedgehog comics?" I asked.

Both Ness and Lucas were rather surprised that I spoke. "Pardon?" Ness said.

"Sonic the Hedgehog comics." I replied.

Ness gave me a rather confused look. "Sonic never had any comics." He said.

I figured at least in this world, in my world, of course he had comics. "But you can read the ones that Lucas just finished."

Lucas handed over a stack of three comics. They were called Disaster Day of Crisis, issues 1-3. It was actually a rather goofy comic. The premise was absolutely asinine. A terrorist group that could cause natural disasters. It helped pass the time, and get my mind off of things at least.

Once I was done that I started on Non-Specific Action Figure Issue 1. It was also rather silly. Just a comic about a toy that came to life, and became a super hero.

"So, this is where you guys went!" A voice said. Coming up the tree was Popo, and behind him was Toon Link and Red.

Popo showed Red the time capsule and he put in what appeared to be an empty Pokeball.

The three of them also started reading comics. Now though, it seemed like the treehouse was much smaller. "Looks like we're going to have to do renovations." Ness laughed.

Popo just let off a heavy sigh. "I'm not looking forwards to that. The new guys will have to do the work."

Everyone just glared at Popo.

I don't know how much time had passed, but everyone began to get out of the treehouse. We then made our way to the kitchen for some lunch. After we had finished eating, Mewtwo teleported into the kitchen. "Well, I finally found you guys." He said.

The kid Smashers looked a bit puzzled. "Why?"

"We're having a funeral for Lucario." Mewtwo said. "Go get changed."

They all nodded and got up walking away. I also began to get up. "Your room still hasn't been transported." Mewtwo said. "Sorry, but you don't really have any nice clothes."

"Can I borrow them from someone then?" I asked.

Mewtwo just shook his head. "I'm sure no one's will fit."

I looked around the kitchen. Mewtwo just poured himself a glass of water. "Nugai, are you ready?"

"I guess. We might as well get this over with." I said.

Mewtwo put his hand on my shoulder. He looked down at me. There seemed to be a certain sadness that was in his eyes. He then began to lead me to where the small ceremony was being held. Just out in the front garden.

Everyone else was dressed in their black costumes, or in several cases they were dressed in suits to mourn Lucario. The kid Smashers were the last ones to arrive. Many of them looked rather uncomfortable in the suits that they were now in. I also felt extremely out of place in my normal clothes.

It was just a quick ceremony; just one where a few people said a quick eulogy, and then it was over. "Let us remember Lucario, who died as a hero." Master Hand said.

They all disbanded and scattered across the mansion. I found myself back in the library skimming through the aura books once again.

I found a strange book. It listed several elemental aura attacks. Several of which seemed far too advanced for me to do. But it was a rather interesting read, if just for finding out stuff that aura could do. I found one attack called "Life Flame." It just allowed you to tell when whoever you targeted with the life flame passed away. Although the book's method for destroying this aura attack detailed it as someone simply using aura to push it away out of the target's body. Then whoever cast the Life Flame, would think that their target had died, and that it wasn't used so much because it was a very easy thing to fool.

There were also some other techniques, and it even listed how some items could be used, how a simple stick could be used as a medium for the Aura, and become a powerful sword. It even talked about a rare metal that with Aura was extremely malleable and yet at the same time durable, and how it was rumored that Aura Masters in the past could use their aura to constantly shape the weapon during battle. It just left me with the feeling that Aura was an absolutely amazing thing.

The next book I checked talked about using aura to strengthen armor, even normal clothes could become as strong as chain link armor with proper aura training. I just cried. I wondered how much Lucario wanted to teach me of this stuff, or even how much he knew.

In the books I also found something much more terrifying than what I thought I would find. It was a ritual to bring out the true power of aura, however, it was said that only one in every one million aura users could survive it. The book just went on to describe what those who failed the ritual experienced. An unfathomable pain, which was so bad they had to be mercy killed by others.

I read it over, and it terrified me. Yet it didn't describe really what you had to do for mastery. All that was written on it was a few small notes. "Only to be used as an absolute last resort, where even dying would seem like the better option. If pursued, there are several of these unlocking chambers hidden through out the world."

There was another book that I found. This one was called The Bloody History of Aura. It talked about aura in humans, how the first person to have aura was just a kid named: Ryu. Despite being young, he used his aura to perform miracles, to heal those who were sick. It was said that no one's aura has since matched his power. And yet, despite how powerful he suffered from an illness and was unable to heal himself. But he still preformed his duties despite how frail he was. It was even said that when he was ill, his Aura had increased in power nearly 10 times. Then one day, some people attacked a village where he was staying at, and in an ironic twist, while trying to capture him, they ended up killing him.

Those that he had healed and helped through out his life would have aura awaken in them, and they passed it down to their descendents.

I exited out of the library and just wandered through out the mansion.

But as the day went on, everyone seemed to be more distant. They were much happier, and cheery. They weren't acting like anyone who would still be mourning the loss of a friend or comrade. By the end of it, no one seemed to say Lucario's name. It felt odd, and made me feel uneasy. "Mewtwo, what's going on?" I asked.

Mewtwo however just looked at me. "What do you mean?" he asked. I however could read his aura like a book. He was obviously trying to hide something.

"I want to know why everyone seems to have forgotten about Lucario." I replied.

Mewtwo cringed. "I don't want to explain this." he said. "I'm sorry, Nugai."

I was suddenly blasted away by a shadow ball. I hit the wall and was knocked unconscious.

It was the summer. I had finally saved up enough money to buy what I wanted. A Nintendo Gamecube, along with Super Smash Bros. Melee, and Sonic Adventure 2 Battle. I was excited; I couldn't wait to get home to play with my new toy.

I wasted no time entering into the worlds once again. I watched the Melee battles as a spectator, not wanting to interfere. I also watched the events unfold in Sonic Adventure 2: Battle. The only place I interfered was in the Chao gardens. Beyond that I explored endlessly Meteor Herd, enjoying the lack of gravity, and just having fun flying around. Not once questioning how I was breathing in space.

I was carefree.

When I awoke, I was in my own room. I looked around slightly confused. Everything seemed to be back where it was supposed to be. It had finally been transferred over from the HQ. I smiled; the thought of not having to sleep on the floor again was a rather happy one.

"What happened?" I muttered to myself

It took me a few seconds to remember that Mewtwo had knocked me unconscious. I clenched my fist in frustration. "What's next." I muttered.

I glanced at the clock. It was only 7:45 PM. There was still plenty of time to do something today.

I slowly got up and went into the washroom, and began to take a shower. I was having such a nice dream, I didn't want it to end. I closed my eyes and tried to focus on what that place was like. I knew it was out in outer space, but for some reason, I was visualizing someplace completely different. A building of some sort, a white majestic building that looked like a rocket.

My mind was just meshing up memories now.

I turned off the hot water and stepped out of the shower. Drying off with a towel that seemed to have every single symbol from the Smashers on it. I took the towel and used it to dry my hair, making it a giant mess. I glanced at myself in the mirror and couldn't help but laugh.

I got dressed and walked out of my room. I went down to the kitchen and got something to eat from the fridge.

I sat down on a chair and just ate my dinner, which was just some left over pie that was in the fridge. When I was done I cleaned the dishes that were out there and decided to go look at all of the symbols on the wall. There were only 8 Pokeball icons, as opposed to the previous 9.

Of course they took down Lucario's Pokeball symbol, he's no longer here.

I glanced at the wall, but there didn't seem to be any marks on the wall from any nails or whatever was being used to hold it. I inspected some of the others, and saw that there were indeed nails being used to hold them. I went over to where Lucario's icon used to be and used aura to see the wall. There were no marks even in the wall.

"What are you doing?" A voice asked.

I turned around to see Mario standing in the hallway. "Um, Mario, I think one of the pokeball icons is missing." I said.

Mario just began to look at all of the icons. "Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Pichu, Mewtwo, Red, Squirtle, Ivysaur, and Charizard." He said. "It looks like they're all there to me."

"Wasn't there nine yesterday?" I questioned.

"No, there's only been eight icons for nearly two weeks." Mario replied.

I was using aura to monitor him. He wasn't lying. I did my best to stay calm, but it was too difficult.

"What about Lucario?" I asked.

"Lucario?" Mario said rather confused. "Who's that?"

"He's a Pokemon." I replied.

"Hmm, you might want to talk to Red then." Mario said. "Maybe he knows what one is and what it looks like."

I was devastated. How could Mario just forget Lucario?

I went around, asking any of the other Smashers that I could find. But the result was the same. Each and every one of them didn't know who Lucario was. After talking to at least ten others, I just found a chair and broke down. I began to cry.

It was far too sad, for everyone to just forget about Lucario. I punched the nearby wall in frustration.

"Nugai, is something wrong?" a voice asked.

I looked up, and saw Lucas. He was rather nervous, and a little bit shocked to see me like this. "Yeah." I replied.

"What is it?" Lucas asked. "If something is bothering you, you should tell someone, they might be able to get whatever's bothering you off of your chest, and you'll feel much better."

"Lucas, do you ever fear that you will fade into obscurity? That in the end, after you die, no one will remember who you were, and then everyone else who knew you will just forget about you?" I wondered.

Lucas looked at me. "I think I know what you're talking about." He said. "After my mother died, it seemed like everyone else in Tazmily Village had forgotten about her."

I had a sudden jolt to my memory about how stupid it was to ask Lucas about this. I wanted to kick myself, as he should have been the last person I asked about this.

"Lucas, what were we doing around noon today?" I asked.

"Well, we were in the tree house." Lucas said. I looked up, rather optimistic at where this was leading. "And then we all gathered out in the garden for some reason."

"What was that reason?" I asked.

Lucas just looked at me a bit puzzled. "It was that sudden meeting that Master Hand called."

I was crushed. I think Lucas could tell that that wasn't the answer I wanted to hear.

"My memory is a bit foggy." I lied. "What was talked about at the meeting?"

Lucas just fidgeted for several moments. "Just some procedures, and some things he noticed around the mansion, like how a few people were being slobs and weren't cleaning up after themselves."

What else could I ask about? There were a few who did eulogies. That's right, Mario said something!

"Mario also said something right?" I asked.

"Yeah, he said that while he is a plumber, he isn't being paid for that here." Lucas said.

I looked down at the ground defeated. "Is that so." I said. Something had altered their memories. "Thanks Lucas."

I got up, and felt defeated. The Reaper was dead, the Pokemon that sacrificed his life was no longer remembered, and the Smasher's memories were replaced with something else. I was frustrated. I wanted to know what was the cause of this. I just walked around the mansion.

In the end, I found myself in the living room. I was exhausted, and quite frankly, I didn't want to go back to my room. The other Smashers had mostly exited out. There were a few who were watching a bad movie marathon, but they seemed to grow tired of heckling them and were getting ready to call it a night.

When the last Smasher had gotten up, he gave me the remote to watch what I wanted to. I just turned off the TV.

I just fell asleep on the couch in the living room. So much for using my bed.

Notes:

I don't feel that good about this chapter.

Disaster Day of Crisis was a game for the Wii that didn't come to North America. (Because Reggie didn't like the voice acting after they commissioned a redub.)

Non-Specific Action Figure came from the Nintendo Direct before E3 2012.