CHAPTER 21: UNHAPPY

I woke up, and that came as a surprise. I opened my eyes and looked around. Still, my lower half was in the rushing water, I clung onto a root—or more so my arm was hooked around it—pure luck.

Water washed over me and went in my mouth. I ended up swallowing a whole lot of it and began to choke. Using all the strength I had left, I used my hooked arm as leverage and tried to pull myself back far enough, but the second I did, it hurt severely.

"Crap!" I shouted in pain.

More water gushed into my mouth and I continued to choke. Pain or not, I needed to pull myself up on the shore. I gritted my teeth and pulled back against the current. I used all of my might, and I heard something pop. The pain ripped through my shoulder and down my arm. I ignored it with the best of my power, and then I pulled back, and finally was able to brace my feet against a rock and unhook my arm.

"It hurts!" I cried as I pulled myself up on the shoreline.

I rolled onto my back and grabbed my shoulder.

I cursed and rolled onto my knees. Hopefully I could cure myself. I thought of the ability, the warmth that came over me in the past—what had helped me survive even more horrid wounds, but my head hurt. I seemed to have ran dry of my psychic abilities.

"Darnit!" I whined.

I sat back against the rocks of a nearby cliff, and continued to choke up water that had nestled its way into my lungs. Not once did I stop rocking back and forth from the pain. Not until I glanced to feet and saw the brilliant silver Sound Stone laying in the grass.

"Oh my god!" I snapped and snatched it up.

If something happened to that stone, I didn't know what I would do—it was all I had to save the world with. I needed it. Although I had no clue what to do with it after acquiring all of my sanctuaries.

I needed to think of how I was going to move on in my condition. I needed to gather my thoughts. I held the stone tight in my uninjured hand, and put the smooth, cool surface to my forehead.

Suddenly I was in a different world. Everything around me had changed and began to flow like liquid. And somewhere in the background I could hear the music—the song I had gathered from Giant's Step. I slowly closed my eyes, and listened to; absorbed it into my being.

A wave of strength and realization washed over me. Paula needed me. What was I doing just sitting around? I NEEDED to get moving. But the pain was just so bad, I couldn't get up.

"I need help, Paula," I whispered.

I didn't know if she could hear me, but I hoped beyond all hope, that somehow she did and that she could impart some of her own courage and strength into me.

A sparkling bell noise sounded nearby. I peeked open one eye, expecting a giant bell monster to come barreling toward me, to ring my neck. But instead I found a fluorescent, glowing butterfly flying near my shoe. Was it really a Magic Butterfly? The thing that had saved me at Giant's Step? I had to hope.

"Come here lil guy," I said, calmly and held out my hand.

As if it were an insect, cousin and gift from Buzz Buzz, it flew forward and landed on my fingertip its sparkling magic dust flowing over my entire body. I could feel my mind instantly healing itself.

"Just what I needed," I whispered as I closed my eyes and let my brain settle.

A few moments later when I opened them, the butterfly was gone.

"They don't stick around long, do they?" I whispered.

The pain in my shoulder was still unbearable, so I set the Sound Stone in my drenched backpack, and pulled forth the part of my mind that could bring my life back up.

"Life Up," I whispered, naming my supernatural power.

Right away I felt my bones bending themselves. I felt every scratch and bruise on my body healing over and returning to my normal colored light skin.

"Thank god for Magic Butterflies," I whispered.

With great carefulness, I climbed to my feet, albeit shakily. I gave a long stretch and I felt like I had just waken up from a nice LONG nap.

"Perfect," I said, "I'm alive. I just need to find my way to Happy Happy Village now… from where it is that I'm at."

I withdrew my slingshot from my pocket and started down the grassy trail, which led downhill.

About twenty minutes later I came across a construction zone. A huge part of a cliff had been torn away, and orange cones and safety hazard signs were strewn about. But there was no sign of any workers at all. Maybe that had left for a lunch break and gone to Happy Happy—or maybe they were also the ones who had taken out the bridge. I peeked around looking for anything useful—maybe a pickaxe, or hatchet. Some kind of weapon!

When I came across a bulldozer, I pulled myself up inside and found a yellow hardhat in the seat. Sitting next to it was a pile of red sticks tied together with a long fuse.

"Dynamite!" I whispered, "I could use this as a bomb!"

A wicked smile spread across my face. A bomb would be the perfect way to take care of the freaks at this village I was looking for. Quickly, before anyone came along, I stuffed it in my bag, and a lighter I found along with it. I also grabbed the hard hat and put it on my head. During my trip in the river I had lost my hat, which really sucked, but what could I do?

I must have looked ridiculous as I made my way down the hill, then back up another. A teenage kid with a hard hat, a slingshot, and a yellow backpack-It didn't get much more pathetic. But it would have to do.

Some time passed and eventually I came to the peak of the hills. Off the cliff edge to my left was a small valley. Deep down inside was a large wooden shack. I wanted to take a closer look, but a sudden screeching came from my right. It was the same electronic version from before.

I gasped and looked around for a hiding spot. Behind me was a large boulder. I had to make sure to avoid the trees… that darn stupid oak!

I dashed behind the stone and watched as three of the spinning robos floated up the hill. They spun slowly, and then stopped when they faced the valley. They each began a series of BEEP BOOP BEEP BEEPs, which of course made no sense to me. But I stayed and listened anyhow.

A laser shot out of the middle robot and it spread out into a wide ray of light. It washed over the shack, seeming to scan it. It turned to its companions and BEEP BOOPed, and they BOOP BEEPed back. It seemed to be some kind of confirmation, because then they left the valley alone and spun past the area where I was hiding, back down the hill beyond.

I watched them go, and then they were finally gone, I walked around looking for a vantage point. I needed to see in a window, because I had a pretty huge hunch, that was where they were keeping Paula.

Sure enough when I found a barred window, I was able to see it in. It was an awkward angle, but I spotted a cell that barred off half of the cabin. Behind it was a teenage girl with blonde hair. I couldn't make out great details, but it looked like she had her head buried in her knees—probably crying.

"Paula!" I whispered, wishing she could hear me—but I knew that was impossible. Or was it?

I put my fingers to my temples and focused all of my mental energy.

"Paula, can you hear me?" I asked in my head.

Then I opened my eyes, and peeked at her. She was no longer crying, but looking around. Had it really worked?

But that same electronic screeching came from down the hill behind me. The Robos were coming back. I had to move!

"Paula! I'm coming for you!" I thought hard, then dashed away and down the opposite side of the hill.

All I could hope was I had just given hope to the poor girl. I wasn't going to let her be a prisoner in some cell any longer—no, she was going to be free and help me save the world.

I kept moving, so that I would be ahead of the Spinning Robots. The last thing I wanted was to get into a fight with them again and drain needed psychic energies. So I followed alongside a cliff, until I finally found a cave entrance.

"Yes!" I whispered—the cave was likely the pathway between Happy Happy and Peaceful Rest Valley.

I glanced back over my shoulder to see if the Robos were anywhere nearby, but thankfully they were slow and I had kept far ahead of them. With that settled, I ducked into the cave.

It was dark inside, like most caves, but I could see a light far at the other end. The light at the end of my tunnel. I grinned and continued inside, slingshot at the ready.

Edging along, I made my way deeper inside. Something slithered nearby! I drew the sling back and shot a coiled green snake that was in the corner. The evil thing looked just like the one that had attacked me in Lier's shack back in Onett. Thankfully the pellet knocked into its head and it went limp. Another snake that I hadn't spotted, slithered between my legs and took off for the exit of the cave.

"Jerk!" I growled and shook my fist at it.

I didn't take any more time mocking snakes, or wasting precious ammo on them. Finally I emerged from the cave into the most—depressing—scene I had ever witnessed.

Sure, I had definitely found my destination, but it was morbid I had to think twice about staying. Everything, and I mean every detail of the village, save the green grass, was painted blue-Every house, every building, every fence, every sign, and even every tree.

An overwhelming sense of sadness took me. I just wanted to be depressed forever. But I didn't want to leave after all. This was a good place—right? The sign post nearby even read, 'Welcome to Happy Happy Village!' What a peaceful greeting. Maybe I should just give up on my journey and stay in the village forever?

I began to wonder around and look at everything. The first building I walked past had a sign that read, 'Happy-Happyism Counseling Office'.

A blonde haired lady and a man in a suit were walking out with huge smiles on their faces.

"You! Young boy!" The man called to me.

I looked up at him as he approached.

"Yes?" I asked, trying to force a smile—but it was so hard in this place.

"My wife and I just joined the Happy Happy Religious Group!" he said, "And now we're so happy!"

"Yes!" his wife chirped in with a huge grin, "Why don't you join too? All you have to do is go to the Happy-Happyism Headquarters in the center of town and be enlightened! Find your happiness!"

"Maybe I will," I said, finally getting that smile out.

It was true! There was a chance for happiness here! All I had to do was visit this place they spoke of and my life would be changed forever!

"Come with us," the man said, "We'll show you the way!"

"The way," I said, "Yes, please do."

It all seemed so simple now.

We walked down the road and deeper into the village when a woman in a dark red jacket stopped us.

"You're bringing a new young recruit?" she asked, "How wonderful!"

"Yes, of course!" the wife said, "He looked so un-blue we had to just show him the way!"

"You know that's awesome young man!" the woman with the jacket said, "One day, Mr. Carpainter received a revelation. He now speaks the truth!"

"A revelation?" I asked, "Mr. Carpainter?"

"OH!" the jacket woman said, "You don't even know about him? Hurry and get this boy to Mr. Carpainter."

"Yes," the husband said, "Let's all go together!"

"Of course!" The jacket woman answered, and seemed so happy to comply.

So was I. I was so incredibly happy that everyone here seemed so friendly and wanted to help me out. This truly was a paradise—the one I had been searching for my entire life.

"Thank you all so much," I said, with a smile.

Together, the four of us, the four happiest people alive walked to the entrance of a large church-like building in the center of town.

"Are you excited?" the woman with the jacket asked me as we stopped outside the door.

"More than I ever have been," I said, feeling it honestly in my heart.

"What's your name, boy?" the man asked, "I want to know so I can introduce you to Mr. Carpainter. He'll be SO Happy Happy to meet you!"

"My name?" I asked.

For some reason it was hard to remember. I tried to think but my mind was so very foggy. What was my name? What importance did it have?

"Ness?" a girl's voice said.

I looked around, but didn't see anyone besides the four of us and a man in blue robes nearby—he was applying a fresh blue coat of paint to the church.

"I think…" I said, and then looked around and tried to put together my situation.

Something seemed wrong—very wrong.

"I think…" I said again, and my voice trailed off and my mouth hung open.

What was I doing? How had I gotten to Happy Happy Village? Why was I here?

"My name," I said.

Then the blonde girl in the shack appeared in my mind.

"Fight it, Ness." She said.

Ness? That was it.

"My name is Ness," I said.

Before anyone could say another word, the guy in the blue robes turned to face us. His robe even had a hood that served as a mask. Through the eyeholes I could see anger. That wasn't happy—that wasn't happy at all.

"Ness!" he said, and walked in our direction, holding his paintbrush before him like a weapon.

"YOU! YOU will never be happy," he growled, "Prepare to die!"