The Smashing Dead
Season 2, Episode 4: Amid the Final Dungeon
Part 4
Ness, Shulk, Robin and Lucas were silently walking through the forest path. Robin took the lead while Ness, Shulk and Lucas followed a few feet back. Shulk was obviously in pain, constantly clutching his lower chest.
"Look." Shulk sighed, "I hate to ask this, but…are we there yet?"
"We're not far." Robin promised.
Lucas was awfully quiet.
"You can get through this Lucas." Ness said, "We both will."
"But…I'm not okay…" Lucas said quietly with defeat.
"You can at least try."
"Just give him some time, Ness." Robin spoke. "Leave him be."
Ness looked at Lucas to see if he had any disagreements. He didn't, so Ness walked up next to Robin.
"…I don't know about this." Robin whispered to Ness, "The way he is, he's gonna cause some problems."
Ness was immediately suspicious.
"So, what happened in there?" Ness calmly confronted.
Robin looked at Ness, seeming somewhat surprised.
"When we went in there, you were ready to help, but then…something changed."
To Ness' surprise, Robin took longer than usual to answer.
"Look. I'd just…I'd seen that kind of thing before." Robin explained, "I just didn't want to stick around for the bitter end. I just…I didn't mean to sound that harsh before…"
"Are you gonna do that when others are in that situation? Would you do that to me?"
Ness tried to not sound rude, for it wasn't his intention. He just wanted to make sure that Robin would be reliable as a teammate.
"No, of course not." Robin quickly replied, "I mean…Ness…"
Robin sounded offended and even hurt, making Ness regret his decision to speak.
"I wouldn't have to…" Robin sighed, "Just because you got him out today, doesn't mean you saved her. Trust me. I tried to save my friend too. But he…gave up."
Robin looked away with a regretful expression. Ness wanted to ask more, but it would be best if he didn't.
Later on, Shulk managed to speed up a bit to catch up with Robin and Ness.
"I just can't believe it." Shulk murmured, "Soon as you guys said 'go' I was the first on the roof. Like I had already made up my mind."
"Shulk, you can't let it just eat you up inside." Robin pushed.
"Well, I can't forget it." Shulk retorted.
"I dragged my friend across four states." Robin began, changing the subject, "And every morning, he'd say he wasn't getting up. so I'd convince him. Or push him. Or goddamn carry him if I had to. Then, walkers cornered us. Forced up onto the roof. No matter what, he wouldn't jump. Couldn't throw him up."
Robin paused for a moment, "So I tried something else. I said that he could have what he wanted. And I left him there."
Everyone went silent after the story.
"Robin…I'm really sorry." Ness replied.
"It killed me for a long time. But I realized I put him on a forced march to hell, when in reality he just wanted me to let him go…like Lucas."
"Lucas and your friend aren't the same person. We don't know if he'll end up like that."
"People don't change." Robin argued, "…Come on. Let's go to your friends."
Ness could tell Robin was hot with shame, and that feeling remained for the rest of the hike.
Back at the group's newfound hiding spot, Rosalina was helping Peach walk around the fountain while Hershel watched.
Hershel turned around when Ness and the others got close. The professor was ecstatic to see them.
"You found them!"
"Yeah." Shulk replied, "I'm a little amazed myself, to tell you the truth. If it weren't for Ness and Robin, well…I don't know what would have happened."
Peach and Rosalina walked up.
"Lucas, how are you doing?" Peach asked.
Lucas slowly walked up to Peach, but quickly recoiled when Peach reached to hug him.
"T…That's okay, sweetie." Peach said, hiding her slight shock. "Whenever you're ready. I'm just glad you're here. But…where's Duster?"
Ness and Shulk exchanged glances, wondering which one should give Peach the depressing news.
"Uh, Peach." Shulk said, taking it upon himself, "Why don't we go for a walk for a minute?"
Shulk let Peach lean on him and he led her a few feet away.
"Let's give them some space…I have something need to talk to you about to." Rosalina muttered, twisting the pain from Peach leaning on her out of her shoulder.
Ness followed Rosalina away from the rest of his friends. Peach was already crying, and Hershel stood there in shock, as if he already knew what happened.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat this. That baby's coming faster than Peach is letting on." Rosalina said quietly, "So I was hoping you might know…Does Shulk know anything about babies?"
Ness glanced over his shoulder to see Shulk, still comforting Peach. Even though he had a good heart, Ness was sure he didn't know a thing about raising children. But…
"Link had a family." Ness suggested, "He could help. Where is he?"
Rosalina gave Ness a scared look before staring at a small tent separated from everyone else.
"He went in there after you left. Said he needed a minute by himself. Hasn't come out since."
Ness looked at the dirty white cloth that made up the tent and could already see the pained look of the Hylian warrior.
"I've seen him like this before." Said Ness.
"That's why I was thinking…You could talk to him? I think if it's just you, someone he knows, you might be able to get through to him."
Ness had mixed feelings about that proposition.
"I would never ask you that if it weren't for the baby."
Ness thought for a moment and decided it wasn't the craziest thing he has heard. He took a deep breath and prepared the enter the tent.
As he got to the entrance, Ness began to regret his decision. But there was no turning back now.
Ness calmly moved the flap. Link was sitting in the far corner of the tent with his back turned towards Ness. But it was obvious that Link knew he was there.
"I wanted to check on you." Ness said, "Make sure you're okay."
Even though the baby was the main focus, that was the group's focus. Link's state was Ness' focus.
"You know what it feels like to get beaten almost to death?" Link asked.
Ness wasn't sure how to respond.
"Peaceful." Link answered, "It feels peaceful."
Link craned his head up, as if he was looking at the stars of the night sky.
"It was like I was floating away, watching the whole thing happen to me." Link continued, "And then…I was given two options. Continue fighting…or finally quit."
Ness felt his muscles and bones freeze up.
"I chose to continue, thinking something will finally be different. And then I woke up again, and nothing's changed. I'm still taking a beating every day. But apparently not enough no see those two options, so now I'm stuck while everyone else is let go."
Link began slowly pounding his thigh.
"Toon, Zelda, Marin. No peace. No rest. The punches keep on coming."
Link stopped beating his thigh, ceasing all movement again.
Ness' throat was tight with a mix of emotions. Pain, fear, grief. No matter what, Ness couldn't talk. But perhaps that was a better decision.
"Why the hell couldn't Bowser have just finished me off? Obviously I'm not helping anyone by being here."
"That's not true." Ness replied, "You help me all the time. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. I need you."
Link scoffed, "I've seen you take care of yourself more than any three adults put together. But, uh…thanks for saying that."
Ness sat next to Link as he shifted the bandage over his eye.
Link shifted uncomfortably, "Don't worry about this thing. It's nothing. Hasn't killed me yet anyway."
"It looks like it must hurt."
Ness reached to pull the bandage back, expecting Link to jerk away or slap Ness' hand away. But Link sat still and Ness calmly peeled the bandage back.
What Ness saw was somewhat indescribable. It wasn't a hole or dent; it wasn't a bump or a mound. It was just a mess.
"Well?" Link nervously asked, "What does-"
Shulk's voice suddenly came from outside the tent.
"Oh shit! Does that mean what I think it does? What are we supposed to do?"
Ness and Link stood up.
"We should see what's going on." Ness suggested.
The duo went outside the tent and saw everyone else crowding around Peach. Everyone looked scared or anxious except Robin, obviously.
"Are you alright?" Hershel asked delicately. "How does it feel?"
"It's wet." Peach snapped, "That's how it feels!"
"What's going on?" Ness demanded.
"Peach's water broke." Rosalina said with a worried expression, "We should…I don't know what to do."
Now Ness didn't know a lot about biology, but he knew if someone's water broke, a baby was coming.
Luckily, Rosalina noticed Link.
"Link! Thank goodness." Rosalina sighed, "I think the baby's coming. What do we do?"
Link stayed silent for a moment, clenching the sleeve of his bloodstained green hoodie harder.
"Alright, alright." Link said, "Just gimme a sec."
"There's no way Peach can travel like this." Shulk stated.
"He's right." Robin inquired. "She'll make a lot a noise, and they'll probably be able to smell her too."
"Link, what should we do?" Ness asked.
Link gave no immediate response. He clenched his sleeve even tighter.
"Come on, Link." Peach scolded, "Focus."
"Right. Right…sorry…"
Link sighed and turned around, letting go of his sleeve.
"Clean water for one thing. And blankets."
"And we have to get out this cold too." Rosalina added.
"I do remember a map showing a few buildings nearby." Hershel offered. "Perhaps one of them could do the trick?"
"The museum seems like a good start. I'll go there."
Shulk nodded, "Good idea. Hershel, you think you can go with her?"
"Of course."
"I'll check the building by the river." Robin said decisively.
"Okay then." Shulk sighed, "Link, you stay with Peach. And I'll check the perimeter for walkers. And Lucas…Lucas?"
Ness suddenly noticed the other boy sitting against a wall, curled up.
"You just stay here with Peach and Link, okay?"
Lucas meekly nodded.
"Ness…" Rosalina said, "I know it must've been hard, but thank you for talking with Link. I think it'd be nice if you come with me and Hershel to look around the museum, but…how do we know Robin isn't just gonna take off? Maybe we should go with her-"
"What do you mean by that?" Shulk demanded.
"Well, she's helped us this far." Ness interjected.
Rosalina looked at Robin, then back at Ness.
"You're probably right." Rosalina exhaled, "It's nothing. Just something to think about."
Shulk and Ness exchanged quick glances of slight confusion.
"I'm gonna go with Robin." Ness decided.
"Alright then." Shulk replied, "Everyone, you know what to do. Let's be fast and extremely careful."
As the others left on their respective missions, Ness stepped towards Lucas.
"Hey…you wanna come along?"
He didn't respond.
"Ness, we should let Lucas rest." Rosalina said, "He's gone through a lot."
Ness reluctantly walked away in the direction Robin went, occasionally glancing back. Ness knew Lucas' pain; he just didn't know how to treat it for others.
As Ness reached the building he saw Robin sitting at the table with a silent air around her.
"Hey." Robin said when Ness walked near.
"Hey…" Ness replied, "What are you doing?"
"Getting lost in thought. Not the safest thing to do these days…" Robin sighed, "Well, I guess it's good to have someone watch your back."
Robin quickly stood up and left the table.
"So come on, partner." Robin said with a certain kick to her voice and a smile on her face, "Let's go check out that deck. I like the height."
The two walked towards a medium-sized building which was the deck they were going to search. Ness couldn't help but feel a bit giddy and confused.
"'Partner'?" Ness thought aloud.
"Don't let it get to your head." Robin said, still grinning, "I hope this place has what we're looking for. The gods know we could use a break."
Ness followed Robin up the flight of wooden steps that lead to their destination. Despite the wood being in poor shape, it didn't creak of break. The only sound Ness heard was his and Robin's feet tromping on the damp lumber. Luckily, not enough to draw walkers.
The deck held an old cannon and a small building barely the size of half a tennis court with two rooms. One was filled with boards of information and pictures of scenic pine trees, and the other was shut and locked with a garage door.
"Check this out." Robin observed the second door. "It's locked, which means that no one's gotten to what's inside."
"That's a place where Peach can have the baby." Ness finished.
"Yeah. That's what I was thinking…Huh…Maybe I can pick the lock."
Robin reached into her pocket and pulled out…
"A nail file?"
Robin chuckled, "Versatility is not overrated."
Robin crouched down and began picking.
"You know…uh…" Robin stammered after a few moments of picking, "It wouldn't hurt to try a heavier hand with this thing. See if you can find something bigger. We might need to break the mechanism."
Ness peered around the area and nothing seemed to be of help. The cannon was sealed with cement of the inside, nothing was on the floor in the information room, even the trash cans had no trash in it.
"Don't worry if you can't find anything." Robin said over her shoulder, "I'll probably get this eventually."
Suddenly, Ness saw a moving figure out of the corner of his eye. Slow enough to be a walker.
Ness turned around and saw what was coming. The figure was too clean to be a walker, and its head was bent over and its arms were clutched around something. A total stranger.
Ness was alarmed. Someone had followed them.
