A/N
Hello again, and welcome to chapter 15! This is a huge milestone for me, and I'm rather emotional about it - 15 is the number of points you get in Wii sports resorts Frisbee Dog when the dog catches the frisbee in the turquoise ring. So, naturally, I'm very pleased to reach this point. It's time for the perspective of Ness - so please enjoy!
Chapter 15 - The Damage Done
Finally… I reach the civilisation. And as predicted - it's some kind of pleasant village. Good - this should be a reasonable place to stay, for the time being. I'm tired, and hopefully, when I explain who I am, someone will be able to take me in… the buildings are diverse, a mix of new, and old. There's some people milling about, going about their days… if only they knew. It's a funny town, I think, as I wander through the streets. There's pockets of tradition, and dated houses, yet so much development taking place - unpleasant looking development. It clashes harshly - grey stone and rich wooden browns. There's a central square, with paths splitting off either side of it. Nearer the centre, the buildings are older, and wooden, some derelict, some beautiful…
A strange looking man wanders over. "Alright there m'chap?"
"I'm okay…" I say, studying the town. "Say, this is a funny place, is it not?"
"Ah, good sir, it is! Indeed it is. Are you not from these parts?"
"No… I am not. Where is this town?"
"Arrr, the beautiful sunflower town, Tazmily, of course!"
"Tazmily! I thought Tazmily was less… well, modern, than this!"
"Well, y'see, we're preparing for war!"
I stare at the man. "War?"
"The city, Onett, has vowed to raze us to the ground. But never! Never will they take our village, or our spirit!"
"So, you are constructing new buildings?"
"That's right, me laddie! Our benefactor, Pokey Minchini, is giving us a great sum of money, to keep us safe!"
My expression turns to stone. "Don't trust that man. That man is Porky Minch, who's also helping out Onett."
"He's saving us all! Ye of little faith, stay, and witness the defensive capabilities of this small town! Mr Pokey has a secret weapon, just for us!"
"And what would that be?"
"Arrr, I shouldn't tell! Alas, you could be a spy."
"I see. By what name should I call you?"
"Th' name's Duster. And yours?"
"I… go by an anonymous name." I say, vaguely.
"That's alright, m'fella. Are you needing a place to stay?"
"I am."
"Then, come with me, come inside!"
A voice calls over. "Duster, y' old tramp! You'll want to watch out for him, newbie!"
"Ar, ''tis no business of yours who he talks to!" Duster shakes his fist. "C'mon, mister anonymous. Let's take you inside."
'Loud-mouthed' wouldn't be the correct word to have described young me. 'Lively,' sure, 'bombastic,' sure, but I didn't get a word in edgeways. I was trodden upon, and I knew my place. Mother said I was always running around though, Tracy and I loved a game of tag, or anything we could think of. Father let us run, for a while, but he cracked down, and at age 7, playtime was over for good.
I studied hard for school exams. I always passed. Passing was good! But not quite good enough. There was 'room for improvement.' Room inside of me for to become just a little bit better, a little closer for the idea. I strived persistently, aiming higher, to reach into that ideal bracket. Tracy refused. Tracy refused to work, refused to obey, and so father dealt with her harshly, and that was that.
I was the golden child.
The weights rested on my shoulders. I would carry the 'great family name!' forwards.
The love of Father depended on it.
It's dark - so dark - we're running, Lucas's hand holds mine, tight, as we sprint. Roaring fills my ears! Panic floods through me, and I swear, if we make it out alive, I will never, never enter these passages again... Dark Pit, trapped behind the wall! Will he be okay? What was down there even-? So many questions - Toon Link, we have to run to Toon Link, to find him - he saw, he saw, what it was, but- but Lucas jolts suddenly, falling to the ground, and I'm pulled down- oh no- oh no- the roaring grows louder, it's coming, I can't get up, can't think! We're going to be crushed - destroyed, in the pitch black. I can't breathe - I -
In a blind panic, I suddenly kiss Lucas.
My lips fall on his - and they're soft… oh my... it's nice - really nice - I close my eyes, expecting the rocks to consume me, but there's suddenly a noise - and a flash of light - what? I wrap my arms around Lucas, suddenly afraid. Have we died and entered the afterlife-? No. No-
There's no more rocks. And all of a sudden, what I just did suddenly slams into me - I kissed Lucas?! Me. Lucas, my best friend. Did he- he must've noticed- I- what have I done? Are we okay? I jump up, suddenly, and notice Ryu, staring at us, with a candle in his hands. I look down at Lucas, frightened, frightened of what's happened, frightened of what I've done- I've ruined everything for sure. But we're alive - but I've- I-
You disgusting, disgusting being. You violated him. You betrayed his trust.
Lucas trusted me. What did I do? He wouldn't - he wouldn't have wanted- I can't, why would I-
I lash out, suddenly, at Ryu. "What-What are you doing here! Did you take Dark Pit?
Ryu stares down gravely. "No. But you need to get out of this passageway quickly - as you can see, it's dangerous."
Pit scrambles up suddenly, from the floor - I'd forgotten, almost forgotten about him. He chokes out: "What-"
I'm wordless. I don't understand at all… Lucas reaches out to me, to take my hand, but I shake him off. I can't - I shouldn't. Not after what I did. Never after what I did- my throat constricts suddenly, with fear. Is Lucas going to hate me? He should. I deserve that.
Betrayed his trust.
I could have hurt him - I stare at the ground, suddenly wishing that I had been crushed by the rocks after all. Ryu gives us a significant look, to ask is to follow him out, and I do so mechanically. My adrenaline levels they're through the roof- oh my life, what have I done?
Whatever happens to you now, you deserve it.
I'm a mess. A complete mess. I feel the hot sting of tears, and curse my emotional self.
Crying like a baby… you just want sympathy, don't you? Stop crying, and grow up.
But I can't- I can't stop crying- my legs, they move by themselves, up the passageway. I'm glad nobody can see me…
Why would you kiss Lucas anyways? You liked the kiss.
I didn't- I couldn't have! I don't know why I would've kissed- especially Lucas- my best friend- it was just, just a panic moment, I-
You're evil.
I'm evil. I'm wrong in so many damn ways. I should-
You should hurt yourself. You should throw yourself off a cliff.
I should. I should do all of those things. An awful sinking feeling courses through me. I'm going to hell - but I deserve it.
I glance upwards. We're in Ryu's office suddenly, but I am dulled to the outside world, merely shrouded in dark thoughts. Villager and Toon Link sit alongside Lucas, Pit, and I. Okay. Ness, calm down. Everyone can see you. You can cry alone later. I drag myself up from the depths of despair, if only to listen. I block out Buttercup, for a little bit, because it might be time for some information, perhaps. Just for now, I am not an abhorrent creature. Just for now, I did not kiss Lucas. For now, I am listening.
"You two seem to have been getting involved in a lot of strange things, lately," Ryu notes, at Lucas and I, "almost as if you're looking for trouble."
"M-My- fault," Pit stammers. "Dark Pit and I- we got an in-invitation-"
Ryu looks over at the sobbing Pit. "An invitation?" Pit can only nod.
Villager answers for them. "It- it directed us to a bright room, down those passages…"
Ryu stares intently. "What was within the room?"
Toon Link gulps. "I saw inside - a load of strange machinery. I wasn't sure what for… there was a lot of metal. Then, some figure, someone shrouded in a dark cloak, they reached out- they- they grabbed Dark Pit, and took him in."
Villager grimaces. "Then the rockfall started-"
"And then it was all falling down-"
"And it was chaos-"
"And darkness-"
"And-"
"And-"
"Quiet!" Ryu commands. "So, you just obliquely believed this invitation?"
"I- I did," Pit says, glumly, "and the rest of them tried to stop me."
Ryu shifts nervously. "I see… I will make sure that a rescue team attempts to retrieve Dark Pit from in the Passages."
Pit nods desperately. "Please-"
"But what happened?" Lucas asks, suddenly, "if you don't mind me asking, Professor, how did you find us?"
"Toon Link and Villager informed me that you were all trapped in there. I came as quickly as I could."
"The rockfall stopped…" I recall, faintly.
"Yes - a stroke of luck for you. You could have been crushed."
"Why did it stop?"
"You seem to be very good at getting out of bad situations," Ryu observes. "Maybe luck is just on your side."
"Okay, so, what now!?" Toon Link squeaks.
"Nothing, except, I would advise that you stop getting into dangerous situations. A lot is at stake - more than any of you may know. Now, you may go. I will not punish you - since you have evidently been punished enough by the experience itself."
"Thank you, Professor," Lucas says, getting up, and leaving. I mumble a "thanks" too, as we head out. We decide to go on up to the lounge we found on the 3rd floor, which I guess is fine by me. I'm shattered, though. I could sleep for years.
You kissed your best friend.
Father. Father would be furious. He's always been against anything remotely gay. I have no idea why - perhaps it goes against his idea of a 'perfect life' for me. Wife, well-paying job, kids. So… mundane. So devoid of creativity, diversity. But if I don't follow the pattern that he's laid out… he'll be angry. Really angry. I don't want to face that, never again.
...It's Monday, 5:19pm, according to the clock on Father's desk. I'm 15 - it's the summer, and school is starting up again tomorrow. Father's called me into his office to talk and I'm scared. I'm rooted to the spot. I run through in my mind everything that I might've done wrong - I've studied, yes. I've done chores, yes. I've stayed in the house. I can't think of anything that it could be. I stare at the mahogany wood of the desk in trepidation. Whatever it is, it won't be good. Father doesn't call me in to compliment me, or to say 'well done Ness.' Father looks up.
"Ness, we need to have a discussion," Father says sternly. "We need to discuss why you haven't brought any girls home."
I squirm in the chair uncomfortably. Of all the topics… this one brings me great pain.
He leans over his desk at me, "You go to a co-educational school. You should've at least met somebody by now."
I stare into my lap, silent. I don't know what to say. I've never… prioritised relationships, I guess. Father's angry, though. He's red in the face.
"Well?"
"I've been focusing on studies," I mumble.
"That's a poor excuse, Ness."
"I'm sorry-"
"'I'm sorry' isn't going to give me a daughter-in-law! 'I'm sorry' isn't going to give you the life you want!"
"The life you want for me," I mutter, seeing red.
"What did you just say to me?"
"You heard."
There's an awful pause as the vein in his temple throbs.
"DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I DO FOR YOU?"
I back away, frantically afraid. "I'm- I'm sorry!"
"DAY BY DAY I WORK TO GIVE YOU A ROOF TO LIVE UNDER, TO BUY FOOD TO FEED YOUR UNGRATEFUL MOUTH-"
"I'm sorry!" I wail, curling up into a ball on the chair.
He snarls. "You're PATHETIC. Crying like a mere child."
"I'm s-sorry, father!"
"Don't even speak to me. Get out. OUT!"
I stand, shaking heavily, tears rolling down my cheeks, and I turn and run, away, to my room, away to huddle under my bedclothes with fear, fear that he'll punish me with more, with pain, with anything. I'm a disappointment. I'm not good enough. Ungrateful.
Pathetic.
Waste of space.
Toxic.
Selfish.
Why do I have to be the way I am?
I need to conform - I need to be what father wants me to be! I will not disappoint him anymore. I will be strong and I will be exactly who he wants - which means I cannot be gay. I'll stamp it out! I'll punish myself until it goes, perhaps. I don't know. Emptily, I enter our lounge on the third floor. Lucas supports a sobbing Pit. Tragedy surrounds me, everywhere I go. Maybe it's my fault… I could've done a better job at convincing them not to go, I could've done anything else, I could've done everything better. Now Dark Pit is gone - trapped, with whatever Toon Link saw, behind the rubble. Everyone looks so glum - fair enough. I sit next to Lucas, but I sit far enough away that I'm not infringing on his space, and there's no risk of me kissing him again.
You're disgusting.
I want to throw up. I sicken myself. I try and push it down, and I look up. Pit sits on Lucas's other side, curled up in a ball, sobbing. It's a dark day for him. Even if I've had a horrible day, at least I've not lost the person I love the most. The thought calms me slightly, but then I'm suddenly angry again, because it's not fair that the good people are suffering so much when it should be me. I can take it. I can take whatever's thrown at me! Lucas and Pit and Dark pit and Toon Link don't deserve all they're going through - it's not fair! It should be me. Lucas senses my disquiet, and he hugs me - but I shake him off. Lucas shrinks back from me, saddened - what am I doing! I can't take one step without upsetting someone, apparently. Fantastic.
Villager permeates the silence. "What did you see in there, Toon Link?"
"Like I said- a load of strange machinery. It was all very metallic, a lot of steel… it was awful. We can't go in there again, ever."
Pit looks out from his ball of sadness. "I have to."
Lucas pats him firmly. "No, you don't, Pit."
"I need to find Dark Pit."
"No, you don't. Don't put yourself in danger too."
"Dark Pit is all I have."
"Look, Pit," Toon Link begins, hesitantly. "You're not responsible for what happened, so you're not responsible for getting him out of there."
Pit stares at Toon Link through tears. "If someone you loved was stuck, no matter how that happened, you'd try to save them."
"Not if it meant I might die too!"
Pit folds his arms, balling up more. "He's my twin brother. If anyone can save him, I can."
"Ryu said he was on it."
"Dark Pit might be dead before they reach him."
Toon Link furrows his brow. "How do you expect to reach him quicker than professionals?"
"I can try, can't I?!"
Villager sniffles. "Look, I know we argued, but that was all a load of jokes,- I do care about you, both of you. I know it's hard right now, but please, don't do anything irrational."
"I grew up with Dark Pit - Dark Pit isn't his real name! It's Pittoo, Dark Pit is just a nickname - I-I don't even know what I'm going to do without him - I don't - I can't-" Pit gets up suddenly, running out of the room. Toon Link gets up hastily, and silently follows.
There's an uncomfortable pause. Villager, Lucas and I look around at each other, unsure what to say, unsure how to process everything that happened, down in the passage.
"Poor guy," Villager whispers.
"Yeah." Lucas's voice is hoarse. "Losing a brother sucks."
I'm hit with a sudden new pang of shame - of course, of course Lucas would be especially affected, upset, because of what happened to Claus, but I didn't think, of course I didn't think of that.
"He'll be okay, eventually," Villager says, but there's some doubt to his voice.
"You saved Pit's life," I say suddenly, to Lucas. "You made sure he came back with us - you're a hero."
Lucas looks up at me faintly, his eyes watery. "I guess- I guess, yeah, but, but Dark Pit…"
Toon Link comes jogging back into the room. "It's alright - he's gone into his dorm, I was just checking, in case…"
"Good thinking," Villager nods morosely, as Toon Link sits besides him.
Toon Link frowns. "Where's Red at? We should probably tell him what happened."
"Games room, probably," Villager says, quietly.
I look towards Lucas. He's still not mentioned the kiss - he should be mentioning the kiss, right? Though, I suppose it's overshadowed, with…
I bury my head in my hands. I can't understand it. Dark Pit can't be trapped in a cave, he cannot- he won't die. It's- it's going to be okay, I, I'm sure… I collapse into Lucas, trying to keep myself together - Lucas wraps his arms around me, caringly. His soft arms, his comfortable- no! No, I cannot think like that. I refuse to think like that.
Lucas holds me near. "Ness? Are you- are you alright?"
I kissed him.
"No! I'm- I'm not alright- I'm so sorry-!" I jump up, suddenly, shaking violently. Villager and Toon Link watch with looks of concern.
Lucas stands up too, also shaking. "Ness?"
All sorts of emotions explode through me at once.
I run.
"Ness!" Lucas calls out- but I can't face being with Lucas anymore- what if I kiss him again? What if I can't control myself? I'll have to move dorms. I'll move in with Toon Link - that'd be fine - I'm freaked out, so freaked out by everything, everything I am, everything that I might be- I run up the stairs to the dormitory. There's tears again. I grab my blanket, and I wrap the few clothes I have left in it. I take the bundle, and run back down the stairs again. This is the right thing to do. I run down, and then up the stairs to where Toon Link's dorm is. He won't mind me moving in - he doesn't like Link, after all. He won't mind if I just go in, I reason, and hide from Lucas forever there, in case Lucas is mad and angry, and everything is ruined, and I don't want to find out if it is- and, and I, I don't want-
I enter Toon Link's dorm. It's a decently sized room, but that's not important, I see Link's bed, and remember I might have to talk to Link about swapping, or maybe the best thing to do would be to get Toon Link out of here, and I shoulder the burden of Link instead, and then Toon Link can share with Lucas, and they can be happy, and they can be best friends, instead, and Toon Link can treat Lucas a lot better that I ever have-
I throw myself down on Toon Link's bed, balling myself up. Anger floods through me, at myself, at Lucas for being so darn kissable, at Buttercup for just being a horror, at the Pits, for making us go in there, especially at Dark Pit for being in such trouble, at Toon Link for being so funny and nice, at everyone ever, ngh-
Link enters suddenly. "What are you doing?"
I sit up, peeling my face from Toon Link's mattress. "What are you doing in here!"
"What are you doing in here? This isn't your room."
"It's not hers either," I point at Zelda, who's also present.
"Well, I let her come in."
"Toon Link let me come in," I lie.
Link strolls in. "Well, I'm kicking you out."
"Too bad," I sulk.
"Come on out now, you have no reason to be here in my room."
"It's Toon Link's room as well."
Link drags me out of Toon Link's bed onto the floor, and I yelp. Zelda comes into the room, laughing.
"Come on, Linkie, just throw him outside the door…"
I get up, angry again, trying to hide my tears. "You're an ass!"
"And you're nothing."
I stand stoutly. "I know I'm nothing."
Link laughs. "Listen to the little boy trying to be edgy!"
"At least I'm not a big-headed self-conceited-"
"At least I'm good looking, and smart," Link smirks, and Zelda grins her agreement too.
"Too bad, because I'm your new roommate," I counter.
"No you're not."
"Toon Link is going to sleep with Lucas, and I'm going here."
"Oh, boo-hoo! Did you and your little friend have an argument?" Link mocks.
"I- agh! No! It's none of your business!"
"Just give up! If that arrangement goes ahead… then you're sleeping outside the door."
If that's what it takes. "Fine!"
"Now, stop throwing your toys out of the pram. You've got one chance to leave, before I make you."
I stand firm. I won't let him win. "I won't!"
"Three…"
I want to attack him, I swear, but I don't need to get into another fight today.
"Two…"
The door suddenly opens. Toon Link walks in.
"What's happening here?
Link relents slightly. "One of your baby friends is squatting here. Some bull about him being my new roommate."
"Right, whatever, you can clear off," Toon Link waves at him, dismissively.
"No! Me and Zelda have plans-"
"It's Zelda and I."
"Shut it, Beta-Link."
"Ryu wants to talk to you," Toon Link lies, lazily.
"Zelda, we shall depart, and see what Professor Ryu requires," Link bows, courteously, taking her hand. She giggles as he takes her away.
Toon Link lies down on his bed. "Hope he wasn't too much of an ass."
"He really was-"
"Ugh. You should try living with him."
"Well…"
Toon Link sits up. "Whatever are you doing in here, though? Are you okay?"
I'm suddenly hyper-aware of the tear tracks that might be staining my cheeks. "I'm fine."
"Ness… you're not fine."
I stare down, gloomily. "It's stuff."
Toon Link looks up at me. "Come on... Ness, you helped me out. Please, let me help you, too."
"I…"
I sit down next to him.
"Ididsomethingkindastupid-" I stammer. I breathe in. Toon Link would understand, right? Toon Link wouldn't judge me.
"Go on," he says, calmly.
"When the roof was caving in - we fell, and I thought- I thought we were going to die, and I- I kissed Lucas."
"Ha!" Toon Link jumps up. "I knew it!"
I stare. "What?"
"You totally have the hots for Lucas!"
I panic. "I don't! I'm not gay! I don't know why I did it- he, he probably hated it, and he probably hates me-"
Toon Link sits back down. "Sorry… You know, it's okay if you are gay."
"Yeah, except for the fact that it's illegal and could get me killed."
Toon Link stares at me grimly. "I'm fully aware of that."
"Then, it's not okay!"
"You don't have to tell anyone."
"I'm not! I-I refuse to be, Toon Link. I can't be."
"Seriously, Ness, it's alright. People will- there will be hate, but… I don't think, I don't think there should be anything wrong with it."
"I- I-" I stammer. "I still shouldn't have kissed him. And I'm still not gay."
"Maybe you shouldn't have kissed him… maybe he didn't notice, since it was kind of chaos down there. He's certainly not mentioned it. Just… don't say anything, unless he does."
"I betrayed his trust!"
"Your instinct took over. That wasn't you in control."
"My instinct is part of me," I mumble, stonily.
"Ness, Ness, don't beat yourself up over what's happened. It's already happened. You can't do anything about that."
I fold myself up. "I… guess that makes sense."
Toon Link pauses. "So, why are you in my bedroom?"
I draw my knees up to my chest. "Because- because what if I do it again! What if I kiss him again- and I ruin everything! I was thinking that me and you could swap rooms - you'd be away from Link, you and Lucas could become best friends, I could, I could stay out of harm's way…"
Toon Link pats me on the back. "Nessie, c'mon. Lucas needs you, you need him. I see it - I can see it, day to day. You depend on each other. If you take yourself away from him… that will hurt him far more than if you kiss him."
Toon Link's words hit me softly, and my steely resolve melts slightly. "I- wow- maybe you're right. Since when were you so wise?"
"Heh, I'm not, really," Toon Link says, quietly. "Look - here's an idea. You and Lucas can sleep over here tonight, and we can stay up and sleep in 'cause it's the weekend, and it'll be nice. If you try and kiss Lucas again, then I'll stop ya. We can invite Villager and Red too."
"That sounds awesome," I say, honestly. "Thank you."
Toon Link laughs slightly. "Anyways, look 'ere, Ness, it takes a long, long time for you to accept yourself, fully."
"I'm not gay!" I protest, again.
"...And it takes even longer to get out of denial."
"How do you know?"
Toon Link is silent for a bit, before glancing at the ground. "I've been there."
I pause, putting the pieces together. "You've been there… you mean…"
Toon Link grins, nervously. He's shaking a little. "...Yeah."
"Your big dark secret!" I recall. "How can you say it's okay, and then call it a big dark secret?"
Toon Link winces. "That's not quite it."
"Then, what is it?"
Toon Link shudders. "You really, really, want to know about me?"
I stare. "I do."
"Heh, this is weird, we don't really have deep conversations, heh, I guess this is my quiet side talking, again, hm, well, uh, the thing is, Ness, I really, I have-"
I have a sudden nervous feeling.
He blushes deeply. "I have a bit of a thing for Villager-"
My mouth opens with amazement. "Toon Link!"
"Yeah…"
I press on frantically, curious. "Does he feel the same?"
He rubs his cheek. "No idea."
"You've gotta ask him."
"I can't ask him! He'd think I'm weird."
I shrug. "To be fair, he already thinks you are-"
Toon Link laughs. "Sh! Ness- this is a serious discussion!"
"I don't see why it has to be-"
"It doesn't have to be…"
I sigh, leaning back, suddenly a heck of a lot more relaxed. Venting helps. A lot. And Toon Link is surprisingly good with advice - even if he doesn't like his soft side, I do.
Toon Link leans back, too. "Is there anything else bothering you?"
"..." I think. The grave - Future Human - The figurine in Ryu's office - The Face… But, maybe, all of that should stay between Lucas and I. It's our battle. "No, not really. Thank you… Toonie. Is there anything else bothering you?"
He shrugs, wearily. "Only… Inkling, still, and… well, I still don't really.. like myself, but, that's… not something that I want to face, now, again…" He scratches his head.
"That's okay."
"Well, thank you, Ness. C'mon, we should go back to see the others again." But as we stand, Link comes charging back into the room, Zelda, looking bedraggled, in tow.
"It was a trick! Ryu did not ask for me."
Toon Link claps slowly. "Congratulations. You figured it out."
"You're lucky I don't kick you out of the room - and what's your baby friend still doing here?"
"You're lucky I don't move out of the room - and what's your girlfriend still doing here?"
Link snarls. "I will duel you!"
Zelda sighs. "Swords are banned in school, remember, Linky?"
"Darn! You're right… I will have to use other means."
Toon Link merely glances at him, unfazed. "Sure you will. By the way, I'm having 3 more friends over here tonight."
"That's not happening! I am not having any of your midget friends interrupting Zelda and I's alone time!"
"Do I wanna know about your alone time? No. Just, clear off and go up to her room or something."
"That… is actually a decent idea, and that's very annoying!"
"Ha! Now clear off!"
Grumbling, Link stands up, extending his arm to Zelda. They saunter out of the room ostentatiously, leaving just Toon Link and I.
"He's such a prick!" Toonie exclaims as soon as he's left. "For real, I haven't met anyone more conceited and proud."
"Same," I say. Dammit, I'm hungry now. Thanks a lot, Wario, for making me skip dinner. But at least I'm not feeling like a hollow pit anymore, doomed to eternal damnation and deserving of eternal suffering. Which is always pretty nice.
"Alright, y'coming? It's late, we should probably get the others here about now."
I nod. "I'll be a minute or two."
Toon Link is quiet, as he nods calmly. "That's okay."
He takes his leave, and I lean back, against Toon Link's bed, to collect my thoughts.
Dark Pit is trapped. But I guess… he will be found, hopefully unharmed. The professors are working hard to keep us safe.
I kissed Lucas. But, he might not have noticed - he certainly doesn't seem to be acting as though he hates me. I'll look- I'll figure out if I actually feel that way about him. I have no idea how to tell at all, but I'll work it out, in my own way… I think. I sigh, contented, I quite like my rational side. It must be nice to be rational 24/7 inside Lucas's mind. He never gets angry at me, he's always thoughtful, never fails to notice little details… and it's awesome to have him as my best friend. I think summers and holidays are so hard because since we spend our time together 24/7 at school, it's hard to go back to a life of scarcely seeing one another at all. I have 0 friends from outside of school, unless Inkling is included… I stare up at Toon Link's ceiling. I wonder if Toon Link is right, if Inkling really has disappeared, seemingly off the face of the earth… I hope not. I want to see her again. I need to find her, to see how she is, to see where she is now - there has to be some semblance of her, somewhere. Maybe Tracy will have seen her at the public school! That's an idea - struck by inspiration, I hurry to get some paper from a nearby drawer (hopefully Toon Link doesn't mind me nicking his paper) and I write.
Hey Tracy! I already sent you a letter, but I'm sending you another one. Couple things:
Ok, I might be gay. That's kind of scary. And I might (don't laugh!) like Lucas, but I don't really know yet. I'll keep you updated! Don't tell Father plz-
My old friend - Inkling - does she go to your school? She'll be a year or two above you, but it's been an age since I've seen her. Say hi from me if she is!
So yeah, hope my last letter arrived, and hope you're well. Stay safe, okay? I'm reading the news, and a lot is going on.
~Ness.
I fold the letter, and leave the room, dropping the letter into the school postbox, and I start walking towards the lounge, with the others.
A/N
Me: Yes! Yes, I will finish dis chapter sooner!
Also me: Yes! Yes! I will now go away for the weekend and then also go on a residential for class-
Basically: SORRY IT'S SO LATE
I promise the next one will be sooner! Also, hopefully it will be better, too. I kinda don't love this chapter much I'm sorry everyone aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Also: KISSSSSSSSS
Notes:
Duster is a major character from Mother 3.
I tried to describe Tazmily as best as I could c:, while of course adding my own additions to it to fit le plot
Hi in advance Rainy and Erin and Krystal and Walle and Rachel and all the other awesome people who are reading this :000
Thanks for reading!
~ReadyForTeddy
