Chapter 26: Alone Aboard the Ark (Part 3)

…

(Lucas + Toon Link)

…

Reggie commands us now. He's taken the initiative to lead, instead of me, and of course, most of the Tazmily villagers agreed with him, and I've been shoved to the back of the pile. But hey, at least Duster is with me. And, well, Roy, too, but… I'm not sure that's such a great thing.

Night is tough. Someone has to keep watch at all times, in case Porky comes and finds us. But, we make it through, and our journey continues.

"What do you remember about Onett?" I ask Roy. A night of sleep seems to have greatly benefitted the red-haired individual - now capable of walking and talking without assistance, I'm finding him to actually have the capacity for somewhat intelligent conversations.

He thinks, though his expression remains blank. "I remember… Big, grey buildings."

"Sounds about right," I nod.

Duster grumbles at me. "I can't believe ya, talking to a resident of Onett!"

I bite my lip. "He's alright, Duster."

Duster shivers. "The Onett people - they all just want to kill us!"

Roy looks at Duster blankly. "I don't want to kill anyone."

I sigh. "Look, Duster, we're not going to get anywhere if we regard each other with fear. Us three are the outcasts of the group all of a sudden, so let's not cause any more conflict, yeah?"

Duster stares at the ground. "Whatever y' say, m'lad. You've saved our lives. Th' least I can do is listen to what ye have t' say."

I smile, glad. "Excellent."

Another day fades into night, and the night fades into day. Reggie is persistent, ruthless, driving us all along, but we're parched. We're running on very little, now. My water powers still haven't recharged, and they won't recharge for a number of days yet.

"Reggie, can we please stop?" Tessie croaks.

Reggie grumbles, but he agrees to stop in a small clearing. We sit around, in a form of circle.

"This isn't working." I immediately make my thoughts known.

"Better than your leadership," Reggie counters. "With you, we walked about a mile in a day."

"It was my plan that got us off the carriages," I remind him. "And I was right about Porky aiming to capture us. He admitted it himself, didn't he?"

Reggie glares. "No leader is perfect. Your only strength was what you knew. As soon as Matt was killed, everything became clear. The veil was lifted. You have no other leadership skills."

"We still haven't found water," I remind everyone.

Reggie folds his arms. "You didn't use your water-producing powers to get us any water, you mean."

It's like talking to a brick wall. I snap. "Just as well I didn't - or all of those guards would've killed us!"

Reggie glowers angrily. "They killed Matt!"

"Look," Tessie interrupts. "We're tired, we're thirsty, we're hungry. It's riling us up."

My dry throat crumbles and cracks. She's right.

Pusher pushes forwards. "Well, actually, I'm the mayor. I should be leading this group."

"Dad-" Ollie starts, but Pusher ignores him.

"We're going to die out here, if nobody does anything about it! Reggie, you've been just as useless as 'Steven' here!"

"Look, trust me, I can get us out of this situation," I plead.

"How do you expect us to trust you when we don't even know your real name?" Elmore snipes back at me. Others mutter in agreement, turning their heads-

I groan. "I've told you. It's Steven."

Elmore glares. "It's not Steven."

Sebastian speaks up. "If I may-"

Roy stands up suddenly. "Everyone!"

Pusher huffs. "What?"

"This is ridiculous! You're all fighting like schoolchildren! How are we going to reach Onett if we all keep bickering?"

Shouts come from the group: "Who are you to say that!" "We don't even know you!" "How dare you-!"

Roy holds his ground, however, holding up a pine cone. "We need to have a rational conversation about this. So, from now on, the only person who can speak is the person holding the pinecone."

Protests fill the air, but Roy silences us. "Look, I'm right. This is the only way to do anything about this."

There's more grumbling, but eventually, everybody nods. Even Reggie, and Pusher.

Roy sits back down, tossing the pinecone in his hands. "Heh, I've never been much of a leader, but there we go… However, first things first, we need to find water. If anyone knows how, raise their hand."

Ollie raises his hand first. Roy passes him the pine cone. Ollie stands. "Well - I think I can hear the river…"

Everyone stares round in amazement. I certainly can't hear it, and the confused looks of the others suggest I'm not alone in that.

Ollie throws the pinecone back to Roy, who smiles. "Well, that was easy. Come - let's follow - uh, I don't know your name, sorry."

"It's Ollie," Ollie says, turning, taking the pine cone back. "So uh, follow me then, yeah."

I give Duster an uncertain look, but we walk onwards… Ollie seems very, very sure, though. I won't rule the possibility of water out yet…

And suddenly, sure enough… the sound of pure, divine, rushing water! Filled with childlike excitement I run towards the sound of the river. I beam at Ollie as I run past. "You're a genius."

The young teenager blushes faintly, but he and the others join me in running to the river, and there it is-

Roy tosses the pinecone into the churning current. "No need for this anymore." He strips off his heavy guard's armour, revealing a neon pink shirt, and he takes a sudden dive in-!

"Mad, absolutely mad," Elmore grumbles, but nobody is listening - Tessie and Caroline are shovelling water into their mouths, directly from the river, while Duster, and Pusher have their heads underwater. The only one not participating in any water drinking appears to be Reggie…

...I walk up to him. "Why aren't you drinking?"

He turns away from me, ignoring me, and he walks down to the river. He takes a handful of water, drinks it, and comes back up to me. "Happy now?"

"You seem on edge," I note. Reggie had been so quiet before… is this what a few days walking has done to him?

He grits his teeth. "I dare say. We're getting nowhere, and that old clod Pusher is going to be leading us."

"That's one thing I agree on," I sigh. "Pusher's not… very smart. I'd rather have Ollie lead us."

"A mere child? Nobody would ever agree."

"He's at least 15," I counter. "He's got the skills. Some boys are married at 15."

Reggie makes a face. "Yeah. Way too damn young."

"Look," I say, trying to choose my words carefully. "We're probably the two smartest people here."

Reggie sighs. "...And?"

"And if we work together-"

"No!" Reggie cuts me off instantly. "I don't want to get us all killed, so I am not working with you!"

I breathe out. "Have it your way."

Stubborn git. I walk away, to the river, to enjoy myself a drink of water.

I guess there's no cooperation with some people.

…

(Lucas)

I'm not sure when it began, really.

All I know is that one day, I needed him. I knew that I needed Ness in my life, and I knew that I wanted him by my side forever. It could've been the day he pronounced me his best friend, or the day we first hugged, or even later, it could even have been recently… I just don't know.

Some would call me clingy. They'd be right. But, that's okay, because Ness is clingy too, and it's awesome. That feeling of being wanted, the security, the trust, the acceptance… It's nothing like anything I'd ever experienced, with anyone. It's nothing I'll ever experience with anyone else, I think.

Dependence is a strange thing. Especially dependence for something we don't biologically need… I'm not sure where it comes from, but I know that if I lose Ness, I'll lose myself too. Dependence comes in all sorts of forms, impossible to define, yet, wonderfully unique.

These are the thoughts that fill my mind. The mystery of connection, the mystery of human emotions… The things that science can't explain, the secrets of the universe.

I want to explore the secrets of the universe.

Ness and I's bond formed mostly through shared interests. We liked to play the same games on the playground, we liked similar subjects, we liked each other's humour, each other's company. I used to feel bad - I'd not known Ness for nearly as long as Inkling and Toon Link had, but I'd swiftly become his favourite. But I wouldn't ever complain - it was such a rush, to be treasured by someone, to be important to someone.

Not much has changed now, even with all of the chaos. Ness and I remain fully and completely inseparable. He's there for me, and I'm there for him. We can tell each other everything - we basically have told each other everything. Admittedly, I've left out some details about what Porky has done, and a couple other things about life on the street, but I don't doubt that he's left out some details about what his father has done to him too. But we're together. Forever, and always, through thick and thin…

And that is my definition of dependence.

...

But what good is all that when Ness is stuck in a damn coma? Another night of sitting by Ness's bedside passes me by. Who needs sleep anyway?

Again, nothing malicious comes, and Tuesday rears up like an angry horse as day breaks. Today is day 2 of Ness being asleep. I'm not sure how much more I can take.

I've started to keep a journal, as well. Sitting by Ness's bedside is, admittedly, dull. I can only fret about his temperature and his heart rate for so long, and my thoughts always run out of ideas eventually. Especially when it's all becoming my normality. Since yesterday's calamity, Ness's heart rate has set itself back to beating in a more regular pattern.

There wasn't a sign of the nurse yesterday, either. I'm not sure what they're doing, or where they even are. I stare down at Ness, yet again. His familiar, blank, unconscious expression is projected right back. He's so empty like this… but I'm scared to find out what he'll be like when he wakes. He could be significantly brain damaged - I can't bear the thought of a Ness that's not my Ness anymore. What if he's forgotten everything - forgotten me? What if he suddenly hates me when he wakes up?

One thing is sure - when he wakes, I need to make sure he never tries to distance himself from me, ever again. Even if I was supposedly safer, he wasn't. This happened to him. He got hurt. He got hurt badly. Ness got hurt, and that's not ever going to happen again.

I squeeze his hand, tight, protectively.

But as I look at him, I catch a glimpse of his forehead, and I have a sudden idea.

Our telepathy. Our telepathy! Will it work when he's unconscious? I'm not sure - but the book had said we just needed to touch foreheads - which worked when we were awake, but…

My pulse rising, I move forwards. Feeling like I should warn Ness, even if he can't hear me, I come near to his ear. "I'm going to try something, Ness."

There's of course no response. Regardless, I take Ness's hand in mine - and I bring my head close to Ness's - and our foreheads touch - and-!

...

...

What is this place? It's dark - it's really dark - this isn't what I'd expected. I don't think I've moved - I think I'm just… seeing what Ness is seeing, perhaps? I don't know…

But I see a figure ahead of me - and a joyful rush explodes in me. "Ness!"

The dark void lights up all of a sudden, a brilliant white, all of the darkness eradicated to the corners of somewhere else.

The figure looks up - a familiar surprised expression on his face - and he runs towards me too, in utter bewilderment. "Lucas?!"

It's him - it's Ness! He's here, somehow, wherever 'here' is, but it's real, and, and I'm trying not to cry - and-! He reaches me, and I yank him into the biggest hug of all time.

"I thought I'd try our telepathy - nobody's around - and - and, Ness, what is this? Where are we?"

"I think this is… sort of, my mind…"

I frown. "Your mind?"

He rubs his cheek. "Yeah. Sorta empty, heh."

Overcome with all sorts of emotions, I bury my face into my chest. "Y-You're such a goof."

He laughs, and I look up at him - at his goofy face, grinning, trying to keep myself from crying, from happiness, from sadness, I don't even know what! I put a hand to my neck. "This place is super weird."

He shrugs. "I don't understand it, really. But, but, Lucas, what happened to me - what's been done to me! Have I been - did it- did it-!? What's going on!?"

Of course - he's confused! He might not even know what happened to him - I pull away from him, my eyes glistening with tears. "Ness, Ness, you're in a… bad way. You're in a coma, of some sorts, I think."

He gulps. "I've been trying to wake up," he says, hurriedly. "I've been trying and trying - but I can't. I can't move."

I pull him near again. My strong, brave best friend. "Keep trying, Ness. What's it… like, here, being stuck like this?"

He thinks. "Sometimes I'm, I feel like I'm there, in the real world, but I can't move, or open my eyes. Semi-conscious. Sometimes I feel like I'm here, in this big space, like we are right now. Sometimes there's memories… images… but mostly, there's just sleep, unconsciousness. It's horrible. I want to get out of here."

It's too much. He's been stuck here - all alone, for 2 days - and I didn't even think of using telepathy before now! Tears tumble from my eyes - sniffles - Ness must think I'm crazy - I look up at him, shaking just a little. "Ness - please, I'm- I'm scared for you. Stay - strong, Ness."

"Sometimes I feel - I feel myself slipping away-" he mumbles.

I hug him tighter. "Please- please don't- please don't - just, please, hold onto yourself, please, wake up-"

I hear a sudden noise - it must be from the outside world. I gulp. "I have to go now, but, Ness, please… I miss you."

"I miss you too."

...

...

I surface, bringing my forehead away from his, just as Toon Link, Villager, Pit and Red bustle into the room, bringing their liveliness. I wipe my eyes, trapped by the thought of Ness, all alone in that place… I'm glad for my friends's energy - it's hard, just waiting. I'm so tired… The painting is finished now, so I'm left with very little to do. The pile of gifts and cards, meanwhile, towers higher than ever - I must've written about 20 cards out of boredom in my time in the medical room. But, so long as I can watch over him, I know Ness is safe from harm. It's worth it.

Even from just the short visits, and in yesterday's lessons, I can see that Pit is improving rapidly. He's become a permanent fixture in the group, and I note he seems to be especially close to Toon Link. Toon Link informed me yesterday that Pit has moved into his room with him, and Link's moved out to share a room with Zelda, which is fine by me. It means Ness and I get a little more space, after all.

Still, I feel bad for Pit. Dark Pit was a good person, and he deserved better than, well, that.

I shiver, thinking of Ness again. He seemed so happy to see me - I feel a warm fuzz inside. He'll be strong. He'll make it out of that place.

My mind wanders.

...The passageways have caused us nothing but problems since we first went through them to escape Bowser, on our night of visiting the forest. I vow, once again, to keep myself out of them. To think - down there, we could've been caught by the person behind the Future Humans - we could've been converted, dammit! I shiver. I'd hate that. To be so cold, lifeless, restricted to only a few Latin phrases.

I've been thinking about the Latin. I don't understand it, at all - Dark Pit certainly didn't take Latin, so there's no comprehensible reason for him as a Future Human to be speaking it. There's a lot I've been thinking about, actually. I've written a list of things that we need to urgently figure out - and top of the list is that golden egg. The egg that caused Ness to fall asleep and become trapped in that dream. There's got to be some way to open it - some way to find out what's within! I shiver.

Whoever is behind all this loves a game. They love to play with their victims. That's probably why they've set up the whole thing about there being something in the egg - maybe they also left the spine of the book in the fire deliberately? That book - magical monsters and mythical creatures - if only it hadn't burnt! It'd explain everything. Heck, even The Face could be inside it.

I sigh miserably.

Toon Link comes over to Ness's bedside. "He's still looking exactly the same, huh?"

I look down at the floor. "Yeah."

He frowns. "You got sleep last night though, yeah?"

I shake my head.

"Lucas! You have to sleep," Villager overhears, reprimanding me.

I rub my feet nervously against the floor. "I need to keep watch over him. In case the creatures come back."

"You have to look after your health too, though," Villager interjects, a concerned edge to his voice.

I shrug indifferently. "I just want him to wake up."

Toon Link pats me on the back. "Hey, we all do. It's okay."

"We brought you breakfast though," Pit sweeps over, delivering a plate of toast, but I set it aside.

"I'm not hungry."

Villager's face strains. "Lucas, you have to eat,"

I curl up inwardly. "I don't want to eat."

Toon Link and Pit exchange a glance, but Red steps forwards. "Look here, Lucas, you have to eat food, and you have to sleep, because - because it's really unhealthy if you don't!"

I smile weakly. "Fine." I take a bite out of the toast, forcing it down. "There we go."

Toon Link helps me to stand up. "Lucas, I'm worried about you. You're worrying about Ness a lot… you're starting to starve yourself, and you're not getting any sleep.

I shake the others off. "I don't care."

"Lucas-"

I leave the room, tensely, willing myself to be back, talking to Ness. "It's time for lessons."

I stride past Ryu as I take the stairs down to my first lesson - maths. Truth be told, I really am just, not hungry. I don't need food. I need Ness… I shake my head, taking the long corridor. I'm too tired for maths. Ngh. I can catch up with sleep during lessons - don't the others understand that?

I sigh, wandering into the classroom, placing myself at the back of the room - perhaps I'll be able to rest here. Marth wouldn't be able to see me… it'd be fine. But, no sooner have I sat down than Meta Knight and Olimar place themselves either side of me - great.

Meta Knight shoves me. "Alright, Luke?"

I grit my teeth. "I'm fine."

Olimar shoves me in the other direction. "That's great."

Professor Marth walks into the room, and looks around at us all. "Hm. Seems that there's quite a few people missing today."

Pit and Red suddenly crash through the door, and Marth looks round in surprise. "Or maybe not! Boys, why are we late, hm?"

Red stammers, but Pit intervenes. "We were just visiting our friend Ness, who's in a coma, in the medical ward."

Marth's eyes widen. "Oh no! That's a disaster! Ness, my star mathematician? But the inter-school mathematics competition is tomorrow, and he's supposed to be competing!"

Pit bites his lip awkwardly. "Uh - yeah. That."

"Well, go ahead and sit down then, boys."

Red and Pit notice me surrounded by Meta Knight and Olimar. With a determined expression, Pit sits himself down on the other side of Olimar, while Red decides to instead sit as far away from us as possible.

I yawn as Marth takes the front of the room. I can barely keep track of what he's saying… something about equations, something about algebra, maybe, but… I don't know. I yawn again, my eyes watering with tiredness. I want to set my head down, to sleep, I long for it, but I know if I sleep now, Olimar and Meta Knight would hurt me… ngh. I yawn again.

Olimar hits me on the shoulder, and there's laughter. My senses swim. Ow - ow -

"Lucas! Did you hear me?" Marth asks loudly.

"No, Professor, I didn't," I just about manage to reply, miserably.

Marth tightens his lips. "I see. Well, I asked if you can tell me-"

But I'm saved by a knock on the door. Marth opens it, and Shulk looks in. "Is Lucas here? Only, I need to have a quick word with him about something, it'll only be a minute or two, so if you'd let me borrow him for a little bit Professor Marth, that's be grand because-"

I stand up quickly. "Yeah, I'm here Professor."

"Hold on," Marth hesitates, his hand still on the door handle. "Lucas, before you go, can you give your answer to the question that I handed out?"

He handed out a question? I had no idea. "Uh, 4," I lie quickly.

Marth gasps. "Wow! Lucas, you're the only person in the room to get it right! Therefore, if Ness isn't about before the competition on Wednesday, I think you'll be a perfect reserve option for the mathematics competition! I will sign you up."

Oh great. Ness would be laughing so hard at me right now. If only his stupid face was here to laugh. I nod, trying to smile politely. "Thank you, Professor."

I follow Shulk outside to the hall. He smiles. "Didn't know you aced Maths as well as Art, Lucas!"

I grimace. "I guessed the answer to that question."

Shulk shrugs. "Ah, I did that a lot when I was at school, oh so long ago…"

I laugh slightly. "What do you need me for, Professor Shulk?"

He responds promptly. "Well, the thing is, I noticed you weren't at my training session for Wilderness Survival Week last night, and I assume that's because Ness is still ill, and you were attending to him?"

I nod. "That's right."

Shulk thinks. "Well, the HeadMaster would have my head on a pole if I didn't teach you all of the survival stuff that I'm meant to, so when Ness is up and about, do come to my office. Say, Wednesday? If that's not possible, because you know, Ness isn't awake, then that's cool and all alright, but otherwise, yeah, see you then."

I nod. "See you then, Professor."

Great - wednesday, a day when we already have 4 other things happening after the lessons; Bayonetta's party, Orchestra practice, Ness's therapy with Rosalina and the maths competition… but I shake my head. I'll worry about all that later.

Professor Shulk walks away, leaving me in the hall… I yawn again, looking back into the classroom. A seat in between the two biggest bullies could await me… or… I could go upstairs and sleep.

The thought is really quite tempting. Who'd know? I could just have a quick nap in my dorm, and be awake in time for my next lesson… Yeah. That sounds nice. That's a good idea - I am very, very tired. I guess that's what I get for deliberately not sleeping for 2 nights straight, heh. Besides, I also want to take another look at the golden egg. If I can open it up by the time Ness wakes, and if I can figure out what's inside… Ness would be really pleased, I reckon. I want to have some progress to show, with solving the mystery.

So I stumble into the dorm - it's just as I left it. The golden egg sits on the bookshelf, along with the 5 books about magic, along with - ugh, that stupid figurine of me, too. I'd forgotten about that - another part of the mystery as of yet unsolved. I pout in spite of myself. It doesn't even look anything like me.

Rubbing my eyes, I take the egg off of the shelf. It's still heavy as ever, still golden and shiny as ever… but I don't know what to do to get it to open… my eyes start to close as I stare at it, but I shake myself awake - this is no good! I need to move around so I can stay awake - the corridors will be empty, after all… yeah. That's a good plan.

I open the door and leave through the dormitory hall, down the stairs, into the main hall, trying everything - rubbing the egg, hitting it, shaking it. I need to think clearly - but my mind is all fogged up - ngh-!

Question 1: Why an egg? Why is it egg shaped? What if there's a chicken inside? No… what do eggs represent? Uh, omelettes… mmm, yes, I love omelettes…

I mentally shake my head. My mind is going everywhere. I'm so damn tired… ugh. Ugh! What else could eggs represent? New life? Hmm… New life… like… Future Humans! I guess this damn dream-inducing egg was made by the creator of the future humans… I grit my teeth slightly. That's no use.

What else?

Question 2: How can we find out what's inside, without perforating the 'shell'? As far as I can tell, it's solid gold. It rattles - but it's a strange sounding rattle. I don't get it.

But suddenly I'm flung forwards-! The egg launches out of my hands, with a mighty crash, rolling across the floor - oh no - oh no - what happened?! I pick myself up.

A stair. A stair. I was so focused on the egg… ngh, I shake myself off. At least the fall woke me up a little bit… I stand up, intending to walk over to the egg, but…

Wario sneers. "Waahaha! What do we have here?"

I start. "Professor Wario-"

But he picks up the golden egg, and examines it. "This looks very valuable, doesn't it?"

I step forward. "It's mine, Professor."

"Yours, is it? Well, now it's mine. Finders, keepers!"

I gasp with outrage. "Hey! That's important - give it back!"

"I don't think so," Wario snarls, turning away from me. "You should be in lessons. Consider this a punishment." He stomps into his office, locking the door shut behind him - no - no! This is a disaster - what was I thinking, walking around here? With the egg? What if Ness is disappointed with me - ngh! My insides convulse.

Think, Lucas, think.

I need sleep. That's what I need most right now. I'll worry about the egg later. Once I've finished worrying about Ness, and all of the other things. So, miserably, I walk back up the stairs, to my dorm.

…

I lie down in bed, thinking about everything, suddenly finding it very hard to fall asleep.

Everyone keeps walking all over me, without Ness around to stop them. Wario just took the egg, I barely did anything to prevent it. Meta Knight and Olimar, picking on me even more than before… I'm an easy target. My eyes sting a little. I'm so weak without Ness. I'm so weak on my own… what is wrong with me?

I subconsciously hug my pillow. All of my problems seem to lead back to Ness, stuck in his coma…

Poor Ness. I yawn again, my eyes again watering from so much tiredness. Just a short rest. Just a short rest…

I tumble into a deep sleep.

...

(Toon Link)

…

The clock chimes - my first lesson, Theatre, is over at last. I throw off the hat I'm supposed to be wearing as a costume for Little John, and I fold up the script, stuffing it lazily into a pocket. It's not that I don't like Theatre lessons, it's more that they somehow always manage to wear me out. Our professor - Professor Chrom - is very, very demanding.

My mood quickly changes though, as Villager meets me outside the classroom.

He smiles. "Hey, how was Theatre?"

I smile back goofily. "Pretty good - how was Crafts, or Trades, or whatever it's called?"

He shrugs lightly. "Yeah, fine, Mega Man was telling me this awesome story about his family."

I put on a whiny voice. "I can tell awesome stories too."

He laughs, and I laugh too - aaaaaaaa! Why is talking to him so damn good?

I blush, turning away - I have to ask him, at some point. I gotta ask if he feels the same way, because, he totally might, and if there's a chance… heh. But my insides squirm with nerves. There's every possibility that it could ruin everything… I just need an opportunity, I just need a time alone with him, somewhere… I blush deeper. If only Villager knew what I was thinking.

We head into English Literature - Pit is already sitting in his seat, so I smile and wave. However, Lucas is nowhere to be seen… I scan the room, mildly puzzled. ...Oh well, he'll turn up.

…

Bowser storms into the room, in another foul mood, and Villager and I exchange a glance. Bowser yanks the chalk off of the tray of chalk, glowering round at us all. What a miserable sod.

"ALRIGHT!" Bowser yells. "Today, we are NOT doing poetry!"

Phew.

"We are INSTEAD going to be doing VERSE!"

"That's another name for poetry," Nana calls out, frustratedly.

"Shut up! Today, I have written my OWN Verse, and you must decipher its MEANING!"

We all groan, as Bowser flips round the chalkboard. I read:

Bowser BIG AND STRONG

Bowser have big dong

Bowser very nice

Bowser is mostest nice

Bowser should be dating peach but mario should DIE

BOWSER AMAZING

Bowser make bad people go AAAAAAAAA

Laughter breaks out amongst the class, and Bowser growls. "ENOUGH LAUGHTER! Discuss the meaning!"

I turn to Villager, trying to keep a straight face. "Hmm, I don't know, I'm not sure what any of that could possibly mean."

Villager smirks. "It's a tough task with that awful grammar."

"I think," I grin, "I think that it might possibly be about how amazing Bowser is."

"Hmm," Villager mock-frowns. "I'm not so sure. I think it might be about the never ending onslaught of time that will bring us all to an inevitable end."

"Hopefully not too soon," I smile, elbowing Villager, who elbows me back, and we burst out laughing.

"I've got no idea who Mario is, but I pity him," Villager chortles.

"I bet my dong is bigger than his," I pout, and Villager coughs and splutters.

"Toonie! Please, stop!"

I look away, blushing. "Never."

When we've finally calmed down, Bowser takes the front of the room again, before pointing at me. "You! Where are Lucas and Ness?!"

I roll my eyes. "Gee, I don't know. Ness might just be unconscious still, and Lucas is -" I think. "Somewhere else."

Bowser growls with unrestrained rage. "GRR! When Ness becomes conscious, I'll cane him so hard that he's unconscious again, for missing MY LESSON!"

"Where is Lucas?" Villager mutters to me.

"I don't know," I whisper back, "but I'm sure he'll turn up."

But he doesn't turn up.

The lesson passes by, more of Bowser's shouting antics, and there's no sign of Lucas at all.

"Shulk had to borrow him during Maths, but he didn't come back in," Pit explains worriedly, when I ask, after the lesson. "I'm not sure where he could be…"

Villager looks between us nervously. "Forget lunch. We need to do something about this, now - he could be anywhere…"

Dread fills me. Pictures of those creatures flash through my mind - what if one of them found him?! But Villager catches me shivering, and he lays a hand on my shoulder. "He'll be somewhere. Let's start with checking with Shulk where he went."

So we find the art room - tucked away at the back of the school, a weird paint-covered location. I'm not any good at art - I'm glad I didn't take it. I've got no clue why anyone ever would, but that's that.

Shulk looks round as soon as we enter. "Uh, can I help you, boys?"

Pit steps forwards. "Uh, yes, actually… you called Lucas out of Maths, but he never came back in. Did you see where he went?"

Shulk frowns. "No, I didn't - you see, I left before he went back into the classroom, so I can only assume he went somewhere else, or something like that, or-"

"Thanks, Professor," Pit says hastily, and we leave the room.

I curse. "Maybe he's with Ness?"

"Yeah!" Villager nods, enthusiastically. "Maybe he's there - maybe Ness is awake!"

There's a lot more spring to our step as we make our ways up to the medical room - but to our dismay, there's no sign of Lucas there, either - only Ness, still unconscious, by himself. Dammit - dammit!

"He shouldn't be lying there by himself, unguarded," Villager fiddles with his shirt. "What if something malicious comes along? Someone needs to stay with Ness, while the other two find Lucas."

Pit gives me a funny look, before nodding his head. "I'll stay. Villager, Toon Link, you two go off and find him."

I know exactly what Pit is up to - so I thank him, and Villager and I leave the room.

Villager looks down at the floor, worriedly. "Where should we check?"

"I guess we could check his dorm," I conclude. We start walking.

"So, uh, Villager," I begin.

"Yeah?"

"How's your morning been?"

Villager thinks. "Uh, it's been pretty fine, thanks."

"I'm glad," I nod, awkwardly. Why can't I talk like am actual human, all of a sudden!?

"What subjects have you got next?" Villager queries politely.

"Uh, double Music, then History. You?"

"Double Geography and History," Villager sighs. "I am ready to fall asleep."

"Heh, enjoy that," I laugh, and Villager pushes me.

He smiles. "Ah, well… at least Pit seems to be doing better."

"Yeah," I nod, enthusiastically. "We were talking a lot yesterday and the day before - him and I went through and sorted all of Dark Pit's stuff."

Villager's smile softens. "Aw, it's great of you to be helping him through all of this."

I blush. "I just, if it was me, and I'd lost my little brother…"

Villager pats my shoulder. "Even if Red might sometimes say otherwise, you're an awesome person, Toonie."

I blush deeper. "Villy, stop that, I'm blushing!"

Villager grins. "You're a big softie really."

"Am not!"

Laughing, we make our way into Lucas's dorm - and to my immense relief, there Lucas is, fast asleep in his bed.

Villager moves over to the sleeping Lucas. "Of course. He was so tired..."

I nod, looking at Lucas with sympathy. "We should let him sleep."

Villager retreats from his bedside "Agreed."

But a sudden movement catches my eye - my gaze is drawn over to the wardrobe -

I lower my voice, uneasy. "Did you see that?"

Villager frowns. "See what?"

"I'm sure I saw something move - over there, by the wardrobe."

Villager's eyes widen. "I saw it too, but I instantly dismissed it as a trick of the light."

"We should check inside," I mumble, suddenly on edge.

"We should," Villager concurs, nervously. So we edge towards the wardrobe door - I reach out, and my hand collides with Villagers -

Villager retreats. "Sorry - go ahead."

I slowly grip the handle, turning it, gradually pulling it open…

There's nothing there at all.

"Maybe it was our imaginations?" I suggest hesitantly.

"It must've been," Villager agrees, more relaxed. He shuts the wardrobe.

We leave Lucas be, and walk back out into the corridor, shutting the dormitory door behind us.

"Let's head back and tell Pit that Lucas is okay," I say, but Villager pulls me aside.

"Actually, uh, I kinda wanted to say something…" he mumbles, softly.

…

Oh?

Oh!?

My heart suddenly pounds. No way. No damn way is this what I think it could be - I shouldn't get my hopes up - but - aaaaaaa! If he's gonna ask me out - and then there will be kissing and stuff, and, and it'll be awesome, but we'd have to keep it a secret from most people, but that wouldn't matter, because it would be so, so damn good, but-

Villager interrupts my fantasy. "Toonie, you okay?"

I blush deeply. "Yeah- sorry. Uh-"

"We should go somewhere private," Villager concludes, and my heart somersaults. Dizzily, I follow Villager into his dorm, where we sit down on his bed.

"You sure you're okay?" Villager frowns.

I nod quickly, trying to repress a great massive smile from taking over my entire face. "Yeah - what, uh - what is it that you want to say?"

"Well," Villager begins. "Uh, I noticed you've been a little on edge lately, that you've not really been yourself… I just wanted to ask if you're okay, and if…" he blushes. "If there's anything on your mind that you need to talk about-"

Oh.

Heh, never mind. I guess I got a little carried away. "I don't know - it's just, everything that's happening, really. Ness in his coma. Magic. Everything going on with Pit… heh."

Villager nods, understandingly. "It's all been a bit manic… sounds like that's a lot of weight on your shoulders."

I rub my cheek, blushing. "Yeah, sorta. Heh, I didn't think you were really the sensitive type, Villy."

Villager folds his arms, affronted. "I am sensitive! I try to be, anyway!"

I stare at him. It's impossible not to. "You're right though. Sorry if I've seemed… different."

"Na, Toonie, it's ok. It's cool. But uh, I'm here for you, yeah?"

I smile. "Aw, you're the best. But uh, there's actually something I wanted to say too..."

I breathe in. Even if Villager didn't ask me out… that doesn't mean I can ask him. But what do I say? I can't say 'do you wanna be my boyfriend?' That'd be corny, that'd be terrible. But... hmmmm…!

"What is it?" Villager asks, curiously.

"Uh…" I stammer. How do I say it? And what if he says no?! Then our friendship would be ruined forever - ngh! I can't think straight. Heh. I definitely can't think straight.

Villager's eyebrows furrow. "Toonie?"

Screw it. I'm bailing. I'll ask some other time. I breathe out. "Uh - I just wanted to say thank you, for being an awesome friend-"

Villager's face lights up, and he suddenly hugs me. "Aw - Toon Link, that's so cheesy, but thank you-"

The hug feels amazing-! I hug him back - it's so warm, so comforting, so right. We tessellate perfectly… the hug eventually breaks apart, one lifetime later, and I blush, deeply. "So uh, yeah."

"Come on," Villager grins. "Let's go back to Pit."

Mission semi-successful, I bounce up. But I suddenly get another idea. "Hey - Villy, do you wanna go down to the lake, later? Just- just us?"

Villager nods happily. "Sure!"

With silent victory, I leave the room, and Villager follows. That was an awesome hug. And now I might have scored a date! Even if it's down to the school lake, whatever. It'll be great… brimming with bursts of happiness, I walk into the medical room, where Pit is studying Lucas's painting.

"Hey," I wave. "Lucas is ok - he's asleep in his dorm."

"Oh," Pit nods. "That makes sense. I was just looking at his painting - it's really quite good actually. A lot of detail."

I shrug. "He's talented."

"One can only dream…" Villager sighs, wistfully.

"Is it time for lunch now?" I ask hopefully. The others laugh, and I pout. "What? I'm hungry!"

"Two of us should stay back, and the other can go and get the food," Villager decrees, matter of factly. "We don't wanna leave Ness here in danger."

I grin mischievously. "Nice of you to volunteer."

...

As soon as Villager finally agrees to go and fetch the food, I turn to Pit. I gotta tell him about the new developments!

Pit raises an eyebrow. "Surprised you didn't wanna stay back with Villager?"

I beam. "Na, I gotta tell you the news!"

"The news? What, did you two hook up!?"

I laugh. "Heh, not quite. But - we're going down to the lake, later, just the two of us-"

Pit cheers. "Oh yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

I stare at the ceiling, dreamily. "And we hugged, and it felt amazing…"

He grins. "Aw man, that's awesome."

"Yeah…" I grin stupidly.

Pit laughs. "Well, at least you're happy."

Villager comes back in with plates of today's lunch - to my disappointment, it's mere cheese sandwiches. Nevertheless, I eat them pretty quickly - I'm so hungry, all of a sudden.

Professor Rosalina comes in. "Oh - hi boys, where's Lucas?"

"Asleep in his dorm," I explain.

She chuckles. "Makes sense. He insisted on not sleeping last night - it would've been just fine if he'd gone to sleep, but he didn't listen… he's very protective over Ness, he is."

"We know," the rest of us chorus, before bursting out laughing.

"Well, thanks for sticking around. Lucas tells me you three know about the Future Humans, after all."

"Yeah," I nod. "They're crazy. I don't get them, at all."

"I'm hoping to wake up and find this is all a dream," Pit mumbles, with a sudden pang of sadness.

"Sadly, it's all very real," Rosalina shrugs. "But that's life. Anyway, lesson time for you three now. I'll make sure Lucas is safe."

"Thanks, Professor," Villager smiles, and we leave the room.

Red accosts us in the hall. "Where have you all been?"

"With Ness," Villager explains.

"I had to eat lunch with Popo," Red grumbles. "I have never been maimed quite as he managed to maim me, today."

Villager winces. "Well - hey, what've you got now? What subject? Extended Maths?"

Pit frowns. "Extended Maths? That's a thing?"

"Yes," Red snipes. "And I wouldn't expect you to know about it. But I haven't got it now. I have Business. I must go to it, so goodbye." He leaves us.

Villager rubs his temple. "Sorry about that, Pit. He can be a little, uh, rude, sometimes."

"It's fine," Pit mumbles, staring at the floor again. "Anyways - uh, I've got to go to Geography."

Villager nods "Oh yeah, you're in my class." The pair leave, and I'm suddenly alone.

…

…

...

Aaaaaaa! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I'mgoingtothelakewithvillagerandicantwaittttttt! But first… Ugh, double music and History. Great.

Professor Sebastian Tute obstructs me the second I walk into the room. He stares at me very intensely. "I do hope Lucas and Ness are coming today?"

I shrug. "Well, both are currently unconscious, so I wouldn't be sure."

"Consciousness is no border for music! Nothing may restrain humanity from playing music!"

"Whatever you say Professor," I laugh, in high spirits, sauntering over to my percussion instruments. I'm the last person to arrive though - the string section look over at me critically, as if I'm a song, and they're trying to work out my time signature. I sit down on my stool.

"Good day, fellow musicians!" Tute squeaks. "Today, we are going to be playing some wonderful music, for a guest!"

All of us look around in surprise. A guest?

Tute looks up mightily at us all. "After he blatantly critiqued the finest art in all of the universe, Professor Wario is coming along today, in order to listen to some divinity. We are going to change his mind!" My eyes widen, remembering overhearing Tute and Wario arguing yesterday.

Wario stomps into the room. "I can't believe I agreed to come and listen to all you nerds pratting about with your instruments…"

"Ignore him!" Tute shouts indignantly. "You are going to play my favourite piece today!"

Oh no.

"Für Elise! Begin!"

One performance later, and Wario isn't convinced: "That was the dullest thing I have heard in my entire life."

Tute gasps. "You dare? You dare!?"

"Yes."

Tute hits Wario on the nose with his baton and I sigh. This is going to be a long lesson.

…

When it's all finally over, I make my way out of the room, to find the others to History. Villager doesn't seem to have arrived yet, but Red is there, looking sullen.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Wario didn't show up to our Business lesson - so we learnt nothing!"

"Ah - that'd be because he was in our music lesson instead," I admit.

"What!? That's crazy!"

I shrug. "I know."

Villager shows up, and Ryu not long after, so all of the students walk into the classroom.

"Lucas is asleep I hear?" Ryu asks as we walk in.

I rub my cheek shiftily. "Uh - yeah."

"Good to hear it," Ryu mutters. "He was very tired."

Again, the lesson drags by - it's about the Ancient Egyptians, and how we can prove that information about the pharaohs is true - but we're eventually released, and it's the end of the school day, and I'm suddenly nervous. I'm going to go out, by the lake, with Villager. Alone with Villager. It'll be okay! What's the worst that can happen? Villager wouldn't have agreed to come with me if he didn't want to. I find myself wandering into the medical room, to sit down, to prepare myself. To prepare what I might end up saying…

…

I have no idea!

I look down, sadly. "You'd know what to do, Ness."

Heh - or maybe not. I don't know… I find my thoughts drifting to Ness - I find myself worrying, again. What if he doesn't wake up? What would Lucas do then?

No. I can't think like that… Ness's head shifts slightly, as if to agree.

Wait-

I stare at Ness again - but there's no sign of movement now. Maybe it was a trick of the light? But all of a sudden, his toes - they're… moving? Wiggling? What? Confused, I study him up and down. Someone covered him with a blanket at some point - a pretty nice looking blue one - but that's not important! Ness's hand moves slightly - he's waking up, he has to be waking up! It's all I can do not to run and grab Lucas right now- because come to think of it, I really need to talk to Ness, in private, when he wakes.

I'm not letting him distance himself from Lucas again.

But Ness's eyes twitch - he's trying, he's trying to wake, but… his leg moves, then his other leg, then his right arm, left arm, head-!

His eyes flash open.

He's back.

A/N

Ness is back Ness is back Ness is back Ness is back-

I've missed writing Ness. But luckily, we're back to the published schedule from now on! Ness's perspective next chapter, then Lucas's, then Ness's, etc, etc, etc.

I promised this would be a more Lucas-focused chapter than the last one. Then, I sent Lucas to sleep, oops. But writing Toon Link is funnn, a lot more fun than writing tired Lucas. The reason this chapter is late, and this is really dumb, but everytime I wrote Tired Lucas, I'd feel really tired myself, and I'd stop writing-

Toon Link and Villager are going down to the lake though! I wonder what will happen?

Also, that's the end of this three part stuff. Some of you are probably wondering what the point of these chapters actually were-! But, I mostly wanted to develop some characters, rule out a couple red herrings for the great mystery, and drop a ton more clues everywhere that I bet nobody will spot. :)

Notes:

Für Elise is a classical piece by Beethoven. You'd probably recognise it if you heard it-

'Through thick and thin' is another awesome NessCas fanfic by my friend, RainyTazmily. Feel free to check it out! Though, this fic is a lot more obscure than that one, so uh, chances are you've already seen it, heh-

As always, thanks for reading!

~ReadyForTeddy