Chapter 28: You Need Him Too

…

(Lucas)

…

I stare at the horrific scene before me. Sebastian lying flat on the ground, eyes glassy. Blood. Flesh.

I turn away. First Matt, and now Sebastian.

My eyes collide with the Onett rider - dead, limp, defeated to my handiwork. An arrow through the chest… I move over to the body. He's armoured - but the armour is minimal. Onett must be scraping together the metal they have - the blacksmiths must be working overtime. His face is young, the fragments of a beard starting to form on his chin, a sweep of dark, black hair covering his forehead. He must've been brainwashed, told lies by the Onett government, convinced that Tazmily is full of evil. It must've turned him bitter. How many others have been altered like this? Whipped up into a violent frenzy?

...I killed this man.

Regret sinks through me. There could've been another way - I didn't need to throw the arrow - I hadn't thought it would kill him! But it did. I'm a murderer.

"It was self-defence," a voice tumbles from over my shoulder. Roy steps forwards, standing besides me.

My eyebrows sink. "He didn't deserve to die."

"He would've killed more of us."

I stand in silence, looking down at the man's body. His horse seems to be alright, standing astutely besides him, almost a little confused. I resolve to leave it here. It can become a wild horse. Bringing it with us would only slow us down.

The horse cocks its head to one side at me, and I sigh. "He's dead, horse, your rider is dead."

The horse doesn't respond - instead choosing to paw the ground slightly. I move around the back of it, and unclip the reins, the saddle, the stirrups and the bridle.

I stand back. "You're free to go." The horse nickers slightly, before turning and walking steadily off into the forest.

I step back, trying to avoid staring at the fallen rider. Trying to avoid facing exactly what I have done. I've always thrived for life - for living life better, for growing in strength. I've always believed in second chances, and opportunity.

Not this. Never this.

…

"Nice shot," Reggie murmurs, coming up behind me.

"It was a fluke."

"Still. Saved us."

"...I didn't save Sebastian, though."

Reggie pauses, realising I'm echoing his words from a few days ago. "Well, still."

I ignore him.

It's with somber unity that our group digs the ground, making a reasonable sized hole, placing Sebastian's body in it. Caroline and Tessie work to cover up the hill, and I, meanwhile, scrape lettering into a piece of slate that I manage to find, with another stone:

Here lies Sebastian, butler to Mayor Pusher of Tazmily.

His life was wrongfully taken,

May he rest in peace.

When the hole is filled, I place the gravestone besides it, standing back.

We all stand back.

...

"We should continue on," Tessie decides, after a while.

"Yeah," Caroline agrees quietly, and the rest of our group nod too.

I close my eyes, trying to push the rider and Sebastian out of my mind. "We need to focus on finding food now. We needn't worry about water. I think my water powers are nearly recharged."

"Good," Elmore huffs, but I ignore her.

And so, we leave the scene, and continue on our journey.

(Lucas)

Fear.

Fear is a strange thing.

Fear prickles down the spine, fear raises the hairs on the back of your neck. Fear drives you to a state of hyper-sensitivity.

Fear is a simple survival mechanism, really. Fear tells you something's wrong - fear gives you the drive to be safe. It gives you adrenaline, it gives you determination, triggering a fight, or flight, or freeze response. Fear exists in all sorts of creatures - from the smallest insects, to the largest mammals.

Through a crack in the blanket, I watch a spider make its way up the wall. I move a finger near it, and it scuttles away suddenly.

Sometimes, fear is irrational. Sometimes, there's nothing there when you light the candle, sometimes there's nothing there when you check behind you.

…

I'm hoping it's irrational now. Ness is asleep besides me - a strange comfort, in that best friends don't usually share a bed, but Ness and I are close enough that there's no awkwardness when it comes to affection. I told him my darkest secret yesterday. He understood. He told me that what happened wasn't my fault…

I almost believed him.

I shake in the darkness. I can't quite see the room out of the covers - only the wall - but I know it's dark. It's very early morning, and I'm still awake, because I woke up, and now I can't sleep.

Because of the fear.

There's nothing there, I remind myself. The door hasn't opened - therefore, nothing could've come in. I don't even understand why I'm scared - being with Ness is the safest place I've ever known. The one place where I'm loved, cared for, and treasured.

I pull the blanket further around Ness and I. I want to look - to check that there's nothing out there, but I can't make myself. I'm restrained from doing so.

There's nothing there.

I close my eyes - but I'm reminded of everything that happened on the streets again - and I have to gasp for breath - I can breathe. I can breathe. It's ok. Ness is here.

I move closer to Ness, and he shifts in his sleep, wrapping protective arms around me.

I have to check. I have to check if anything's wrong, or if it's just the tricks of my mind, brought about by a hectic day, by my confession.

So reluctantly, I peel back the covers, trying to take in the room before me. It's all-

There's a dark figure standing-

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH-!" I scream, and the figure darts out of the door - there's a loud noise as it opens and shuts behind them - I don't see where it goes next, as Ness bolts awake, and falls out of bed - there's a slamming noise - I don't know what's going on-! Light pours through the door as it opens again, and Professor Shulk comes in. I look around madly for anything else - but the room is empty - and-

"What's going on?!" Shulk shouts frantically, and Ness scrambles around on the floor, entangled in blankets.

I speak up, my heart pounding, throbbing with fear. "I saw someone - there was someone here - get Professor Ryu!"

"Professor Ryu?"

"Ryu!" I nod, quickly.

Bemused, Professor Shulk hurries out of the room, without questioning it. I stand up, getting out of bed, checking everywhere, checking the wardrobe, driven into a state of hyper-awareness. I'm sure I saw something. I'm sure!

Others hurry into the room-

"What's going on?" Villager asks, while Ness continues to try and pick himself off up the floor.

I shiver. "Someone - or something - was in here!"

"Are you sure you're not seeing things?" Villager asks, but I shake my head.

"I'm sure! Something - it opened the door, and ran out, when I screamed, but-"

Ness finally stands up. "What's happening?!"

"There was something in the room-" I explain, again, and Ness's eyes widen.

"What? What was it?"

A lot of students gather around us, and I tremble.

"What happened?!"

"What did it look like?!"

"Where did it go?"

I shake. "I - it was big, dark, standing there, almost watching - it dashed out of the door when I screamed, I-"

A lot of people marvel round at one another, hushed mutters breaking out. Professor Ryu rushes into the room rapidly. "Everyone who isn't Ness and Lucas, please get into your dorm, immediately."

There's a cry of outrage. "But-!"

"No buts! There is potentially someone going around the school - we need to perform a full search. Everyone, get into your dorms."

There's muttering, but everyone files out. Ryu waits for the room to be empty, before shutting the door. I breathe deeply, in the momentary calm.

Ryu turns. "Alright, boys, tell me what you saw, quick."

I speak. "A-A dark figure - it was in the room - but then it ran out of the door-"

"And you're sure this wasn't a nightmare?"

"Yes! I heard the door - Ryu-"

"Professor Ryu,"

"Professor Ryu, you have to believe me!"

"I do believe you," he says hurriedly. "Now, come on!"

"'Come on'?" I ask, bemused. "Where?"

"This isn't the only thing that's happened tonight. Everything has become a lot more serious. It's become apparent that we need to tell the Headmaster exactly what has been going on."

We walk slowly to the HeadMaster's office - Ness having to take slow steps, because of his persisting injuries.

I'm still shaking. It was there in our room - our room! But never mind that- "What else has happened tonight, Professor?"

Professor Ryu sighs. 'It's been a rough one. First, Professor Shulk found out that even more paint has been stolen from his art room. Then, a large amount of noise was heard around a corridor on the third floor. More students than ever appear to have disappeared. And then - well, this appeared-"

We come to a stop, around the science and maths corridor. There, hanging on the wall, is a large poster, depicting a sketch of the whole school burning.

"What - have you tried taking it down?" I ask.

"We have. It seems to be stuck fast."

"What's - this-?" Ness asks sleepily, pointing to the corner. I look a little closer.

Ryu reads aloud: "'Play my game'."

"'Play my game'?" I muse, confused. "What does that mean?"

"It's clearly from the person behind all this," Ryu concludes.

I nod, dizzily. "Y-Yeah - they seem to love this. They love a game. They love a show."

Ness shakes his head, bemused. "Was that them - the villain - in our dorm?"

"It could've been," Ryu replies. "But come on. We need to go to the Headmaster."

As we start to walk, I drift over to Ness again. It's too late for this kind of action - I'm admittedly very frightened. I shiver. It's freezing in these halls late at night - I don't even know what time it is, but it's dark. Really dark.

Ness takes my hand as we walk. I wish I'd thought to bring blankets. I wish I'd thought to do anything. I feel like a nervous ball of energy, ready to erupt at something. There was something there! It wasn't just paranoia - but it should've just been paranoia.

We enter the HeadMaster's office. It's only now, despite being in his office yesterday, that I register that his office must finally have been refurbished after the fire. HeadMaster Hand is sleeping in his bed, in a back room, so Ryu clears his throat.

HeadMaster Hand sits up. "Huh?"

Ryu clears his throat. "HeadMaster, I know it's 3am, but there's been a number of incidents that you need to know about."

HeadMaster Hand stands abruptly. "Incidents? What are they?"

"Someone - or something is going around the school right now. The disappearances have spiked. And… there's more, other stuff that's been happening, that I haven't told you."

HeadMaster Hand quickly gets out of bed. "Someone is going around? Do you mean, like an intruder? And why are Ness and Lucas here?"

"It could be an intruder," Ryu says gravely. "We do not know. But somebody has been doing a lot of things, specifically targeting Lucas."

"Targeting me," Ness corrects. I squeeze his hand.

Ryu frowns. "Huh?"

"They're attacking Lucas to get at me," Ness explains.

Ryu shakes his head. "No, that wouldn't make any sense."

Ness moves over to me, brushing his forehead against mine, and there's a little tingle, as I hear him speaking into my mind:

'Do we tell him about the golden egg, and the dream?'

I reply: 'Absolutely not. Ryu could be the villain.'

"If there's an intruder, then we need to search the school. Immediately!" HeadMaster Hand decides. "Ness, Lucas, Professor Ryu, each of you go to the professor's offices and wake them all."

"I can't walk very fast," Ness reminds him.

"Ok. Yes. Ryu, Lucas, you go-"

"Ness shouldn't be left alone," Ryu comments.

HeadMaster Hand sighs. "Okay. Ness, Lucas, stay here. Ryu and I will go wake everyone, start the search, and then you can all tell me what the hell is supposedly going on."

The professors leave, finally allowing Ness and I to catch a breath. We sit - Ness taking my hand in his. I'm shaking. I'm still shaking.

"What happened?" Ness mumbles.

I breathe heavily. "I woke up and I couldn't get back to sleep again. I got scared and checked the room, and there was something - a figure - right there! When it saw me, it ran- ran out of the door."

Ness hugs me, shivering. It's so cold. "What do you think it was?"

I close my eyes, trying to remember. "Dark, shadowy. It could've been anything - it could've been The Face, it could've been the villain behind all this-"

Ness hugs me tighter. "Thank goodness you saw it."

I nod, staring miserably at the floor. "How much do we tell Ryu and HeadMaster Hand?"

"We shouldn't tell them about the Grave," Ness decides instantly.

"Nor the Face," I add.

"Nor the golden egg, or our magic. Only about the Future Human stuff, and the disappearances."

I nod. "That sounds good."

There's another pause.

"I'm scared," Ness admits. "If something comes like that in the night again… I can't exactly run."

My eyes soften sympathetically. "...How's your head feeling?"

He puts a gentle hand to his temple, before wincing horribly. "Not… good. Not at all."

"You're getting there," I encourage. "You're definitely better than when you first woke up from your coma."

He nods slightly, which causes him to wince. "Yeah."

There's another silence, and Ness releases me from the hug. I take the chance to stare around HeadMaster Hand's office - all sorts of decorative items adorn shelves. I imagine that there used to be more, before the fire, but at least some gemstones survived. There's a particularly pretty stone, purple and green, sitting relatively nearby, on HeadMaster Hand's desk, and what looks to be some antiques hanging on the walls.

Ness looks down at the floor. "Everything's about to get worse, isn't it? I can feel it."

"Worse? In what way?"

"There's going to be more people taken. People we love, perhaps."

"The professors will keep us safe," I try to promise, but I know it's an empty comment.

Ness shakes his head. "Looks like the villain has moved onto bigger things tonight. There's always professors on patrol, yet the villain wasn't caught. That - That poster thing was weird, too. And what did Ryu say? More paint has been stolen?"

I frown. "The poster was a sketch. The paint must've been for something else."

"But what?"

We rack our brains, but neither of us come up with anything sensible.

"We're screwed," Ness mumbles after a while.

I shake my head. "We are not screwed. We still have each other."

"...The villain is going to convert us all into Future Humans, because we can't evacuate or get away."

"Ness-"

"We're screwed!"

"Ness, please. You've overcome a coma. We've escaped multiple times. We have magic. I've overcome - well," I gulp. "You know what I've overcome. But, the point is, Ness, we're strong."

"... I'm not."

I stand. "Ness, now is not the time for self deprecation. You're amazing - we can be brave, and we can fight through this, together!"

Ness looks up at me, his eyes shining slightly. "...Together."

I sit back down again. "I didn't know I was good at speeches."

"You're good at everything."

"I'm not!"

"Yeah you are!"

I shove him lightly, and we laugh - but we're interrupted, as Ryu and HeadMaster Hand emerge back into the room. Ryu appears more strained now, while HeadMaster Hand looks… tired. Really tired. I wonder if he's been sleeping much, with all the stress of what's going on.

Nevertheless, both adults sit down.

HeadMaster Hand breathes in. "Ok, so, what do you need to tell me?"

"Well, this is going to sound very far fetched," Ryu prefaces.

"Please, just - just begin."

"First of all, I'm magical. Ness and Lucas are magical."

HeadMaster Hand's eyes widen.

"But so are you," Ryu continues. "You have the trace of ELM magic on you. See, part of what I can do is detect people's magic."

HeadMaster Hand's eyes display nothing but disbelief. "ELM? What does that even mean?"

Ryu nods acutely. "It means Elemental. Now, have there ever been any strange… weather events, perhaps? Around you?"

HeadMaster Hand frowns. "Well - yeah, I guess? A lot of rain, sometimes - sometimes entirely localised to where I am… I assumed coincidence, but..."

"Well, that's a thing with ELM magic. There you go."

HeadMaster Hand breathes faster. "Wait - hold on, what, that's that? I'm just supposed to believe that I'm magical?!"

Ryu holds up a hand. "Headmaster, please, hold your peace. Yes."

"And you didn't tell me this sooner, because…?"

"Because it's usually best if people don't know they're magical, unless it's a dire scenario, because of the risk of them being captured and used or killed-"

Ness slips a hand in mine, and leans against my shoulder in such a way that our foreheads touch.

He speaks into my mind again, and I shiver. I never will get used to the sensation.

'Ryu never told us about Headmaster Hand being magical. He said it was just us, him and Rosalina.'

I think. 'Maybe he was worried we'd tell him.'

Ryu explains the magical universe in shorthand to HeadMaster Hand - the 5 magical stones and the extra time-stone, the journals of Ninten, the types of magic that can be done, that sort of thing. Ness and I stay obediently silent, waiting with curious bated breath, unsure what is going to happen.

Headmaster Hand meanwhile looks extremely sceptical. "Can you - can you show me some magic? Some proof?"

"We can," I blurt out.

I speak telepathically to Ness. 'Use PK Fire on his fireplace.' I opt not to do it myself as I know my more potent powers would likely cause a lot of damage.

Ness stands, getting close to the fireplace. "PK FIRE!"

A small fireball launches itself out of Ness's hands, starting a roaring fire in the fireplace, and HeadMaster Hand steps back quickly in alarm. "I- I- what!? This is insane."

Ness comes to sit back down. "I agree."

HeadMaster Hand seems to be losing his composure. "I- I don't comprehend how-"

"You don't need to," Ryu answers simply. "Do not worry about it."

"I-I-"

"There's more," Ryu continues, grimly. "Someone in this school is taking students and converting them into… things."

"...You told me about the disappearances, the taking, but… Things?" HeadMaster Hand asks shakily.

"Things," Ryu repeats. "Metal armour - cogs - ticking noise - far from human. I can track the things with my powers, but…"

"Have there been any around tonight?" I ask quickly.

"There haven't been."

I speak telepathically to Ness: 'It has to have been The Face or the villain in our room. Unless the Face is the villain.'

'Yeah.'

I have a random thought. 'We shouldn't mention our telepathy to them.'

'I agree.'

"So - so, let me get this straight," HeadMaster Hand stutters. He's properly shaken up. "There's - all that - going on…"

"Also," Ness speaks up. "We found out where they're operating."

Ryu and HeadMaster turn towards him. "You did?"

"Yeah," Ness nods. "There's a load of passageways - around the school, like the one where Dark Pit got… lost. Down there, there's a lit up room. That's where it's all happening."

"And there's a chimney in the forest," I add.

HeadMaster Hand frowns. "What were you doing in the forest?"

I consider this a strange question, given that on our first late-night trip to the forest, we saw him, but I decide not to mention it, as I recall him telling us not to tell Ness of his presence.

My head hurts from thinking. "Uh, going on a walk. But the chimney led down underground - I think it led to the room."

"This is news to me," Ryu ponders.

HeadMaster Hand inhales, perplexed. "Okay then-?"

"Another important thing," I pipe up. "There was a book - a book called Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures. In it were blueprints, and a description about - the things - they're called Future Humans. The book went missing though - until we found the spine of the book in your fireplace, after the fire - which is how the fire began. Someone tried to burn it."

HeadMaster Hand seems to be developing a migraine. "This is a lot of information you're telling me right now."

"But the spine of the book," I press on, "in the fireplace, there was an extra V after the title-"

"Maybe, if it was a book of blueprints, it read Version 2," Ryu suggests, suddenly.

"But then why wasn't it on the book when we saw it the first time?"

"Maybe the book you saw the first time was version 1. Maybe that book is still out there."

Ness and I exchange a quick glance. Ryu must be right!

HeadMaster Hand closes his eyes momentarily. "I… don't fully understand all this. Ryu, you'll have to explain this a lot more… but I can see I'm going to need to put in a lot of new measures. When the search for whatever intruded tonight is over, I'm going to call a staff meeting. Meanwhile, Ness, Lucas, you two should go back to bed."

"Back to bed?!" Ness cries out in outrage. "But- all this is happening!"

"Which is why, by my reckoning, the safest place for you is in your dormitory, asleep."

Ness grips the table. "What if something comes back?!"

"Professor Shulk will keep extra guard of your dormitory," HeadMaster Hand assures us. "Professor Ryu, please escort them back to their dorm."

"But-"

"Please, boys, it'll be okay. I'll announce at breakfast what will be happening. Do not worry yourselves."

I know better than to argue. "Okay, HeadMaster."

...

"I'm sorry, but that's what the HeadMaster says, so it has to happen," Ryu sighs, after Ness asks him for the third time about staying up.

"But we know stuff, we can help!" Ness protests.

"I know. But, you're young."

"We're capable!"

"You're still injured, Ness."

"So?"

"So-" but Ryu suddenly pauses.

"Professor?"

Ryu steps forwards slowly. "What's all this?"

I look - and to my astonishment, Bowser is lying in the middle of the corridor, completely unconscious. My eyes widen. "Is he okay?"

Ryu checks for a pulse, and it seems he finds one, because he stands back, reassured. "Well, I'm not sure what's happened here."

"Do you think he's been knocked unconscious?" I suggest.

Ness picks up a rock of considerable proportions off of the floor. "...Yeah, I think he might just have been."

"So, did this happen when we were talking to HeadMaster Hand?" I ask, curious.

"...I'm afraid not," Ryu mumbles. "I was told to go into Bowser's office to wake him, by the Headmaster, but I didn't, since I, well, value my life. So, it could've happened at any point."

"Great," I sigh. "Though, it does rule out Bowser from the suspects."

Ryu raises an eyebrow. "Unless he knocked himself out."

"...Which is highly possible, knowing him," Ness groans.

I frown. "But then, if you didn't wake him, what was he doing out in the halls?"

"We'll have to ask when he wakes up," Professor Ryu decides. "But, don't you worry about this. it's off to bed with you two now."

I want to stay back and examine Bowser's unconscious body further, but again, I know better than to argue, so we start moving again.

We walk along in silence, before Ness blurts out: "My Father said something about you, Professor, in a letter."

Ryu turns, intrigued. "What did he say?"

"He said uh, to never write to him again."

Ryu sighs. "Oh dear."

"What happened between you?"

"Well, like I said, Professor Rosalina, him and I were good friends. Then he… drifted apart from us." Even I can tell he's hiding something, but I make no comment.

Ness also resolves not to comment, and we continue our walk in silence, down the main corridor, but something catches my eye. "Hey - the graffiti has been changed!"

We all turn - now, instead of Toon Link is a fag, it reads… Villager is a fag. 'Toon Link' has been covered with black paint, and then 'Villager' has been painted over the top. But who would do this? I don't understand.

"It appears we've found the missing paint," Ryu notes. "This is very strange. But, I wouldn't worry."

I look closely at it. "Wet paint. I don't know why anyone would just… change it."

Ryu beckons. "Ness, Lucas, come on. Bed."

We take the turning up the dormitory stairs, and Ryu finally bids us farewell when we reach our dormitory. Ness and I tumble into the room, thoroughly loaded with new information. I help Ness over to my bed, and we fall down onto it. My heart's suddenly pounding again, even though it's late at night, but, but everything is so chaotic-

There's a pause.

...

"The HeadMaster is magic!" Ness exclaims.

"Someone changed the graffiti!" I also exclaim.

"The sketch on the wall!"

"Someone knocked out Bowser-"

"There's two books!"

"HeadMaster Hand is going to put in new measures!"

"Everything's crazy!"

I take a gasp for breath. "Everything's going on right now, out there, and we're missing out."

"Yeah!"

"So long as we're safe, I guess."

"This is starting to get really serious now… Ryu said more people had disappeared." There's a nervous edge to Ness's voice.

I shiver slightly.

He continues. "It's time to start cracking down on who it is. On all the clues we have, if that's cool with you."

"That's cool with me," I agree. "Together."

"Together."

I think carefully. "Well, first, we need to work out who it is. Who the villain is. Only then can we do something about them."

"We need to make a list of all of the Professors, and the suspects, right now!" Ness declares keenly, and he pulls out paper and a fountain pen.

The Face

Bowser

Ryu

Rosalina

Sebastian Tute

Marth

Shulk

HeadMaster Hand

Wario

Wii Fit Trainer

Link

Meta Knight and Olimar

Another Professor that we don't know.

Ness finishes the list proudly. "Okay, so, The Face. What do we know?"

I think. "We saw it on the train, and then we saw it in the forest. In the forest it seemed… scared, meanwhile it climbed on the train trying to get us."

Ness writes this all down. "Could it be behind this?"

I think. "I'm sure we came up with a reason why it couldn't be at some point, but… it could be getting in by the passages, so yes."

Ness nods. "Bowser?"

"Unless he knocked himself out, it's unlikely."

"And he's… not smart enough, for this," Ness adds.

I shrug. "Well, that could be an act."

Ness furrows his brow. "He's definitely up to something. Like Ryu said - what was he doing in the corridor?"

Ness notes all that down. "Ryu himself?"

We look at one another, unsure what to say. It feels like we've been over him multiple times.

"There was the figurine of you in his office," Ness recalls.

"Very suspicious," I agree, "but I think that was a red herring. I think the villain put it there deliberately. I reckon that was a trick."

"Smart," Ness nods. "But it could still be Ryu."

"Yes," I admit. "But he seems to be doing all he can to keep people safe."

"Then let's say unlikely for him," Ness decides, noting it down. "Now, Rosalina."

"No way! She doesn't hate you - like the villain said - she's offered therapy to help you feel better about yourself!" I cry out.

Ness nods. "It is definitely not her." He crosses her out. "Sebastian Tute?"

I make a face. "Unlikely."

"Marth?"

"Marth is smart," I ponder, "but, why would he hate you?"

"He put me into the Maths Competition," Ness grumbles.

"There's no evidence for or against it being Marth," I conclude, and Ness writes it down.

"Shulk?"

"I hope not," I bite my lip. "I really like him."

Ness sighs dryly. "My art sucks. It might suck enough for him to hate me with a passion."

I lightly shove Ness. "Your art is cool, you goof. But, can we put 'unlikely' for him?"

Ness nods. "Yes. What about HeadMaster Hand?"

I think it over. "Well, it was weird seeing him in the forest, late at night. We definitely need to ask him about that. But otherwise…"

"He's also doing all he can to keep people safe - he's putting measures in, and calling a staff meeting," Ness notes.

"Also, he's cool. He's always done good things for the school - like hiring Rosalina, even though she's female." I mumble. "Agh - I don't want the villain to be any of these people, really."

Ness notes it all down. "Wario?"

"Biggest suspect," I immediately decide. "He stole the golden egg, he definitely hates both of us, he's a terrible person…"

Ness nods vigorously. "He's rich too. Rich enough to afford all of this stuff."

"And - and!" I add keenly. "In the shower - when I was attacked, remember that? The shape of the man who did it definitely could've been Wario!"

"And if it was a man - that completely rules out Rosalina!" Ness excitedly crosses her off again. "Awesome!"

"Unless that was unrelated to the mystery…" I muse.

"No - no, it's definitely part of the mystery! It wasn't a Future Human because it wasn't ticking - and if they were similar to Wario's shape, that also rules out Shulk, Marth, HeadMaster Hand, Tute and Ryu!"

I nod. "Wario is seeming pretty likely at this point."

Ness nods back. "Yeah! Do you think we've solved it?"

"We should still go through the rest of the list…" I rationalise.

"Yeah… yeah, you're right. Wii Fit Trainer?"

I shrug. "Doubt it."

"Link?"

"Again, doubt it. He does seem to dislike us, but he's not really up to anything suspicious, let's face it."

"Agreed. Meta Knight and Olimar?"

"They're busy dealing opium," I say. "We know it's not them. Plus, it's one person doing this, not two."

Ness crosses them out. "Yeah… and, uh, last in the list, 'a professor we don't know'."

I think it over. "Well, if they supposedly hate you, Ness, they probably do know us, so we can cross that out."

Ness does just that, before studying the list. "So, all things considered, it has to be Wario!"

I think. "It certainly looks that way… but I wouldn't be certain."

"..." Ness muses it over. "Well, we'll have to investigate everyone closer."

"Yeah," I nod. "Definitely."

"Another thing we should do - we need to hide the golden egg."

"Why?" I ask.

"In case Wario comes back to steal it."

I nod my agreement. "That's reasonable. Wardrobe?"

"Wardrobe," Ness agrees. I take the egg, and I make to put it inside, but-

I frown. "Ness, come look at this…"

"Huh?" The raven haired boy comes over. "What is it?"

I crouch down on the ground, peering inside the wardrobe. "Look at the base of it."

It's ajar. The base of the wardrobe is tilted, open, almost like a… trapdoor. Huh? I test it, and to my surprise, it swings open, and there's a… ladder beneath. A ladder.

I shiver. "I don't like this."

Ness freaks out, jumping back. "It- It opens!?"

"H-How can this be here?!" I stammer, my breathing accelerating. This is creepy. This is so damn creepy.

"Lucas - close it. Quick!"

I do as I'm told and I stand back from the wardrobe, as if it's going to come alive and devour me. "I-"

"Why is that - why is that there?!" Ness shouts out in alarm.

I hold him near. "I don't know - but- but, I suspect-"

"What do you suspect?!"

"I think it leads down to the passageways. I think that's how whoever it was got in here tonight, and maybe other times as well."

"Wh-What?! How can that be- be right!?"

"We need to cover it up," I resolve. "We need to somehow lock the trapdoor shut."

"How?"

I have a brainwave. "We'll get Villager to! He can get a lock or something from the trades classroom - he's always wanted to be a builder, and stuff."

Ness shakes his head. "We can't go wake him, it's too early."

"Well, we'll ask him in the morning."

"What about tonight? What if the person comes back?"

I gulp, looking over to Ness with fear. "Well, we'll just have to… hope… that they won't…"

Ness starts to panic. I suddenly regret opening the wardrobe. Ness tries to stabilise his breathing - I grip onto his hand suddenly. He shudders. "There has to be something we can do!"

I think quickly. I place the golden egg on top of the trapdoor. "If it opens, we'll be woken with a massive crash."

"...That's not very safe!"

"I think it's the best we can do."

Ness grips my arm. "But - Lucas!"

But suddenly - out of nowhere, I'm pushed over the edge, just a little bit. Maybe it's the fear - maybe it's my heart, pounding horribly, or the tiredness; I'm still so tired! But, somehow, venom slips onto my tongue. "What do you suggest then!?"

Ness turns sharply. "I suggest that we don't get killed in the middle of the night!"

His quick reply snaps me back into reality - but my head spins from the harsh words. "Ness, we won't get killed."

"How do you know!?"

I realise with a sudden tremor that this is becoming an argument. It shouldn't be a big deal - but - my lower lip trembles. "Ness, calm down, you'll wake everyone."

It's the wrong thing to say, as Ness's face reddens. "I don't care! You - you expect us to just, just wait for danger to come out of that trapdoor, and-!"

I try in vain to salvage this. "Ness-"

"Maybe - maybe you want me to be killed! That's it! I'm such an awful friend that you want me to be killed!"

Oh - oh hell - "Ness!"

"Maybe I should just open the trapdoor and jump right down! That would save you a lot of trouble, wouldn't it? Would that be better?!"

"Ness, please-!"

Ness collapses onto his bed. "Just stop talking!"

"No! What's come over you?"

"Nothing."

"Ness-"

"Nothing! Just leave me alone!"

"..." I slump down into my own bed, defeated. "If that's what you want."

"Why aren't you arguing back at me?!" Ness demands.

I look over, confused, blood rushing to my face, my tired eyes straining. "Huh? I just, don't wanna argue is all-"

"...You let everyone walk over you!"

"I'm - I-!"

"You got hung up from the ceiling, Meta Knight and Olimar pick on you all the time - Lucas, why don't you ever do anything about it?!"

"Because - because I don't want to-to start a fight - or, or to be hurt even more! I'm a coward, Ness, a coward!"

Ness sighs miserably. "...This is why Geldegarde got his way with you."

There's a momentary pause, before I burst into tears, burying myself under the covers. My chest burns - my throat burns. He's right! I'm a coward, a stupid coward. I'm so weak - and he's angry about… about that. He's angry that I let it all happen to me. It's my fault. Of course it's my fault. It's always my fault - that's what Father says. Because I was a coward, I couldn't convince Claus to stay! And - and maybe, I could've done something, and then Porky wouldn't have been able to kill Mother - and - all of my problems are completely and absolutely my fault-

I sense Ness near me, but I don't care.

"Lucas- I-I didn't mean-"

Suddenly, emotion grips me around the neck, forcing me to do something I never thought I could.

My eyes streaming, I stand abruptly, grabbing Ness, throwing him down on the bed. I've got something to prove now! I need to show him that I can fight back - and then maybe, maybe I'll be good enough! I pin him down - our faces just inches away - and his eyes widen in surprise. I can't be a coward anymore! Ness barely reacts - his mouth open slightly in surprise, his cheeks reddening further. I need to be strong, and brave - but why am I blushing now?! What are these feelings rushing through me? And suddenly I'm passive again - I release him, diving back under the covers. I'm sick of myself. I'm so damn sick of myself.

…

There's a long, aching pause.

...

"Lucas?"

...

Hopeless, drained, I give in completely. "Ness?"

"I'm sorry."

My eyes continue to flood. "...It's true though."

"It's not true. I wasn't thinking straight."

I grimace, aching guilt starting to take control. "...I hurt you."

"No you didn't."

"Your rib - your head - I could've killed you!" I squeak.

"I said some really awful things to you," Ness says miserably.

I hesitate. "...Ness, come here."

"Why?"

"...You need hugs."

"No."

"No?"

"I need to earn hugs."

"...Too bad."

"I'm an idiot, Lucas."

"So am I."

"No you're not."

"Yes I am."

There's another pause, before Ness slithers under the covers to join me.

"I'm sorry, Lucas."

"I know you are."

"I - I really didn't mean-"

My lips are sealed. "..."

"I promise!"

I sigh tearfully. "Convince me that it's not true then. That I'm not a coward."

Ness understands. "O-Okay. With - with Geldegarde, he had weapons. He would've killed you if you'd resisted. So it wasn't cowardice."

I raise an eyebrow. "Would that have been better? If I was killed?"

A bitter thought in my mind thinks that it would've been.

Ness hugs me. "No!"

I'm silent. I do not hug back. I do not deserve it.

"Okay then," Ness continues shakily. "Uh, if you'd reacted against Meta Knight and Olimar, you'd have given them what they wanted."

My tone is bitter. "They wanted me to be hurt."

"You were powerless against all of that."

"...Then how do I become less powerless?"

"Lucas. I try and defend myself, and I get into fights, and I just get into trouble. Sometimes, the most powerful thing to do is to not fight back. It's like the old saying - 'The bravest flower seeds, when the birds are leaving.' "

I don't even care anymore. So sick with the sudden self hatred, I give a limp reply: "I guess that sounds logical."

Ness nervously hugs me again. "I really am sorry."

"I know. I forgive you Ness."

"But what I said was so wrong!"

"Ness, it's alright."

"I should never have said those things."

"Ness-"

"I'm a monster."

"No, Ness, you're not. You just made a mistake. So did I - I attacked you!"

"I'm sorry for making you angry."

"I wasn't even angry! It was just," I blush. "I thought if I proved I was strong then you'd stop being mad at me."

Ness shakes his head. "I shouldn't be mad at you. I should never have been mad at you. I can't even remember why I got mad."

"I started it. It was about the wardrobe."

"Oh yeah. I'd forgotten about that..."

I look at Ness's dishevelled face. "Can we be best friends again? Forget this ever happened?"

"Always and forever."

"Always and forever."

But I can't forget. I know I was wrong. I'm suddenly hyper-aware that I'm disgusting.

Ness breathes out. "It's late. 3am. That's why we got angry, and emotional."

"Yeah, and, we're scared," I rationalise. "This is the only place I've ever felt safe, and it's all… crumbling away. Everything's dangerous now."

Ness nods. "Yeah."

I don't want to talk anymore. I don't even deserve to talk to Ness after what I did. But I try to keep up my buoyant tone. "Maybe we should get some sleep."

Ness nods a little slower. "I agree - but first, I think there's something I'd like to do."

Dammit. "Hm?"

"I think we should make a plan. A plan of how we're going to go about finding out who's doing all this - so everything can be safe and happy, and we can be normal best friends again."

I try harder to dig away the negative thoughts flowing around me. "Alright. Do you wanna get the paper again?"

Ness looks out of the covers, over at it. "But it's so far away…"

I giggle in spite of everything. "I'll get it then."

I grab the paper, and I come quickly back - because it's cold, outside of all of the blankets. Ness takes the fountain pen, and writes:

To do list:

Find out what's inside the golden egg

Question the professors

Block up the trapdoor

Find the first book of Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures

"You know," Ness says, once he's finished writing. "I think that we should just give up on the comedy idea for the talent show. We haven't planned anything, there's two days left, tomorrow is really busy…"

"Yeah," I nod. "I'm not very funny anyways."

"Aw, c'mon, you are!"

"Nah. Plus, I get stage fright."

Ness places the paper and the fountain pen on the ground. "Well, now that's done, sleep, then?"

"Yeah," I sigh. Sleep. Time to dwell in self loathing.

Ness clings onto me. "I'm staying here, by the way. It's too cold on my side - plus, it's safer here, too. I can protect you."

I wrap my shaking arms around him. "Sorry again."

He must feel the tremors because he frowns. "Lucas, you're still hurting, aren't you?"

Dammit. "No - no, I'm fine."

"I can tell when my best friend is hurting."

I don't want to be vulnerable again. It doesn't suit me.

Ness holds me. "Lucas, tell me what's wrong."

The murk of my thoughts cajoles me into silence. "..."

"Lucas, you can tell me anything."

I give in. I always do. "Fine. I still feel bad."

"But why?"

"I don't know."

But the aching sensation of guilt hangs heavy around my shoulders, like a burdensome weight.

Ness rests his head on the crook of my shoulder. "...You know I don't blame you, or hold it against you, what happened on the streets."

I grit my teeth. "I don't understand how you could ever accept something like that."

"Because, it wasn't your fault, Lucas."

"It still happened. I've been dirtied - disgraced."

"You're still you, though."

I avert my eyes. "And all if that, that happened, just now…"

Ness rubs my back, soothingly. "Who cares about all that?"

"...Sometimes, like now, I feel this...I feel this burning feeling. Inside. Right here." I guide his hand to my stomach, and he makes contact with it, almost with a sense of curiosity.

"I feel that too," Ness mumbles. "It's the feeling I get whenever I think about myself."

Miserably, I slump down. "...That's the same for me."

"You don't have to suffer in silence," Ness almost whispers. "You've been through a lot. It's okay to hurt." Ness's other hand joins mine. "I know how it feels. I don't hold you accountable for tonight, but I know, from experience, that that won't make the feeling go away."

I nod my head in agreement. He's right.

Ness runs a nervous finger along my cheek. "I'm sorry that you feel like this. You don't deserve to dislike yourself."

"Neither do you, Ness."

The sick feeling lessens slightly, as we lie there, contemplating. I know I shouldn't blame myself, but I do.

"We'll overcome it," I resolve.

Ness wraps his arms around me. "...This isn't weird, is it?"

"Weird? What?"

Ness rubs his cheek nervously. "Us - cuddling. Like we're still kids."

I frown. "Do you think it's weird?"

"Only if you do."

"I don't think it has to be weird. We're just affectionate, is all. Plus, hugs are nice."

"Yeah," Ness smiles. "Good."

There's a pause, and it suddenly hits me just how tired I am. I yawn, and Ness notices. "We should probably think about heading back to sleep."

I agree, so I pull the covers over us. "Goodnight, Ness. Thank you."

"Goodnight, Lucas. Sweet dreams."

I blush just a tiny bit. "Sweet dreams."

Simultaneously, we close our eyes.

A/N

Probably the most intense chapter yet-

It was pretty fun to write, and it didn't take too long either! I hope it was good to read, too.

Poor Ness and Lucas arguing, that always sucks. But, things happen, and that's life. They're still best friends, at the end of the day-

I also realised I made a pretty sizable mistake! Somehow, I started calling Matt, one of the Tazmily Villagers, 'Alex' for quite a while, so uh, yeah, that's something-

Reviews:

(This review was left on chapter 2)

'Don't mind the ominous noises in the hall, kids. It's just Prof. Wario snuffling about for dropped pocket change.

The tension continues to rise. It feels like the whole world is set against Lucas, with Ness his only corner man.

I'm curious to learn more about this illegal magic business. Lucas didn't mention legal magic as a topic of study, so maybe it's all illegal? Ryu certainly has an interest in it, and he seemed to take the spooky face business seriously…'

First off, thanks for the review! I know you might not see this response for a while, but yeah, it's getting tense, all the way back in chapter 2… All magic is indeed considered illegal, and yes, heh, Ryu certainly does (you'll have found out by now that that's because Ryu is indeed magical himself-)

Once again, thank you everyone for reading!

~ReadyForTeddy