Count it Up Chapter 35 - A Line You Can't Cross, a super smash brothers fanfic

Chapter 35: A line you can't cross

…

(Ness)

…

Days go by.

We slip into the routine remarkably quickly, learning to take what little food we're given, learning to keep together when we can, learning to obey. Reggie remains muted, Pusher, ironically, allows himself to be pushed around, whilst the others just sit in silence, making their own private conversations, content with travelling along on.

Me, though? I'm planning our escape.

It's not going to be easy. I've been scouting out weaknesses - of which this well oiled machine has very few. But they are definitely there - for one, Ike. Ike has been making an extra effort to put himself down to guard our group. Because he's friendly with Roy, he could be easy to convince to help us escape - though the careful conditioning that it seems his father and the government have put upon him are big obstacles.

Another weakness is the horses. They're unpredictable, erratic, and noticeably, very easy to alarm. If we are to escape through means of a distraction… The horses would undoubtedly be the best way to go.

And finally, there's the war itself.

It's risky. It's very risky. But when the Onett forces inevitably meet Tazmily and 'Porky's secret weapon'... Chaos will break out. Amidst that, we could try to make a run for it,

But late at night, when I outline all this to Roy and Duster, they only regard me with uncertain expressions.

"I dunno, m'chap…" Duster grimaces. "Th' horses are chaotic, but they'd keep someone back t' guard us, if they do break out."

Roy kicks the ground. "Ike is very stuck in his ways. It's very hard to change his mind, and he believes that this is what we all have to do."

"And goin' in t'er the war?" Duster adds. "Tha's crazy!"

"Crazy," Roy agrees.

Ugh, how have they gotten so comfortable in this new life already? Don't they remember our goal?

"Look, it's the best we've got," I sigh. "We can try the horses, we can work on Ike, and if we think of nothing else, waiting for the war is the best option we have."

And so morning comes, and my work begins. Coaxing Ike, coming up with every possible argument in favour of escape that I can. Searching for a large object I could throw into the midst of the horses to cause them alarm. Considering more possibilities - considering the best times to strike, watching the schedules of the brigade as they wake and sleep, in their nighttime routine. It's arduous, and it seems I'm the only one that's the least bit concerned, but it's necessary.

On the plus side, I know roughly our location. Friday evening, we reach the river. (And, judging by how it took us 2 whole days on horseback to get back to the river again, we must've nearly been at Onett, before getting caught, which is another straw on the camel's back.) But to our fortune, we end up travelling alongside it - which is good news, because suddenly we have a surplus of water, and that means that I know where we're headed. It's going to be roughly four days until we arrive at Tazmily, I reason - because we initially travelled south in Porky's carriages, then walked mainly east - which means we need to travel north again, down this river, before heading west.

It's confusing, but I think I know what we're doing. That fills me with some security, giving me a scraping of comfort, a luxury that seems to have become so sparse. I know that if we kept following the river, and we didn't turn west, we'd go right up to the Onett Boarding school, whilst if we travelled in the other direction, the river would eventually widen out, flowing through Onett in the giant estuary.

Back in the day, the Onett river used to be the centre of most local cultural and religious ideologies - featuring folklore of Naiads and sea snakes, and water gods and drowned ships, and never-ending depths. But all that went when the coal deposits were discovered - Porky and other entrepreneurs built their companies up, and the river became little more than a deposit for mining waste - broken pickaxes, dirt, rubble. In fact, it's become little more than a toxic cesspit. At least this part of the river is nice. Onett is downstream, so here, the waters are crystal clear.

And so, it continues. Each night, we're put somewhere different, rigidly guarded, while each day, I do the same, talking to Ike, talking to Duster and Roy, ignoring Elmore's complaints, painfully forcing courage and resilience into my veins.

And I have never felt more miserable.

…

(Ness)

(Prologue)

…

Bravery.

I, am not brave. I have never been brave - I am a coward beyond all belief. Hot headed and quick to confront, sure, but never brave for the sake of it. Never brave to do the right thing, never brave when I'm needed; when my name is called, I am just a pillar of flesh.

...

To him, I am no more than a pillar of flesh.

...

My brain aches, as my head spins, throwing me into an agonising blur.

I should have seen this coming. I really should have seen this coming. I fell for it - fell for every trick, every trap, every red herring. I was the perfect plaything, doing just as I was supposed to. Every deceit, every lie, he controlled it so that the blame would never lie on him, but our suspicions would shift. So I'd go through the suspects - one by one - and it was genius, and I, the perfect fool, fell for it.

My chest raw, I beat the ground. Bravery, Ness. Bravery. But bravery is impossible, so impossible when it comes to this. This impossible decision.

…

Oh God.

...

My trembling hands raise the blade to Lucas's neck.

…

(Earlier)

The crashes of the thunder reverberate around. Lightning strikes menacingly, rain slashing, unrestrained, drilling an ambient rattle through the night.

…

Pit tenses upon noticing us. "I-It's a trap!"

…

"Yes," says Headmaster Hand, a malicious grin taking form on his face. "Yes, I'm rather afraid it is."

…

...

There's barely time for me to comprehend his words.

In one swift movement, heavy arms grab me - my vision suddenly obscured - but light pours in through a suddenly open door - a slash of pain tears through my cheek - what is happening-!

"Lucas!" I scream, but it's no good, because they're everywhere-

So many of them. So many Future Humans.

…

"PK FIRE!" I shout in desperation, but it does nothing. Laughter comes from somewhere - fear raising a tempest inside of me -

"Ness!"

Lucas's voice. It grounds me slightly - I punch and kick against my captor - I catch a glimpse of Ryu trying to fend one off, crumpling over the weight of a heavy fist-! Toon Link desperately claws the air for Villager, who's being dragged away by a taller one - it's slowly becoming a blur of metal - and I scream, but it's no good - and - and-

Everything goes dark.

…

Terror.

I've felt terror before, but not like this. Not like this hell. Not like the knowledge that we've walked right to our deaths. Not like the confusion, not like the scrambling of thoughts, not like the nothingness that has come to stay.

…

"Ring a ring of roses, a pocket full of posies! Ness is dead and buried, Ness is dead and buried!"

…

My eyes phase in and out, visions of a dark room swimming, vague thoughts of Lucas, vague worries about the others...

It all happened so quickly.

…

Noises echo through my mind: Ryu collapsing to the floor, Pit's desperate screams, Lucas crying out for me-

…

A dull whimper escapes my mouth as I try to move, but I… can't… ngh...

Blearily, I force my eyes open.

A figure dashes towards me through the darkness. "Ah, ah, Ness, Ness! Ness, good, good. Great. Great to see you!"

Blindly, I panic, trying to reach forwards, but I realise that I'm bound, tight, to some kind of post. My voice comes out dry as sandpaper. "Who's there? Where's Lucas!?"

The figure stops in front of me. "Lucas? Ah, Lucas is just fine. Right next to you, as well. Isn't that wonderful? Aren't I nice?"

My stomach lurches.

I scream, and everything fades again.

…

"I promise, you'll make it out alive," I had consoled, as Lucas buried his face into my chest. "I'll keep you safe, whatever we find down there."

…

I guess I lied.

…

"Ness! Ness!"

…

Consciousness drifts by like a cloud. All of this, a trap? All of this, a set-up - and... I don't understand. I don't understand how the hell this could have happened.

A hot, sticky sensation crawls down my face, from beneath my eye, oozing painstakingly slowly over my cheek. Pain beats at my skull, a million knives stabbing every inch of my skin. Those future humans - they've messed me up, bad.

…

Am I dead?

The thought cuts through me.

…

I'd held him close. "Lucas, if we don't make it out of here, I love you."

His face had grown warm. "I love you too, Ness."

…

Again, my eyes shoot open. There's - there's a dark room - and - awful smell - terrible place - storm, storm, the storm inside my mind, pressure, pressure building up inside, how did this happen - how did this happen - how did this happen, how did thIS HAPPE-

…

"Yes," Headmaster Hand had said, a malicious grin taking form on his face. "Yes, I'm rather afraid it is."

…

Does that mean…? But, how can it be him? How can it possibly be him? We were so certain; Wario, Wario is supposed to be the villain!

…

I'm bound up tight. I know that. I'm bound up somewhere, in this room. Which means I'm not dead. I'm not dead! But... I don't know what is going to happen to me. And that is terrifying. I try to make out shapes, but my eyes are so hazy, so, so, hazy. There's a figure next to me, tied with rope to a beam. There's a figure in front of me, laid out on the floor, unmoving. There's - AGH - SUDDENLY, RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE-

"Hello!" a shadowy figure exclaims, almost childishly.

I try to scramble backwards, but I remember that I'm held fast in place - my eyes swim, and I force them shut.

There's laughter. "Aw, you're scared? Boo hoo."

My mind throbs, as I try to form a cohesive sentence. "Who are-"

I'm interrupted, as a set of teeth is revealed before me, as the figure leers. "The… villain, as you like to call me. Hah, what a big surprise, it was me, Headmaster Hand, all along! What a twist!"

"B-But W-Wario... H-How…" I moan.

"Wario?" Headmaster Hand scoffs, still unmoved from right besides my face. I can feel his hot breath on my cheek. "Wario is dead."

I let out a pained groan, trying to comprehend. There's a sudden scuffling of noise to my side, and HeadMaster Hand scoots away to the source, intrigued. "Lucas, is that you? Are you waking up?"

I physically feel my blonde counterpart snap to attention - and a yearning sensation to move over to him takes root in my mind. But - oh - oh God, his voice sounds… broken. "W-Where's Ness?"

Headmaster Hand grins, just visible in the dull gloom. He shoves a violent finger to Lucas's lips - "Calm down there… there's others, asleep, still. It's rude to wake them up."

"T-Toon Link? Villager? Pit? Red? Ryu?" Lucas stammers, fear emanating from his voice.

"Oh, I don't mean them," HeadMaster Hand scoffs. "They're gone - they're in the other room, being converted."

…

Absolute horror courses through me, and I'm suddenly wide awake. "No!"

Headmaster Hand scoffs. "They're worthless to me. You two, though… heh."

I feel like my mind is swimming through thick mud. So much I don't understand… So little hope, so much raw fear. My mouth moves automatically. "Don't hurt them!"

"Oh, but they're being improved! Upgraded! Consider it merciful," Headmaster Hand chuckles.

"Those things are not improvements!" Lucas quakes. "They're - they're awful!"

"Those things are the FUTURE!" Headmaster Hand snaps. "I've seen what is becoming of this world. It is the ONLY HOPE."

I shake my head. "H-How can it even be you…"

He narrows his eyes. "What... do you mean?"

I shiver. "How can you be behind all this!?"

"Oh, this is my favourite bit. This is the bit that'll make you really really sad," Headmaster Hand giggles insanely. "Storytime! But first… well, hah. Do you really wanna know?"

"Yes-" I moan, trying once again to break whatever holds me in place.

Headmaster Hand smiles. "Ah, well, first, I'd better start with who I really am."

My heart skips a beat. "What do you mean?"

He moves inches to my face again, and I swirl uncomfortably as he whispers. "The real Headmaster Hand is… GONE! He… got away. But I'm going to deal with him, later. SOON. All will come together… HA!"

Horrible suspicions come to mind. "G-Gone?"

"Oh, for God's sake," Headmaster Hand groans. "Do I have to bloody spell it out? In fact - in your pocket. The book. The mystery of Magic, Wiz. Ard. It's on the first damn page."

"My hands are bound," I protest.

To my sudden alarm, he brings out a knife - but he only uses it to slash through the thick ropes holding my hands in place.

Shakily, I bring out the book - not wanting to disobey - and I open it to the first page. Lines I've read many, many times before. But - ngh - I can't quite make out the words-

"Well, read it out!" Headmaster Hand snaps.

Quivering, I clear my throat. "It's too dark to-"

Seething, Headmaster Hand goes around, lighting gas lamps. I blink in the sudden illumination - and Lucas and I finally manage to catch sight of one another. He looks - bedraggled, and - oh God, there's a stream of blood on his face-! Angrily, I push forwards, but Headmaster Hand forces me back against the wall.

"Stay."

I look to the other side - I can just make out the chimney by which we came in. A rumble of thunder penetrates my mind.

"READ THE BLOODY BOOK!" Headmaster Hand yells, causing me to jump in the air and let out a scared whisper, scrambling around to find the right page.

"P-Potions. C-Clone potion - d-drink this potion to become the splitting image of someone else… Love potion - Give to another and they'll fall in - fall in l-love"

"There we go!" Headmaster Hand sighs. "Get it, yet?"

I shake my head, diminishing. "N-no, these are just - these are just made up things, by Wiz. Ard, to make the book look ridiculous - what's the point of-"

Headmaster Hand scoffs. "Made up? More like.. forgotten."

My eyes widen. "What - So- So-?"

"You're so SLOW! Good lord, it's frustrating, having you captured at last. I made the potion, I drink it every couple of hours, and then I look exactly like Headmaster Hand."

There's a deadly pause, as I try to understand.

"Then- then who are you?" Lucas whispers.

Headmaster Hand groans, leaning back against a table. "Come on. Please, you know who I am. YOU KNOW! Who else could create something so… magnificent?"

I rapidly shake my head. "I don't know!"

He closes his eyes for a few seconds. "Come on. Check your other pocket. The other book. My book. I know you have it!"

With a trembling hand, I bring out Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures. "What - what now?"

He snaps round like a coiled spring. "The author, imbecile!"

"It's- it's just some Italian name," I stutter.

He screws up his fists, his fuse blowing. "JUST READ IT OUT!"

I shudder, trying not to let out a sob. My eyes scan the cover, trying to make out the lettering through my shaking hands. "...Pokey... Minchini."

Headmaster Hand smiles condescendingly, patting me on the head. "We there yet?"

…

Oh.

I shake, comprehension finally dawning. "No. No."

He grins. "Oh yes."

Lucas pulls at his binds, agonised. "Please- Please no-"

But, 'Headmaster Hand' twirls around on one foot, grinning with unrestrained glee. "I am the greatest inventor of all time. The man with the largest empire of all time. I AM PORKY MINCH, THE SINGLE MOST POWERFUL MAN ON EARTH!"

…

We've already lost.

How can it be Porky? How can all this be Porky? Porky, disguising himself as Headmaster Hand? And for what? Our school? Why?!

"H-How!" Lucas exclaims, pointing with a juddering hand. "You're in - you're in your new city, you're- you can't be here!"

"Aha! Good question!" Porky grins. "Star pupil Lucas! Hehe! Well, you see, a man as rich and as I, I can afford to invent some pretty impressive things," he throws open a door, behind which is… a train?

"Behold! High-speed direct underground rail travel! Easy transportation to my city, via Onett, via Tazmily, in less than an hour!"

...

This is too much. This has to be some crazy dream, or something - everything here is wrong, everything is impossible - how the hell were we supposed to work this out? It's been illogical from the beginning, and now now-

"Where's the real Headmaster Hand?" Lucas demands, quaking like a leaf. I want to go and hug him so badly, but I'm still restrained. "How long have you been impersonating him!?"

"Since September," Porky grimaces. "Took a whole damn term to get this place set up, to design the final blueprints for the Future Humans… but then, this Winter Term… ah, ah, it's all fallen into place!" In an instant, he grabs me by the shoulder, another twisted smile taking form on his face. "I've been working so hard, just for this one moment!"

I squirm, screwing my eyes tight shut, and Lucas makes an agitated noise. "How - how can this - how can this be possible-"

"How about I take you from the top?" Headmaster Hand offers.

"Not - not while you're converting our friends!" I shout, but I'm met with a blow to the head.

"It's not optional. Look on my works, Ness, and despair. Do you see all I've done?"

I shiver.

"DO YOU?"

Frantically, I nod my head.

"Good. Oh, and, hah, keep in mind, you two ants are never leaving this room, so don't think I'm giving you free information. But, where to begin… Well, the September term. I'd planned everything out. My city. My EMPIRE! My plan to change the world... into the cesspit that it deserves to be." He spits on the ground.

I glance around, not entirely listening, looking for an escape route.

He plows on. "On the first day of term, I paid Headmaster Hand a little visit. See, I'd given a lot of money to the school... how do you think this place gets by, with all the luxurious crap in it? But, point being, Headmaster Hand trusted me. Let me into his office. Next thing he knew, I had him in a lovely cell, down here! And he was mine! I'd have killed him, but the bloody clone potion… needed the original alive. But with my newfound power, I took the term to prepare... hah. Splitting my time between city construction, and the development of this rail link, building passageways, setting up all this bloody machinery and the Headmaster duties that I had."

Lucas lets out a pained noise, the ropes around him clearly digging in. "You're - you're crazy!"

"I am," Porky admits. "But that's not a recent thing."

Lucas tries once again to free himself, but he's left panting, leaning back against the post he's tied to. "Please - get the others, safe. I'll do - anything!"

Porky laughs. "Aw, you really do care about those little creatures, don't you? Don't worry yourselves. I'm making them better. Better, harder, faster, stronger." He does a strange little dance along with his words, before breaking into another sickeningly gleeful laugh.

"Then this term finally came!" He continues. "Ah, how it came. I opened my city up for all the residents of Onett, and Tazmily. A perfect trap! They all go into the gates, as humans, but can you guess how they're gonna come out?"

"Future Humans?" I shiver.

"Bang on! Ahhh, it's brilliant. But that's only a side project. My bigger goal lies right here."

"What - what is it?" I ask.

"Not telling! Haha!" He rubs his hands together with barely suppressed mirth. "Ah, ah, when I say I've waited a long time to get you to this very spot… I mean years. But, that's unimportant… I haven't finished telling you how I did it."

"We can skip that," I assure him, but I'm met with another strike to the head.

"Don't you cheek me, vermin. Heh. That's better. So, I set up this facility underground. I lured people here with secret messages, tailored to them. It worked a treat! I converted them. My army steadily grew, and at first, I tried to send them to get you, Lucas."

I can visibly see the hairs on the back of Lucas's neck standing on end. "W-Why me - why us? What has all this got to do with us?"

Porky sneers. "Ah, precious little Lucas. If only you knew… But I soon realised, that wasn't doing the trick. Not only were those Future Humans less than optimally functional, but they would try to hurt you. That's why I tried to get you myself, in the shower."

Lucas lets out a miniature scream. "That was - that was-"

Porky's gaze darkens. "Then, it started to go wrong. The real Headmaster Hand got away, lord knows how. My book of blueprints vanished, somehow ending up your bookshelf, as you so kindly announced earlier. Then the disappearances were noticed. I burnt the second Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures book in my fireplace, and it caused that massive fire. But… my luck turned. I decided to… let the fire burn. Burn down your dorm. You had to move away, I got the chance to connect your dorm up to the passages. Easy access for me… easy access for Future Humans. But as I said, I realised they might hurt you, Lucas."

Lucas lets out a small whimper.

"I wouldn't want that," Porky continues. "So, instead, I decided to send them after Ness, for other reasons. And I learnt tormenting Ness was fun! That's where the golden egg came in. I knew only he'd be able to touch it. I'd hoped to trap him in that dream forever, but, I'll admit, he outdid me there."

I swell with pride. "Serves you right."

Thud. Another strike to my head.

"Ness, stop doing that," Lucas whispers desperately.

Porky laughs.

But - ngh - that's another thing we were wrong on. Thinking they were after Lucas to get at me. Great.

Porky does not relent from his explanation. "But Ness, you then survived the Future Human's attack on you. You were comatose for a bit, sure. But, Lucas stood guard over you, so I couldn't finish you off without hurting him."

My heart pounds, trying to get the measure of the situation. "W-Why do you want to kill me?"

Porky grins. "Told you many a time. I hate you."

"I've done nothing to you!" I protest. "Nothing!"

"Oh, you may think that. But I assure you. You have done everything. In fact, if it weren't for you… I wouldn't have had to do any of this."

…

So it's my fault. Of course! Everything is my fault. Why should I be surprised by that? My eyes well up in spite of themselves.

"But," Porky continues. "The real fun was the red herrings. Leading you two in your quest to become little detectives so far astray. Ryu first - I planted that Lucas figurine in his classroom. It's mine. I'd quite like it back."

"Why?! What is it?" I exclaim.

"Just decorative," he shrugs.

"It's creepy."

Porky turns on me again. "SHUT UP! I don't give a damn what you think. Not a damn. More importantly though, hah, and this is the best bit... Wario. I had you convinced. I had all the professors convinced. Wario 'disappeared' after we started suspecting him. How suspicious! Hah. I merely took him, and converted him. Wario is no more."

A sick feeling rises in my stomach. "You-"

"Meta Knight and Olimar too, for that matter!" Porky says breezily. "Converted them too, the little whinging toerags. They make great Future Humans. Just like your friend Dark Pit. And I, I -" all of a sudden, he stumbles back against the wall, clutching his head.

Lucas and I exchange a nervous glance.

"Bloody - potion," Porky gasps breathlessly. "Turning me - back - to-"

And all of a sudden, before our very eyes, incredibly quickly - portly limbs take shape, a pot belly expanding out, a greying sweep of hair, thick arms, legs, the familiar sneer - dressed in business attire, long-sleeved shirt and jacket, black trousers, black tie. Porky Minch, in all of his glory.

He shakes himself off as if nothing happened. "Much better. That oaf Headmaster Hand's body is a right pain."

Lost for words, Lucas and I exchange another glance - but we're distracted as a loud crash comes from behind a nearby door.

"Ignore that," Porky grumbles. "That's the machinery starting up. Your friends are about to begin their conversion!"

I rear at my bounds, desperate. I'd forgotten about that. "You can't! You can't!"

"I can, and I will," cackles Porky. "Now shut up, and let me enjoy myself."

"B-But-" Lucas whimpers.

"THEM CAME TONIGHT!" Porky shouts obstructively, drowning out anything Lucas is saying. "Ah, I had to host that miserable talent show. But, when Pit was brought to me for beating someone up, I brought him down here, leaving a fake note in his dorm to explain it. When I found out that you'd found my book, I knew it was time to bring you two here as well. So, I popped out during the talent show, prepared the Future Humans for when you'd arrive, and here you are!"

Something snags at my mind. "But - you tried to coming down-"

"Reverse psychology works a trick!" Porky cackles gleefully. "Ah, it took so long to design my Future Humans, though. They're a miracle!"

"They're an abomination," I mutter, earning myself yet another strike to the head.

"They're mine," he hisses. "They're beautiful - controlled by me through a receiver unit, which is embedded inside each of them. Sometimes, if I don't want to do a full conversion, I just attach the receiver to the neck. But for a full conversion… Oh, it's a lot of fun. I torture the human until they go mad, primal, troglodytic. Far gone enough to be susceptible to my will. Then it's a simple case of replacing the body with metal, with strength, manipulating their brains with circuitry so that they feel nothing but pain, and desire to change others. To change the world. To follow my lead - to do anything I want."

"That's sock," Lucas whispers hoarsely. "Sick."

Porky grins widely, bringing his disgusting face extremely close. I can almost count the hairs on his head. I feel suddenly nauseous.

He sneers. "I know. And isn't it great? The process hasn't been without its problems, though." He begins to pace around the room.."The torture seems to drive people back so primal that they speak Latin - the root of modern language, I suppose. Something like that. And then the ticking noises they made for a bit - and them always whining 'Placet Auxilium!' because they can't take a little pain- but that's all fixed now. Now, they're even capable of converting people themselves! Capable of attack, defense, teamwork,filled with the drive to convert. This morning I solved it all. That's another reason why I knew it was the perfect time to bring you down here... A perfect start, to begin my domination of the world."

"What are you going to do to us?" Lucas asks, fearfully.

Porky only grins. "You'll see."

Again, I crave to reach over to Lucas, to hold him tight, but I can't. Frustration builds - especially as another crash comes from the room next door. This is hopeless, so bitterly hopeless.

"Any questions?" Porky asks lightly.

"Yes!" I exclaim. "What were you doing in the forest that night?"

Porky narrows his eyes. "Actually, it confused me when you brought that up before. I was never in the forest. You'll remember I made up some crap about Wario tricking me into entering it - which you so foolishly believed, but… never did I enter that place.

"What about the night when that poster appeared?" I add. "And when Bowser got knocked out?"

He sneers. "I put up the poster for another clue, since you were so behind on figuring it out. Knocked out Bowser because he was standing guard. Pretty simple."

"What's in the golden egg?" Lucas challenges.

"Ah. Ahah, that, you'll never know!" Porky giggles. "Too late! You ended up here instead!"

"What about our gravestone, in the forest?" I add.

Porky frowns. "Huh? What?"

"And the Face?!" Lucas exclaims.

"I don't know what you're on about now," Porky snaps. "But if you're done asking things, which I've decided you are… I guess it's time for me to… deal with you. Now, let's start with-"

Boom.

A door bursts open, causing everyone in the room to jump with alarm - and, to my utter delight, Toon Link walks confidently through, followed by Villager, Red, Pit and Ryu. Hope swells again - and I cry out, to let them know where we are!

Porky growls, tension building in the air. "What the - how is this possible? You're supposed to be being converted!"

"Magic is helpful," Ryu smiles serenely. "The game is up, uh - wait, you're not Headmaster Hand-"

"Porky Minch," Porky grumbles. "I'm not going through that explanation again."

Toon Link gasps. "Aren't you that guy who followed us around as kids?"

Porky steps forwards. "I see you're less frightened of me nowadays."

Villager quickly hurries over to Lucas and I, untying the bonds that hold us. I give him hushed thanks, before naturally, rushing straight into Lucas's arms.

'Ness-' Lucas exhales, speaking into my mind.

'Lucas-' I choke up, rubbing his back, the fear coming through. 'A-Are you hurt?'

'I'm fine - nothing serious.'

'W-What are we going to do?"

Lucas gives a quick squeeze of my hand. 'S-Stay brave, Ness. We'll think of something.'

I try not to burst into tears, then and there. 'You bet. But - but I'm... scared.'

'I'm scared too, Ness. We just have to keep believing that we'll make it out of this.'

I pull a face, in spite of everything. 'Th-That's corny.'

He glanced up at me, pale blue eyes offering as much comfort as possible. '...It's the best we got.'

Porky clears his throat. "SO, you escaped. I'm not sure how you managed to get out of being converted so easily, but-"

Ryu smiles pleasantly. "Ah, you see, your Future Humans don't seem to respond well to the storm outside."

Porky grumbles. "Bloody storm. Interfering with the signal… but no matter! I have… other assistance. Surprise assistance! Oh, I love a surprise. Reveal yourself!/ Hehe."

All of a sudden, Red grabs Ryu by the throat.

"Red!" Villager exclaims. "What are you-!"

"Check the right of his neck!" Porky sings. "He's been under my control for quite a while!"

Swiftly, Villager moves Red's hair out of the way, revealing a receiver - in fact, it looks exactly like what Bayonetta found inside that Future Human. Lucas's grip around me tightens, as my throat constructs.

"H-How long has this been here?" Villager trembles, turning to Porky. "How long!?"

A slow grin takes form on Porky's face. "A couple days… Ah, it was so easy as well! Imagine my surprise when he walked right into me, running away from the dinner hall?"

I squirm in Lucas's arms. That must've been straight after Red had gotten a gru Villager, and stormed out. Which means he's been under Porky's control for… a while. That means the apology - everything at the party everything else was fake. A horrible chill slides down my neck.

"I used him as a spy," Porky cackles. "Nice little tool."

Villager tears the receiver off of Red's neck, shaking with anger. "Whoever you are - you're awful. He's my best friend, and you do not hurt my friends."

"Ooh!" Porky mocks, as Red topples into Villager's arms. "Oh, I'm so terrified of this little child!"

"You should be terrified of me though," Ryu grimaces suddenly, stepping forwards. "I have powers that you couldn't dream of."

"And I have an army," Porky hisses, clapping his hands. And - oh lord - Lucas's grip tightens around me, as for the second time tonight - swarming from every angle - Future Humans - everywhere! Toon Link loses all composure, letting out a sudden wail, grabbing Villager's hand and dashing to the other side of the room, and the beasts storm forwards, shouts and screams of "PLACET AUXILIUM!" reverberating, and it's deafening, and-

All hell breaks loose.

"PK FIRE!" I yell, trying to aim at the Future Humans, and not any of my friends. Ryu pulls a headband over himself, before darting around, performing some high-intensity martial arts moves. Pit ducks down as far as he can, while Red lies unconscious on the floor.

Light fills the room as Lucas launches a volley of flame at the nearest Future Human - with a sickening realisation, I recognise Wario's face amongst its metal features. But, it topples to the ground, smouldering, and, gaining confidence, I whirl around to fend off a pair that are making their way towards Toon Link.

"Give up now!" Porky shouts. "GIVE UP! I WILL HAVE WHAT IS MINE!"

Ignoring him, I duck under the metal fists of another Future Human. All these fights with Meta Knight and Olimar must've paid off - Lucas launches another volley of flame, collapsing more Future Humans to the ground, in their charred multitudes. I twist past another one, and it lets out a scream when I knee it in the crotch, obliterating it with flame.

"Nice shot!" Lucas calls out.

"Thanks!" I call back.

But another three emerge from the swarm, stomping straight towards us - Lucas and I stand back to back, as we're driven back to the wall, and in one quick move, I dive under the legs of one, aiming a PK Fire at another that's making a move for Pit. The trio crowd around Lucas, and I hurry up behind it, and just as Lucas dives, I aim yet another PK Fire, blowing them to smithereens.

Lucas and I exchange a quick high five before moving further into the melee. Porky laughs from the side of the room, Ryu quickly finishing off the one nearest to him. I notice Toon Link and Villager under pressure from a large gang of them, but I'm caught by surprise when a fist grabs me by the shirt, from behind, and I'm lifted up, and-!

But Ryu comes out of nowhere with a lightning fast kick, that topples the creature over. I'm released, but I fall to the floor, scraping my elbow against the rough ground.

Lucas quickly helps me up. "You ok?"

I nod, wincing. "Yeah, just a scrape."

Thanking Ryu, we move nearer to Toon Link and Villager, whilst Ryu assists Pit, and Lucas launches the perfect shot, collapsing two to the floor, while Porky observes, with a grin.

"You can't win!" He calls gleefully. "There's too many!"

"Try us!" Lucas shouts with venom.

Another pair go down - but there must be hundreds more, crowding into this claustrophobic space, and suddenly Lucas and I find ourselves surrounded-

Again, Lucas and I stand back to back. This is the fight that our lives may depend on - and I realise have no idea what I'm doing, but Lucas and I are fighting together, and something about that gives me immense hope.

"PK Fire!" I exclaim, barraging Future Human that leans forwards to grab me with a faceful of flame.

"Placer Auxilium!" comes another cry to my left - "PK Fire!" I shout again, but this time my shot misses, instead being absorbed by the wall. I note quickly that it doesn't seem to do any damage to it.

Noticing my miss, Lucas swivels round, and we both simultaneously blast it in the chest. It topples over and I grin.

But they keep on coming. Toon Link and Villager are forced back into a corner, Porky egging the Future Humans on with triumphant, maddening yells. I still don't get it - I still don't get any of this - I still haven't even gotten over the fact that Porky, he knows us by name, he's obsessed with Lucas and I for some reason, and he means us harm, but for now, I shouldn't be worrying about that, as another arm swings right as my head-

In a sudden blur, Lucas's fist collides with the metal, deflecting the arm, possibly saving my life. I give him a quick thanks, but there's no time, as there's three more behind me - and even more to the left -

"Help-!" Toon Link exclaims, as the swarm overtakes him and Villager. Lucas lets out a pained noise, as he observes his damaged fist. I grip his other hand..

"PK FIRE!" I bellow, but again, I miss, this time the ceiling absorbing my attack. Pit lets out a yelp, as he's pushed by multiple of them. Who knows where Red's unconscious body is - and Toon Link and Villager sink below the swarm.

"What do we do?" My blonde counterpart shouts desperately. "What the hell do we do? There's too many!"

"No - we can do this!" I exclaim, still determined, despite the onset of many metallic hands around us. "C'mon, we just have to-"

Lucas swivels round to face me, as we're herded back further. "There has to be another way! There has to!"

Lucas's mother's words come back to me. Remember the storm. The storm… But what about the storm? What's significant about that? But what had Porky said? "Interfering with the signal…"

Red's funny turns! When lightning struck, it caused Red to go all weird - it must've been interfering with the receiver, and, and-!

"Lucas, I've got it!" I practically shout, over the rushing noise

"What? What is it?" Lucas asks anxiously, trying and failing to launch a PK fire, thanks to his damaged hand.

"The storm!" I exclaim. "Something about it messes up the receivers - and Porky said there's one inside every Future Human - so we just lightning to strike!"

"How are we going to make lightning strike?" Lucas asks, bewildered.

I falter. "I hadn't thought of that bit yet!"

"I know!" Lucas shouts suddenly.

"What?" I ask, hopefully.

"Lightning strikes tall things, right? So we just need to get something tall!"

"How would we do that?" I ask.

"I don't know!" Lucas flounders. "I'm getting desperate, sorry-"

Crash.

Well, I suppose it's our lucky day.

Bright light pours down from the chimney for a split second, illuminating everything in a pale white hue - lightning. Immediately, all of the Future Humans freeze in place.

Thinking fast, Lucas grabs my hand, calling the others to come to us. I'm not sure what he's planning. Pit obeys, crawling underneath the legs of one Future Human, Toon Link and Villager clamber over another, as quickly as they can Villager making a detour to collect Red. Porky, piggy eyes wide and surprised, makes to run towards us, but Ryu grabs him by the throat, throwing him to the floor.

"What are we doing?" I whisper frantically. "What's the plan now? We've not got long!"

"O-One large combined PK fire, " Lucas whispers back, grabbing my hand. "It'll eviscerate Porky, and every single Future Human from this room."

"That could destroy us too!" I exclaim, just as Toon Link and Villager reach us with a gasp.

"It's our only hope," Lucas whispers back.

Ryu and Porky continue to wrestle on the ground, Porky trying as hard as he can to get up. I shift nervously, very conscious that the Future Humans will come around again, very, very soon

I nod. "Alright, but what about Ryu?"

"Do it now!" Ryu shouts, still pinning Porky to the ground. "You've not got long! They'll be back to normal soon!"

"Come over here!" Lucas calls out.

"No - I have to - hold Porky back-"

There's a pause, as I realise exactly what Ryu is doing. What he's giving up.

I start. "Professor, we can't-"

Ryu restrains Porky, as he tries to land a punch. "Do it! End this all! You barely have any time!"

"No!" Lucas exclaims. "There has to be another way!"

"The only other way is all of you getting killed. Do you want that?"

Panic rises inside of me. "No, but-"

"Then do it! Don't worry about me. I've lived my life. I've nothing left to live for. Blow all this to hell!"

The silence is immense.

Toon Link leans forwards. "It's - it's the only way."

"But-"

Lucas stares down at the ground, visibly distressed. "It can't be the only way."

"It is," Villager states gravely. "If Ryu comes over here, then Porky will too."

"But-" I choke.

Ryu wrestles Porky down again, as he tries to get up. Suddenly, the nearest Future Human stirs, with a "Placet Auxilium!" - and the rest are moving too, and there's no time to think, and it's chaos, and it's mounting, mounting, and I grip Lucas's hand tight, and Ryu tumbles over, and Porky makes a move, and the creatures are coming and we're trapped - and - and-!

"P-PK FIRE!"

…

Brighter light than could ever be imagined emerges in slow motion out of our hands.

Flames, licking at every corner of the room, engulfing Future Humans, that let out primal screams as their essence burns to ash. I can't even make out Ryu and Porky amongst the blaze - I turn my eyes away, screwing them shut tight, all of the emotions in the world obliterating my consciousness.

Ryu.

"Remember what is real," he'd told us, time and time again. We hadn't remembered. We missed it - every trick, every lie, we missed it.

"Your Father and I were close," he'd said. I suppose now we'll never know why.

He'd guided us. Protected us throughout, from the Future Humans. He'd done as much good as one man could muster.

And now, he's given up his life.

As the blaze dies down, Lucas buries his face deep into my chest, holding me tight, his quiet sobbing filling the resultant silence. I wrap my arms around him, my own tears numerous and fast-flowing.

It's all my fault.

All of this.

And just when it couldn't possibly get any worse.

Porky coughs from the floor.

"You didn't think, with all of this technology, I wouldn't try upgrading myself?"

In an instant all of the sadness evaporates, turning into an explosion of unrestrained anger. Heat burns through me, pure, boundless rage, and I surge towards that beastly man. "You should be DEAD."

His features are blackened - smouldered - but his sickening grin remains. Because he's living. Breathing. HOW? I can't even tell which pile of ash is Ryu's!

Weakly, Porky pulls up his sleeve, revealing a revolting sight - his upper arm, flaking with flesh, a mass of damaged tissue, right down to the bone.

"See this?" He hisses bitterly. "Every single Future Human - every receiver unit, it has a little piece of me inside it. A little piece of my flesh. That's how I can control them all. But it works both ways. A little piece of me in them - it means that so long as they live, I live."

My stomach churns, anger and nausea boiling. "T-That's impossible. Besides, they're all gone!"

Porky pulls himself heavily off of the ground. Good. At least he's somewhat weak. "Magical, isn't it? I'm the greatest inventor of all time for a very, very good reason. And you may have killed my Future Humans here - but I have many, many more. All in Onett. New Pork City. All of them - all mine. Indebted to me."

"You make me sick."

"Good," Porky agrees, hobbling.

In a quick move, I snatch the knife from Porky's pocket, holding it to his neck, anger guiding me now. "Let us go, or I slice you up into a million pieces. You've hurt so many. Immortality won't do you any good in eternal agony."

Porky grimaces, leaning back in pain. "Ah. Of course."

"LET US GO!" I yell.

Porky sighs. "Yes, fine. You can go. The big red button on the left, it releases a ladder. You can climb back up the chimney."

"Lucas, press it," I instruct. "I'll stay here and make sure he doesn't get up to any funny business."

Taking nervous steps, Lucas makes his way over to where a sizable button is embedded in the wall. At least we can get out of here. At least Ryu's sacrifice is worth something, even if Porky remains. I would slice Porky's neck here and now, but...

I'm no murderer.

Lucas presses the button. But all of a sudden, he lets out a yelp.

"Lucas?!" I exclaim.

"It - burned me!" Lucas realises, holding his hand for me to see. A large, dark, letter 'P' has been branded in Lucas's pale flesh.

I edge the blade closer to Porky's throat. "What is that? What did you do?"

Porky grins. "Ah. What I just did, was win."

Another flash of anger. "...Win?"

All of a sudden, Lucas collapses to the floor, and I freak out. Running over, I throw the knife down, I forget all about Porky, coming swiftly to Lucas's side-

"What's he done to you? Lucas, Lucas, are you okay?!"

Lucas let's out a strangled groan, his hands at his throat. "It burns! It burns inside!"

Working quickly, I pull him up into my arms, taking his hand and examining it closely - and as I expected, the brand is peppered with little holes, out of which a colourless substance seems to be seeping.

"What's this?" I demand, turning sharply back to Porky.

Porky slowly spreads his arms wide. "A genius, genius creation! Ah! And Lucas is the test subject! How… fitting."

Panic builds. "W-WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!"

Lucas screams again - his face screwed up impossibly tight - his body thrashing in my arms - and I try to keep him still - to soothe him, but it's no good! Toon Link and Villager make a sudden dash for Porky, but Porky merely shuns them away with a laugh-

Lucas forces his eyes open, trying desperately to grip onto me, his voice reduced to a helpless croak. "N-Ness - help me- please.."

Desperately, I hold him, caressing his angelic face. "Lucas, what do I do?"

But he just screams again, incapable of words, knuckles white, feet kicking, writhing, and - I try and hold him tight, but he's so far gone, a-and-

"WHAT THE HELL HAVE YOU DONE TO HIM!?"

Porky shrugs. "Ah, only injected him with a million nanobots, each about to send out a signal to New Pork City, which will initiate the conversion of every single resident into a Future Human. You see, the nanobots just needed a human vessel to transmit through. I'm no good, so, all I needed was someone else! Foolish enough to fall for one of the oldest tricks in the book... hah! The pain is just… uh, the nanobots latching onto your cells, preparing to transmit the signal. It will pass. He'll be okay!"

Lucas's eyes turn bloodshot, his screams dry and grating, hands tearing at his shirt, his body still thrashing awfully. I try to telepathically take the pain away, I try to gently rock him in my arms, but it does no good, again. I let out a quiet sob.

"Nanobots!? Transmit!? What does all that damn mean!?"

Porky rolls his eyes. "Nanobots are little robots. Whatever you want to call them."

"Robots? What are they!?"

"A machine that can independently carry out a function."

I panic. "F-Function?!"

Porky growls. "It doesn't matter. The point is, in a few minutes, tens of thousands of Future Humans will be prepared. And they will be mine. And then, I will have the world. I will have everything I want."

"If that happens, everyone dies!" Villager shouts. "You can't!"

Porky turns savagely. "Maybe everyone dying is what I want. Maybe I want to purge this planet of all the rottenness, all the horror. This broken city. The corruption, the wealthy, all in it for themselves..."

Lucas collapses to the floor, somehow breaking out of my grip, emanating broken sobs. "Ness. Ness. Ness."

"And the nanobots should be sending their signal in 30 seconds!" Porky pronounces gleefully. "Ah, I can't wait!"

Lucas's eyes bug out, as he suddenly grabs me, pulling my forehead to his-

I swim in the darkness as our connection is made - and suddenly I-I can feel it. The agony. Not physically, but, mentally - and it's enough to make me shudder.

Suddenly, Lucas's voice rings out faint, inside my head, but... it's impossible to mistake those two, horrible words.

…

'Kill me.'

Time slows, as ice runs through my veins. Lucas is being driven to insanity before my very eyes - I have to do something!

'Please, kill me!' Lucas repeats, shuddering.

I try to prise myself away from him, but Lucas's strength has intensified under the pain.

"26, 25, 24…" Porky calls out, relishing in the moment.

I start to panic again - but Lucas doesn't stop. "Ness, please, you have to kill me. Otherwise the nanobots will send the signal. And that will be the end of the world.'

Suddenly realising what he's suggesting, I swallow down the new lump in my throat. 'No!'

'I'll die either way.'

I hold him tighter. 'Don't talk like that!'

But he only loosens his grip. 'Ness, I'm right.'

"I won't! I refuse!" I finally prise myself away from Lucas's forehead.

Still squirming with intensifying agony, Lucas forces his eyes open again. "Please, Ness. Y-You have to!"

My eyes leak in spite of themselves. "No! I promised, before we came down here, that I'd make sure you're okay! That we'd leave alive! You can't make me do something as crazy as this!"

"NESS!" Lucas shouts, agonised anger bursting into his voice. "Y-You HAVE to, or everything we love, everyone we love, is destroyed!"

"But I love you!" I sob. "I love you!"

"10… 9… 8…"

Lucas forces Porky's fallen knife into my hand. "Ness, I love you too. So much. But this is the only way - it's right."

I tremble in place, a sheen of sweat coating my forehead. This must be it - the impossible decision - save Lucas, or the world? Of course it would come to this, after everything else!

My brain aches, as my head spins, throwing me into an agonising blur.

My chest sore, sobbing, I beat the floor. Bravery, Ness. Bravery. But bravery is impossible, so impossible when it comes to this.

…

"5… 4…"

"Please!" Lucas begs, again. "Please! There's n-not long!"

...

My trembling hands raise the blade to Lucas's neck.

I shut my eyes tight, willing everything to disappear - willing everything to be okay - willing Porky to be bluffing - willing life to be simple again! But no. Never. Gradually, I draw the knife closer, baby steps to what I know I have to do. To the decision that must be made.

To what I must do, to save the world.

Oh God.

…

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCAS!" I exclaim, rushing down the corridor.

Lucas blushes, his face lighting up. "Huh? Wha - You - how did you know?"

I beam. "I have my ways."

"I can't believe I'm 9…" Lucas marvels. "9 seems so old…"

Beaming, I hand Lucas a messily wrapped present. "This is for you!"

Lucas stares at it for a moment, evidently puzzled. "What's this?"

"A present!" I enthuse, unsure as to why Lucas is looking at it so weirdly.

"A… present?"

"Yeah! Go on, open it up!"

Curiously, Lucas unfurls the paper from around the package, and he holds up the contents - a large, blue, fluffy blanket.

I beam. "I hope you like it, I bought it on the street from a nice lady selling blankets, and it looked really fluffy and mother said it would match your eyes-"

My rambling is cut off as Lucas suddenly pulls me into a hug. "This is- this-"

Confused, I hug back, and a sniffle alerts me that Lucas has burst into tears. Nervously, I scratch my arm. "Ah, is it really that bad?"

Lucas looks up, his eyes shining. "I love it - thank you - so much-"

Delighted, I wrap it around him. "No problem!"

He withdraws from the hug, huddling in the blanket. "You're right, it's really warm!"

"Really?" I beam.

"Yeah!" He wraps it around me too.

I giggle. "It must be the fluffiest thing in the world."

And happily, wrapped up in the blanket, we head into the distance, ready for a peaceful day of school.

...

…

But now we're here. Lucas's eyes screwed up tight in anticipation, Toon Link and Villager only able to watch on in fear, Porky looking like a kid on Christmas.

"3…"

I want to throw up. Everywhere. I never noticed how beautiful Lucas's neck is before - soft, smooth, yet narrow, signs of his Adam's apple just jutting out amongst it all. I'm going to have to mess it all up.

"2…"

Taking myself by the reins, I prepare, ready to make the move. I'll never forgive myself. I'll never be able to live with myself again. Maybe I'll kill myself too. I'd deserve it.

"1…"

Closing time.

...

Taking a deep breath, I plunge the knife in.

…

...

…

...to the ground.

I collapse onto Lucas, sobbing. Never could I harm him! Screw the world! Everyone else can get converted right now for all I care. So long as Lucas is safe, and we're together!

Porky applauds "...And the process begins! Damn, I thought you were actually going to kill him then, Ness."

Lucas gives a horrified gasp, shoving me off of him. "Ness - you - you-"

I attempt a grin. "Yeah, you bet."

He scrambles away, tears forming in his eyes."No. You - you goddamn sentimental idiot!"

"...How's the pain now?" I blunder, suddenly nervous.

Lucas curls up. "It disappeared, when all of those - all of those things sent their signals and initiated the end of the world!"

I shrug arrogantly. "Well, pardon me for not wanting to murder my best friend."

But Lucas pushes me over, anger in his eyes. "You - you - it was my choice. Not yours."

That hits a nerve. I stand. "Then why did you make me do it? Why would you put that pressure on me!"

"Because in case you hadn't noticed, I was writhing around in agony!" Lucas hisses.

"Well, I-"

"I needed you to do it for me, Ness. You - you let me down. You let the world down."

I shiver, a sick feeling of shame rising. "Lucas, please-"

He shoves me again, anger tainting his eyes. "No. Don't 'Lucas please' me! I- I can't believe you'd do something so stupid!"

"We'll - we'll fix it!" I exclaim desperately

Porky scoffs. "Yeah, right. As if anyone's 'fixing this'. All of you are staying down here for a very, very long time."

…

The silence is deafening. I was right, wasn't I!? I made the right decision? But Lucas is staring resolutely away from me, and the others are watching me with abject horror in their eyes, and all of a sudden… I doubt.

...What have I done?

What have I done!?

I curl up into a ball, wiping the residual blood from beneath my eye, knowing I'm a mess.

You've killed tens of thousands of people with your selfishness.

Even Buttercup agrees.

…

Sobbing.

Toon Link narrows his eyes, suddenly coming into the action. He stares at Porky. "I don't think so."

Porky smiles politely. "You don't think… what?"

Toon Link smiles back. "You said we'll be down here a long time. But I don't think we will."

Porky laughs. "And why's that then?"

Toon Link claps his hands together, obviously excited. "Ah, you see, this place has a major weakness."

Porky's eyes narrow. "Oh yeah? What's that then?"

"The ceiling!" Toon Link points. "We're underground! And there's a lot of rain… it's all gonna be very heavy up there, waiting to crash down on our heads…"

Porky laughs. "Oh, boo hoo. You think you'll be saved by a bit of rain?"

"I think, Toon Link grins, sidling over to me and pulling 'The Mystery Of Magic' out of my pocket. "I think that if I hit just the right spot…"

He throws the book up at the roof - where it makes a resounding thudding noise, but otherwise falls back down to the floor.

Porky laughs maniacally. "You're ridiculous! Maybe I won't convert you. I can keep you around as a… court jester! In my palace!"

But I meanwhile eye the point where the book hit. Because there's a little faultline… and then a little crack, skidding along the ceiling… a little glimmer of hope...

"I'm almost sorry to have to kidnap you," Porky laughs. "Ah, the ineptitude of the 19th century, it is profound."

...and the crack becomes a little bigger, branching off in all directions…

"Then, Lucas, you will finally be mine, after all these years… hah… hahah…HAHAHAHAHAH-"

...and all of a sudden…

"RUN!" Pit shouts, kicking down a nearby door to reveal an exit into the passageways. Dust flies down - heavy boulders and rocks - and I'm uprooted from the spot. Burying my emotions for now, I make to grab Lucas's hand, but he's resolutely ahead of me - so I plunge myself through the exit, just as Villager does the same, Red's unconscious body in his and Toon Link's arms - and Porky's laughter dissolves into the thundering as our feet churn up the earth, led only by our intuition. Darkness swallows us fast, as I try to follow the others - but Lord knows where these passages lead! Deja vu hits from before - running through the collapsing passageways, when Dark Pit…

No. Best not think about that now - I need to focus on going as fast as I can, otherwise I'm good as dead.

Through the blinding cascade of dust and stone - through the destruction, through it all I sprint. A left turn. A right turn. Noise. A dip. A fork. A crash. A cry. Another right turn - more noise! But suddenly, there's light again, and, and we burst out of that broom closet, and - it's all over, and - we're safe- but I can't process it-

I make to hug Lucas with utter, utter relief, but the blonde moves away from me.

"We made it!" Pit cheers. "Porky probably got crushed by all that rubble!"

Lucas shakes his head. "He'll escape. Some way, somehow."

Villager lowers Red down to the floor. "Oh my God. We did it. Toon Link, you hero."

I shake my head, still barely comprehending what's just happened.

Toon Link grins momentarily, but his expression shifts. "We may have escaped - what was - what was all that about Red being… controlled?"

Through my confused haze, I run the others through the basics of what we heard, and Toon Link grips his forehead in agitation. "All that - all that down there, the, the nanobots, the, all the Future Humans, what the hell even was all that?"

"And Ryu," Lucas whispers quietly.

…

Oh God, Ryu.

I'd almost forgotten, amidst all of the chaos. That's a big hit. That hurts. Not only because Ryu was a wasted sacrifice, but… without him, Lucas and I will have very little chance of doing anything about what I have now caused.

I suddenly choke up again, realising how much Ryu rooted for us. How he guided us without us knowing - keeping us safe - working tirelessly.

But at least, he got the noble death that, I believe, he would've wanted. Maybe old age wasn't for him. Teaching History his whole life - it would've got tiring, right?

Or maybe I'm telling myself this, to make it all seem okay.

...Because, technically, I killed him.

Not even technically - Lucas and I fired the blast. Clear as day. But we had to, right? Surely? Maybe?

I bury my head in my hands, emotionally and physically exhausted. I can't even count the amount of times I thought we were going to die down there, or I was afraid, or shaking, or when I was so, so bitterly alone. 'Impossible decision' - no joke. Kill my best friend, or save the world. And, now I might have doomed us all. But, trying to be rational, I stand by it - I'd rather a Lucas that's mad at me than a dead Lucas, anyday. No matter the consequences.

"Okay, so, what do we do now?" Toon Link asks, sounding utterly defeated. "What do we do?"

Lucas sits up, rocking on his haunches. "We need to tell Rosalina. Everything that's happened. She's the one we can trust the most.

"I'll take Red upstairs," Villager mumbles, clearly concerned. "I'll need a hand."

"I'll help," Toon Link decides, glad for a distraction. "Pit, you too, Red's a heavy guy."

I turn to Lucas. "I guess that leaves us to go and tell Rosalina then?"

Lucas merely lets out a grunt.

…

"You're still mad at me," I observe, as we walk to Rosalina's office. I try for a hopeful slant. "We're free, c'mon, we made it out, like I promised!"

Lucas merely nods, staring straight ahead. "Yep."

I sigh. "Look, I, I just couldn't do it, okay? You know I could never…"

Lucas tightens his lips. "You don't seem to understand exactly what you've done though."

"Well, yeah," I admit. "But surely he would've found a way to do all that with the nanobots anyways?"

Lucas grits his teeth. "I guess. It just means that now it's on our shoulders, we have to go and resolve it."

"Not a problem!" I declare grandly. "Together we can do anything, right?"

Lucas resolutely continues to avoid my gaze. "Well, we're going to have to, now."

I sigh. "Look, Lucas, I'm really sorry, okay? I wasn't strong enough to do it. I'm weak, and useless."

Lucas rubs his forehead. "I… I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have said some of the things I did. It's just… the people in the New Pork City, being converted now - what if they're your mother? Your sister?"

A chill runs down me, as I realise I haven't heard from them in days. "They'll be fine, right?"

Lucas shivers. "I honestly don't know."

"Then we need to start working this out!" I exclaim. "What's - what do we know?"

"Well, I have two big questions," Lucas begins quickly. I get the impression he'd been saving them up. "One, why us? What is about us that's so pivotal to everything he's doing? Two, where did he get that technology? He's talking about all sorts of things that are impossible."

"Well," I suggest keenly. "He could have hired a load of scientists, or something."

Lucas shakes his head. "No… No. Nothing like that, I don't think."

"Then what do you think?" I ask, but we arrive at Rosalina's office, before Lucas can answer.

I give a nervous knock, and Rosalina opens the door with a smile.

"Ah! Nice to see you two - where did you go with Headmaster Hand, during the talent show?"

I shut the door. "Professor - it's the Headmaster. He was behind it all. Well, not the Headmaster. Porky Minch disguised as the Headmaster, but-"

Rosalina holds up a hand, her face suddenly grave. "Please, you might need to explain from the start."

…

Rosalina sits with her head in her hands. "I had no idea. No idea. I even noticed - I knew he was off, more sympathetic with Bowser, but I didn't suspect, not even for a minute…"

"There's another thing," Lucas says seriously. "Ryu, he… was killed."

A sinking feeling hits me, even though I already know. Rosalina looks up, a bemused expression on her face. "Ryu? No - no, that's not something to joke about now-"

"It's true," I mumble, wanting to look anywhere but at Rosalina's face.

Her face swims. "It - it can't be though - it can't be!"

Lucas averts his gaze. "I'm sorry."

Rosalina takes a deep breath. "Well, if that's really true, then… then we need to take action, immediately. For Ryu. We need to stop Porky. And fast. Now… please excuse me, for I suddenly have a lot of letters I need to write."

I nod. "Yeah - good luck."

Lucas nods politely, opening the office door and stepping outside in an instant.

I wipe the new layer of sweat that's formed over my forehead. "She took that well."

Lucas sighs heavily. "She put on a brave face for us - listen."

We grow quiet, and the noise of a stifled sob rings through the office door. A pang of guilt hits me.

"It's our fault," I mumble, before I can stop myself.

"It was the only way," Lucas reasons. "It was his choice."

I notice the remnants of bloodstains on Lucas's forehead, and I'm filled with a sudden determination. "We need to stop Porky. Rosalina's right - for all he's done, all the people he's hurt, we need to stop him. And, again, I'm sorry. For causing this."

Lucas grips my wrist, alarmingly firmly. "Let's just agree not to talk about what happened down there, yeah?"

Slowly I nod. "Yeah."

"But you're right. We do need to stop him. Or at least, it's our responsibility to try."

"That's right," I agree, taking his hand. "We will stop him, together."

Lucas hesitates nervously, before giving in and integrating his fingers with mine.

"...Together."

End of Part 1

A/N

'End of part 1? What do you mean?' I hear you ask.

Well.

Logically, this fic splits into two parts. Part 1 being the big mystery (which, if you've got to this point, you've completed! Hooray!) while Part 2 is, well, I won't say any more than 'the rest of the fic'.

Part 2 will be shorter than part 1 though, so fear not. That means I'm at least halfway through this now! Hooray! Also, please don't be too alarmed by the fact that there's a lot more to read still.

Next on the agenda - damn this chapter was hard to write, my gosh-

I ended up writing 2 side things in the meantime, just because working on this chapter was so difficult. One of them, Love is a Killing thing, is a nesscas oneshot that's up already. The other one, Repeating, is going to be a pretty short fic (15k max) that I had a cool idea for, that I'll occasionally write for. None of that will take away from this fic!

Next: IT'S HEADMASTER HAND! Not one person I've spoken to even considered that it could be him. And then of course: HEADMASTER HAND WAS DISGUISED PORKY! You're gonna be mad, because I've alluded to the book being on their bookshelf many times, and even once mentioned 'Pokey Minchini' as the author!

Ah, but I still have so many twists to reveal!

Also, please, do not question some of the strange science going on here, just, vibe with it, blame it on magic hah. This chapter was pretty confusing, so feel free to ask any questions!

As for me, now I gotta proofread this thing… the current draft is unsatisfactory, so, I'll see you soon!

~ ReadyforTeddy