Prologue: ?

As it turns out, my rescuer is named Butch. He's no-nonsense, perhaps fifteen or sixteen years old, and he owns the field that I'd been stumbling through. He grumbles something about trespassing as he leads me up a main street, but then I see his smile and I realise that he's joking.

The buildings here are diverse, a mix of old and new. Silhouettes of spires jut out from what looks to be a historical church, but to the right, there's some sort of manufacturing plant, emitting cold, black fog. I can't help but notice pockets of tradition amongst the developments, a marketplace, a town hall, thatched rooves, rich, wooden browns clashing with plain, grey concrete.

We reach a central square, where paths split off wildly in different directions, each leading towards more houses. Here, the buildings are older, wooden, some admittedly derelict, some strikingly beautiful. In the very middle of the square is what looks to be a well, probably the water source for the entire village. There's a banner hanging from it, painted words caught in the moonlight.

Welcome Porky Minch to Tazmily!

"What were you saying about the dead?" I say, trying to keep the childlike worry from my voice.

"They started appearing about a month ago," Butch says, looking wistfully out to the fields. "We thought it was the youths, at first. Playing one of their tricks. But then, there were faces we recognised. Old Scamp, who died six months ago. Wess, Duster's father, who had that stroke. It was a terrible thing."

"What happened?"

"We checked the cemetery." Butch adjusts his overalls. "The graves were empty. Night by night, the dead appear in our fields, and they try to come into the village. We built that iron fence to keep them out, but it's no good. We shoot them down, and the next day, they come back up."

"What do they want?" I look out to the horizon, noticing movement amongst the trees. "Are they dangerous?"

"It's hard to tell. They'll attack anyone in their path, but their language is indecipherable to us. They're - I don't know how to say this. Inhuman. Changed."

"M'chaps?" A strange-looking man chooses that moment to wander over. "What business do you have at this hour?"

"Ah. Duster," Butch gives a reserved nod. The new arrival is skinny, a stark contrast to Butch's substantial form. His hair recedes significantly, and it appears he's tried to counter this by growing a disjointed moustache. "I found him outside the border," Butch continues. "There were four of them on him. He was lucky I heard the noises."

"Outside the border?" Duster gives me an appalled stare. "Why would you do something so insane? Say, I ain't seen you 'round before… Are you not from these parts?"

"No," I say. "Where is this?"

"Tazmily, of course!" Duster stretches his arms wide, as if trying to encapsulate an entire galaxy. "The great sunflower village!"

"I didn't think Tazmily was this modern?" I say, frowning. The factory whirs in the distance. Behind the town hall, a shopping centre glows.

"It wasn't," Butch says drily. "However, we are preparing for a war."

"War?" I stare, unnerved.

"Yes. Onett City has vowed to raze us to the ground, on account of some long-standing feud."

"They won't do it!" Duster exclaims. "Never! Never will they take our village, or our spirit!"

"Where are you finding the money?" I ask.

"Good question." Butch gives a weak smile. "That's all thanks to our new benefactor, Mr. Porky Minch-"

"-A wonderful man!" Duster exclaims.

"…Who is investing in our economy. He's going to save us from the Dead Alive, and help us defeat the Onett armies. At least, that's what he claims."

"Porky claims a lot of things," I say, my expression turning to stone. "Don't trust him. He's helping out Onett as well."

"He's saving us all," Duster scoffs. "You foreigners, all of little faith… Porky is a miracle. He has a secret weapon, in fact! Just for us!"

"And what would that be?"

"Ah, I shouldn't tell!" Duster taps his nose, his eyes sparkling in the moonlight. "You could be a spy! But, you did not say, what is your name?"

"Steven," I lie on the spot.

"Steven! A fine name, m'fella. Are you perchance needing a place to stay?"

"Yes, actually," I say, and Duster beckons keenly towards a ramshackle house.

"Come with me, sir, come inside! It is not safe out here, not when the Dead are still walking."

And so, bemused by his sudden hospitality, I follow, not before thanking Butch for rescuing me from the monsters. Butch nods, disappearing, but as soon as he's gone, the Town Hall's window is thrown open.

"Keep it down, Duster, you old tramp! You'll want to watch out for him, sir!"

"It's no business of yours who he talks to, Elmore!" Duster shakes his fist. "C'mon, Steven. Let's be taking you inside."

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(Ness)

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The darkness is here, thick, black, and cold. My body throws itself onwards, a deafening noise erupting behind me. One hand grips Lucas, the other flails against rock, dirt, and stone. There's no hope, no light at the end of the tunnel. There's nowhere to go, only death. Dark Pit is gone. Our friends are gone. We will never be found, and as soon as I think that, Lucas jolts, stumbling, falling.

Everything swims. My elbow bashes the floor. I tumble into Lucas, finding his cheeks in my hands. Panic builds, and then I do just about the worst thing I can.

I kiss him on the lips.


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~~o00o~~

Chapter 15 - The Damage Done

(Ness)

~~o00o~~

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'Loud-mouthed' wouldn't have been the correct word to describe my younger self. 'Lively,' sure, 'enthusiastic,' definitely, but at home, I didn't get a word in edgeways.

Mother says I was always running around as a kid. Tracy and I would play tag throughout our giant bungalow, oblivious to all the trials and tribulations of adulthood. We didn't know much other than school, friends, and games, and although Father allowed this for a while, at age seven, playtime was over for good.

After that, it was cold, hard studying. I was to be a slave to the books, to be the best I could be. I was to make connections in school, to talk to the girls with the rich fathers, and to talk to the boys who'd inherit big businesses. I would work hard for my exams. I always passed - passing was good! But it wasn't quite good enough, and so the rift from perfection began to form.

There was 'room for improvement.' There was always room for me to become a little bit better, a little closer to the ideal version of myself. I was never perfect. I strived persistently, aiming higher, to reach into that 'ideal' bracket. But the older I got, the further from perfect I seemed to drift.

Tracy refused. Tracy refused to work, refused to obey, and so Father dealt with her harshly, and that was that.

That's why I need to fix myself. I'm the golden child, because I'm the one that Father can force to do his bidding. The weights rest on my shoulders. I have to marry a girl, to carry the great family name forward. The love of Father depends on it.

Standing in Ryu's office, I don't think I've ever felt more guilty.

Why did I kiss Lucas? How did I kiss Lucas? What primal part of my instinct decided that in a life or death situation, the best thing to do was to get it on with my best friend?

He hasn't mentioned it. But I can practically read it in his eyes, his thoughts, he must be thinking such terrible things. Lucas is a guy. I can't be going around kissing guys.

Kissing your best friend? That's a bit gay.

I'm well aware of that, Buttercup. Thank you for yet another acute observation. Held in a kind of silent panic, I listen to Ryu's not-angry-just-disappointed voice.

"You two seem to have been getting involved in a lot of strange things, lately," Ryu notes, towards me and Lucas. "Almost as if you're looking for trouble."

"I-It's my fault," Pit stammers, shaking hard through his tears. "M-Me and Dark Pit, w-we got an in-invitation…"

Villager tries to pat Pit on the back, but the boy shrinks away, covering his face with his hands. Ryu observes them, showing no signs of having noticed anything amiss.

"An invitation?"

"It directed us to a chamber," Villager says, answering for him. "Toon Link was the only one who saw what was down there."

"Well?" Ryu turns.

"There was a load of strange machinery," Toon Link says with a gulp. "I wasn't sure what it was for, but there was a lot of metal. There was someone hidden in a dark cloak, they reached out, they grabbed Dark Pit, and they took him away."

"Then the rockfall began," Villager says. "And it was all falling down-"

"And it was chaos-"

"And darkness-"

"And-"

"And-"

"Quiet!" Ryu commands. "So, let me get this straight. You obliquely believed this invitation?"

"I - I did," Pit says glumly. "The rest of them tried to s-stop me."

"I see." Ryu shifts. This time, he isn't so good at hiding his unease. "I will make sure that a rescue team attempts to retrieve Dark Pit from this chamber."

"Please," Pit says desperately.

"But what happened?" Lucas asks, finally speaking up. "If you don't mind me asking, Professor, how did you find us?"

"Toon Link and Villager came to my office," he explains. "They informed me that you were trapped in the tunnels. I came as quickly as I could."

"The rockfall stopped," I recall, my voice hoarse.

"That was lucky. You could have been crushed to death."

"Why did it stop?"

"You seem to be very good at getting out of bad situations," Ryu observes. "Maybe luck is on your side."

There's a momentary silence. I cast a glance at Lucas, who doesn't seem to be avoiding my gaze, but he still hasn't mentioned the kiss. Maybe he's saving it for later, when we're in private. Maybe he'll want me to kiss him again. That thought makes me uncomfortably giddy.

Toon Link is the first to speak up. "So, what now?"

"Nothing," Ryu says simply, folding his hands. "Except, I would once again very, very strongly advise that you stop doing such dangerous things. A lot is at stake, more than any of you may know."

"What's at stake?" Villager asks.

"It would take far too long to explain. But, go. Pit, we will do our best to locate your brother, okay?"

Pit does not respond, hysterically chewing his lip.

"Thank you, Professor," Lucas says, getting up, and leaving. I mumble a "thanks" too, as we head out.

Father would be furious with me. He's always been against anything remotely homosexual. It's not that he's particularly religious, it's more that he expects me to have a successor, to have children of my own. His reputation would be in tatters if it was found out that he, the owner of the single largest corporation in Onett, had a homosexual son.

What he wants is so mundane. So devoid of creativity, diversity. But if I don't follow the pattern that he's laid out, he'll be angry. Really angry.

I can't face that again.

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~~o00o~~

It's a Monday, 5:19 pm, according to the clock on Father's desk. I'm fifteen years old, and it's the summer, meaning school is starting up again tomorrow. Father has called me into his office to talk, and I'm scared. A 'talk' with Father usually involves more shouting than talking.

In my mind, I run through everything that I might've done wrong. I've studied what I was asked to study, I've stayed in the house, and I haven't even stolen food from the kitchen; I can't for the life of me think of anything that it could be. Eyeing the mahogany wood of the desk in trepidation, I know that whatever it is, it won't be a good thing. Father doesn't call me in to compliment me, or to say 'well done, Ness'.

That hasn't happened in years.

"Ness, we need to have a discussion," Father says. "We need to discuss why you haven't brought any girls home."

I squirm uncomfortably in the chair. Of all the topics, this one embarrasses me the most.

"You go to a co-educational school." He leans over his desk. "I sent you there deliberately. You should've at least met somebody by now."

I stare into my lap, silent. I don't know what to say. I've never prioritised relationships. Father's already angry, though. Perhaps he's been drinking. He's red in the face.

"Well?"

"I've been focusing on my studies," I say. "Like you asked me to."

"That's a poor excuse, Ness. You're capable of multitasking."

"I'm sorry."

"'I'm sorry' isn't going to give me a daughter-in-law. 'I'm sorry' isn't going to give you the life that you want."

"I don't want your life," I mutter, seeing red.

There's a horrible beat of silence.

"What did you just say to me?"

"I don't want your life."

There's another awful pause, as the vein in his temple throbs.

"DO YOU KNOW JUST HOW MUCH I DO FOR YOU?"

"I'm sorry!" I back away, terror cutting through me.

"DAY BY DAY I WORK TO GIVE YOU A ROOF TO LIVE UNDER, TO BUY FOOD TO FEED YOUR UNGRATEFUL MOUTH-"

"I'm sorry!" I wail, curling up into a ball on the chair.

"You're PATHETIC," he snarls. "Crying like a little child You never change, do you? Always the same, sorry, snivelling bastard."

"I'm s-sorry, Father!"

"Don't speak to me. I don't want to hear another word for until tomorrow. Get out. OUT!"

I stand, shaking, tears rolling down my cheeks. I know better than to speak out of turn. I'm stupid, so stupid.

I'm ungrateful, pathetic, and selfish.

~~o00o~~

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.

That's why I need to conform. I can't be a homosexual, it simply cannot be the case. I'll stamp these feelings out, maybe? I'll find a nice girl, and settle down.

Emptily, I enter the lounge on the third floor. Lucas supports a sobbing Pit. Tragedy surrounds me, everywhere I go. Maybe it's my fault… I could've done a better job at convincing them not to go down there. I could've done anything else, I could've done everything better. Now Dark Pit is gone, trapped, with whatever Toon Link saw behind the rubble. Everyone looks so gloomy, lost in dark thoughts. I sit next to Lucas, but I sit far enough away that I'm not infringing on his space, making sure there's no risk of me kissing him again.

You're disgusting.

It's not just that I'm worried about Father. Lucas trusts me, he trusts me to look out for him, and to be a caring best friend. I've shattered that trust, violated him in ways he couldn't possibly have wanted. The law prohibits homosexual behaviour, and Lucas doesn't need any of those problems right now.

Pit sits on Lucas's other side, curled up in a ball. It's a dark day for him. Even if I've been an idiot, at least I've not lost the person who I love the most. The thought calms me slightly, but then I'm angry again, angry at myself for thinking that, because it's not fair that the good people are suffering so much when it should be me. I can take whatever's thrown at me. Lucas, Pit, Dark Pit and Toon Link don't deserve all they're going through. It's simply not right.

Lucas senses my disquiet and he moves to hug me, but I shake him off, worrying about his lips, how soft and pink they are. He shrinks back, saddened, and I bury my head in my hands.

"What did you see in there, Toon Link?" Villager penetrates the silence.

"Like I said." Toon Link looks up and shudders. "There was a load of strange machinery. It was all metallic, there was a lot of steel… it was awful."

"I have to go down there," Pit murmurs, looking out from his ball of sadness.

"No, you don't, Pit." Lucas pats him firmly on the shoulder.

"Yes I do." Pit shrinks away from the touch. "I need to find my brother."

"That's not a good idea," Villager says, giving him a sympathetic look. "Please don't put yourself in danger."

"Dark Pit is all I have."

"Look, Pit," Toon Link begins hesitantly. "You're not responsible for what happened, so you're not responsible for getting him out of there."

"Yes I am!" Pit stares at Toon Link through floods of tears. "If someone you loved was stuck somewhere, no matter whose fault it was, you'd do whatever the hell it took to get them back!"

"Not if it meant I might die."

"He's my twin brother." Pit folds his arms. "If anyone can save him, it's me."

"Ryu said he was working on it."

"Dark Pit might be dead before they reach him!"

"How do you expect to reach him quicker than professionals?"

"Because - I can try!" Pit curls up, rocking back and forth on the sofa. "I can try, okay?"

There's a resounding silence.

"Look," Villager sniffles. "I know we argued, but that was never anything serious. I care about you, both of you. I know it's hard right now, but please, don't do anything irrational."

But Pit springs from his seat. "I grew up with him, Villager! He was my entire life, the only constant I've ever had! He was there when Palutena was kidnapped, when Medusa herself came to our family home! Dark Pit isn't even his real name, it's Pittoo, Dark Pit is just a nickname, and, I don't know what I'm going to do without him, I don't - I can't!"

He runs out of the room. Toon Link rises at once, and he swiftly follows.

There's an uncomfortable pause. Villager, Lucas and I look around at each other, unsure what to say, unsure how to process everything that just unfolded.

"Poor guy," Villager whispers.

"Yeah." Lucas's voice is hoarse. "Losing a brother sucks."

The urge to hug him clashes with my newfound need to stay away. I'm hit with a heavy pang of shame, thinking about Claus, and the way he disappeared.

"He'll be okay eventually," Villager says, but there's doubt in his voice.

"You saved Pit's life," I mumble. "Lucas. You made sure he came back with us. You're a hero."

"I guess." Lucas looks up at me, his eyes watery. "I guess, yeah, but, but Dark Pit…"

Nothing else needs to be said, until Toon Link comes jogging back into the room.

"It's alright," he says quietly. "He's gone into his dorm. I was checking, just in case…"

"Good thinking," Villager says.

"Where's Red?" Toon Link frowns. "We should probably tell him what's happened."

"Games room, probably."

I look towards Lucas. He's still not mentioned the kiss. He should be mentioning the kiss, right? Perhaps it's been overshadowed; I can't even begin to fathom the situation. Dark Pit can't be trapped in a cave. He won't die, he's going to be okay. Rescued. He has to be. It's the natural order of things.

Lucas is suddenly a lot closer, and when I feel myself gravitating towards him, I'm forced to spring to my feet.

"I need a moment."

"Are you alright?" Lucas gives me a pleading look.

"I'm fine. I just, uh. Need to do something."

As I run down the corridor, I'm not even sure what it is I need to do. I can't even look at Lucas without thinking of kissing him, without wanting to pull him close and tell him that he's mine. Where has this sprung from? When did I become so predatory? That's it; drastic action needs to be taken. I'll have to make a change, I'll have to move out of Lucas's room in case I suddenly start kissing him in my sleep. Toon Link will let me in, he's been wanting to get rid of Link for longer than I can even remember, or, even better, maybe Toon Link can take my place. Then Lucas can have a best friend who isn't messed up in the head, a best friend who doesn't think a kiss is more important than Dark Pit possibly being dead.

I rush into Toon Link's dormitory. It's smaller than my own, but that's not important. I throw myself down on Toon Link's bed, certain that he'll agree to my plan, that he'll make the change in an instant. Why wouldn't he? With as much force as I can muster, I punch his pillow. Anger surges through me, at Buttercup, at Lucas for being so damn kissable, at the Pit twins, especially at Dark Pit for being in so much trouble.

"And then I said-" Link freezes, noticing me through the doorway. "What are you doing here?"

Just what I needed.

"Nothing." I sit up, peeling my face from Toon Link's mattress. "What are you doing here?"

"Get out!" He recoils, disgusted. "You don't live in this room!"

"Neither does she," I point at Zelda, who emerges from behind her boyfriend.

"I'm letting her in! That's different!"

"Toon Link let me in," I lie.

"And I'm kicking you out." Link strolls forwards, hitting his fist into his hand in an annoyingly dignified manner.

"Link-y," Zelda simpers. "No fighting, remember?"

"He's in my room!"

I stand. "It's Toon Link's room as well!"

Link rolls his eyes. He takes a handful of my shirt, dragging me out of Toon Link's bed and onto the floor.

"Need I convince you further, little boy?"

"No!" I get up, spitting the taste of cheap deodorant from my mouth. "You're an asshole."

"And you're a child."

"At least I'm not a no-good, big-headed, self-conceited…"

"…Smart, intelligent, good-looking…" Link interrupts, and Zelda giggles.

"This is ridiculous." I fold my arms. "I'm your new roommate. Surprise."

Link gives a great cry of laughter, practically stamping his foot with mirth.

"Okay, that one was funny. I'll give you that."

"Toon Link is going to room with Lucas, and I'm going here."

"Oh, he's serious!" Link chuckles heartily. "Well, boo-hoo! Did you and your little friend have an argument?"

"That's none of your business!"

"Just give it up!" Link laughs. "If your arrangement goes ahead, then you'll be sleeping outside the door."

"Fine by me." If that's what it takes to avoid kissing Lucas.

"Good! Now, stop throwing your toys out of the pram. I'm giving you one more chance to leave, or I'll make you."

"I won't!"

"Three…"

Rage fills me, white-hot. I want to attack him.

"Two…"

I want to leap at him and punch his smug face to a pulp. Who does he think he is?

"Two…"

I bare my fists.

"On-"

The door suddenly opens. Toon Link steps inside.

"What's going on?"

"Hi, Toon Link." Link relents slightly. "One of your baby friends is squatting here. Some bullshit about him being my new roommate."

"Good to hear you're still a pathological liar," Toon Link says dismissively. "Whatever mate, you can clear off."

"Clear off!? Me and Zelda have plans!"

"It's Zelda and I. Don't you know anything?"

Now it's Link's turn to be angry. "Shut it, Beta-Link!"

"Ryu wants to talk to you," Toon Link lies, flopping lazily on his bed.

"Ryu be damned! Zelda, make haste, we shall depart to see what Professor Ryu requires!"

Link hurries off, and Toon Link lies down on his bed. "Sorry about that. I hope he wasn't too bad."

"He threatened to throw me out of the room with his bare hands."

"How uncharacteristically charming," Toon Link laughs. "You should try living with him."

"Funny you should say that..."

"But what are you doing here?" He sits up, a ball of putty suddenly between his hands. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I lie.

"Ness, you're not fine. You're about as fine as Bowser on a bad day."

"It's just stuff." I stare down at my feet. "You know how it is."

"Come on," Toon Link shuffles up beside me, squishing the putty with one hand. "You helped me out with my issues. Please, let me help you, too."

"I…"

"Please."

I give in. I begin to talk.

"I did something stupid." I breathe. Toon Link would understand, right? Toon Link wouldn't judge me.

"Go on," he says calmly.

"When the roof was caving in, we fell over, and I thought, well, I thought we were going to die, so I, uh. For some reason, I kissed Lucas. On the lips?"

"With tongue?"

"I - does that matter?!"

"Not necessarily," Toon Link smirks. "But, ha! I knew it!"

"Knew what?" I look at him, completely bewildered.

"You totally have the hots for Lucas!"

"No, I don't!" I say, turning a furious shade of red. "I'm not - I don't like guys in that way. I really don't know why I kissed him, he probably hated it, and now he probably hates me as well."

"Hey," Toon Link pats me on the shoulder. "Slow down there, Ness. You know, it's okay if you are into guys."

"Except for the fact that it's illegal and would get me executed."

"Well, yeah, but you don't have to tell anyone."

"But I'm not!" I say, shuddering. "I - I don't want to be that way, Toon Link. I can't be!"

His expression is kinder than I've ever seen it. He gives me a strange sort of one-armed hug, and I feel immediately like a small child.

"Seriously," Toon Link says, "It's alright. People will - there will be hate, of course there will - but I don't think, I don't think there should be anything wrong with it."

"Well, maybe, b-but," I stammer. "I still shouldn't have kissed him. It wasn't consensual."

"Maybe he didn't even notice amidst the chaos," Toon Link says, shrugging. "He didn't seem to be shaken up, or anything. He's certainly not mentioned it to us, and even if he did feel it, he probably has the hots for you as well. I bet you ten quid that he liked it."

"Lucas is straight!" I exclaim, suddenly unsure of where I got this information from. Last I checked, Lucas wasn't feeling too much attraction towards girls either.

"Straight, my ass. He probably doesn't even know what a kiss is, let alone whether he's straight."

"Well, either way, I still betrayed his trust." I sink my face into my knees. Toon Link sighs, pulling me a little closer into his hug.

"Ness, don't beat yourself up over what's happened. My point is, it's already over. You can't do anything about that. You just have to move on."

"I guess that makes sense." I unfold myself, now more frustrated than anything.

"So, uh." Toon Link pauses. "You never said, why exactly did you come into my bedroom?"

"Because," I say plaintively. "What if I do it again? What if I kiss him again, and I ruin everything? Look - I was thinking we could swap rooms - you'd be away from Link, you and Lucas could become best friends, and I can stay here, out of harm's way."

"Ness!" Toon Link looks appalled by the very thought. "Don't be stupid. Lucas needs you, you need him. I see it day to day. You depend on one another. If you take yourself away from him, well, that'd hurt him far more than if you kissed him."

Toon Link's words hit softly. I do need him. I need him more and more each day. I feel my steely resolve melting away.

"Maybe you're right. Since when were you so wise?"

"Heh, I'm not that wise," Toon Link says. "Here's an idea. You and Lucas can sleep over here tonight, and we can stay up late and have a good time. Tomorrow morning, we can sleep in. If you try and kiss Lucas again, then I'll stop you in your tracks, okay? We can invite Villager and Red to join us."

"That sounds awesome," I say honestly. "Thank you."

"It's no big deal," Toon Link laughs. "But, look, Ness. It takes a long, long time for you to accept yourself. I'm, like. Well, not an expert, but I'm happy to talk through anything, y'know?"

"I'm not into guys!" I protest again. "Why are you so sure that I am?"

Toon Link is silent for a bit, before he glances surreptitiously at the ground.

"Well… I've been there."

"You've - what?" I pause, the pieces coming together. "You mean, you're…?"

"Yeah." Toon Link grins, evidently nervous. He's shaking. "Not gay, but, like. I swing both ways, I think. I don't know. I've never told anyone before."

"Your big dark secret!" I recall. "But, hold on. How can you say it's okay to be into guys, and then call it a big dark secret?"

"That was something else," Toon Link says, wincing. "We're not talking about that. But, uh, that's not all…"

"Huh?"

"Promise me you won't laugh?"

"Yeah, of course."

I'm hit with a sudden certainty. What Toon Link is about to say could cause a lot of awkwardness. I silently prepare the rejection in my head. It's not you, it's me…

"Well," he says, blushing. "I may or may not have a thing for Villager."

My mouth opens with amazement. "Toon Link!"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, but you can't tell anyone, okay?"

"Does he feel the same?" I press on frantically, infinitely curious about this new development. How long has this been going on?

"I have no idea." He rubs his cheek.

"You've got to ask him!"

"I can't ask him! He'll think I'm weird."

"He already thinks you're weird!"

"Hey!" Toon Link folds his arms. "Ness, this is a serious discussion!"

"Not after you dropped that bombshell!"

Toon Link laughs, leaning back. I suddenly feel a hell of a lot more relaxed. Venting helps, a lot. And Toon Link is surprisingly good with advice; even if he doesn't like his sensitive side, I do.

"Well," Toon Link says. "Now that's out of the way, is there anything else bothering you?"

I think. The grave. Future Human. The figurine in Ryu's office. The Face. But, maybe, all of that should stay between me and Lucas. It's our battle, after all.

"Not really. Is there anything else bothering you, Toon?"

"Only the usual." He shrugs wearily. "Inkling, still. Big Dark Secret yonder. The big who am I question. I don't really want to talk about it right now."

"That's okay," I say.

He pats me on the shoulder. "Thank you, Ness. Come on, we should go back to see the others."

"Yeah. Good idea."

But unfortunately, as soon as we stand, Link comes charging back into the room, a bedraggled Zelda in tow.

"It was a trick!" Link points dramatically. "Ryu did not summon me!"

"Congratulations," Toon Link says, slowly clapping. "You figured it out."

"You're lucky I don't kick you out of this room! And what's your baby friend still doing here?"

"We were just leaving. What's your girlfriend still doing here?"

"I will duel you!" Link snarls.

"Link-y," Zelda sighs, more exasperated this time. "Swords are banned in school, remember?"

"Curses! You are right… I will have to use other means!"

"Sure you will." Toon Link merely glances at him, unfazed. "By the way, three more friends of mine are staying the night."

"That is not happening!" Link exclaims. "I am not having any of your midget friends interrupting Zelda and I's alone time!"

"It's 'me and Zelda's,' not 'Zelda and I's'."

"Silence!" Link stamps his foot. "Me and Zelda are-"

"Zelda and I."

"I WILL KILL YOU IN COLD BLOOD! Zelda and I ARE getting it on tonight, and-"

"Gross!" Toon Link pulls a disgusted face. "I don't wanna know about your miserable sex life. Just go up to her room, or something."

Link goes purple with rage. "That's actually a decent idea, which is extremely annoying!"

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We reconvene in the lounge, where the others are still silent. But at least I'm not feeling like a hollow pit anymore, doomed to eternal damnation and deserving of eternal suffering. Which is always pretty nice. It also means I can think clearly again.

Dark Pit is trapped. I suppose he will be found eventually, hopefully unharmed. Who would kidnap to kill, anyway? Most likely it's a slave trader, or someone equally despicable. Besides, the professors know about the passageways now, they'll catch anyone funnelling out children. The outlook isn't so bad.

As for me, I kissed Lucas. However, he might not have noticed, and he certainly doesn't seem to be acting as though he hates me. I'll consider it, I'll figure out if I actually feel that way about him. How that will happen, I do not know, but it has to, if I am even to question the problem of Father.

I sigh, contented. I quite like my rational side. It must be nice to be rational all the time, like Lucas is. He never gets angry at me. He's always thoughtful, he never fails to notice little details, and Toon Link's right.

I need him. He's my best friend in the universe.

That's why summers and holidays are so hard. We spend all our time together at school, and it's tricky to go back to a life of scarcely being in each other's company. I can hardly rely on Father to let me go out and socialise, and I have no real friends from outside of school unless Inkling is included. I wonder if Toon Link's right about her. It really is as if she has disappeared from the face of the earth. But there has to be some semblance remaining somewhere, we can't all have simply imagined her...

In the haze of the lounge, I get writing a letter.

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Hey Tracy,

I know I wrote to you already, but bear with me on this one.

Do you remember my friend Inkling? I've been thinking a lot about her, lately, and I realised that we're not entirely sure where she's gone. Have you seen her around the city? She'd be the same age as me.

On another note, I think you're right. There's a chance that I might be into guys. That's kind of scary to me at the moment, but I suppose it's one of those things that I'll have to process over time. My friend Toon Link reckons I have a thing for Lucas (him and everyone else I've ever met) and I'm beginning to wonder if it's really true.

You see, when I imagine my future, I imagine it with him, and I can't see it any other way. And he's so awesome, you know? You always thought he was nice, I know you did. Even when you locked us in the bathroom.

Father wouldn't like it at all. He's always wanted me to be this big businessman, like him, to inherit the mining corporation when he's gone. But you know what? I think I'd just sell it off. That money could be used for much better things. My point is, though, that even though Father thinks I need to have a girlfriend, and that I need to be this big family man, I meant what I said those years ago.

I don't want his life. I want to live for myself.

~ Ness

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A/N

KISSS

KISS

KISS

BUTTTTTT NOT A PROPER ONE, SADLY

Notes:

Duster is a major character from Mother 3. Butch and Elmore are minor characters from Mother 3.

I tried to describe Tazmily as best as I could, while of course adding my own additions to it to fit the plot.

Hello in advance to Rainy and Erin and Krystal and Walle and Rachel and Coppu and all the other awesome people who are reading this!

Thanks for reading!

~ReadyForTeddy