(Prologue: ?)

Despite the surprising weight of Roy, we manage to run through the forest for at least ten minutes before collapsing from exhaustion. Roy topples against a tree, and Duster and I shake ourselves off, our shoulders burning with fatigue.

I hope the patrol didn't see us, but I can't be sure. I can't be sure of anything. The forest is immense, densely packed oak trees towering like pillars amongst beds of shrubs, bushes, and mud. In the sunrise, it's rather beautiful, orange streaking through the wafting branches, but I know that at night it'll be hell. Anything could be here, watching. Amongst nature, we are never alone.

Roy collapses to the floor.

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An hour later, Roy's sat gibbering against a tree, Elmore's complaining about the weather, and, after no sign of anyone on our tail, the rest of us are working on a plan.

"I say we head back to Tazmily," Tessie insists, munching on a slice of Caroline's nutbread. "Our homes are there, aren't they? We can't leave behind everything we love."

"That wouldn't work," I say, polishing off a slice of my own. Caroline's baking is good, and after a minimal dinner yesterday, it was too hard to resist. "Onett is a powerful city. Their army has more numbers than your entire village. Tazmily is as good as dead."

"Well, it'd be better than starving out here," Elmore huffs. "Are you trying to kill us? Perhaps that was your aim all along?"

"No," I say through gritted teeth. "I'm trying to think of a solution."

But no such solution comes to mind. Returning to Tazmily would be useless, setting up camp in the forest would be futile, and living off the land will bring us nothing. The only good idea I have is to search for the Onett River before we die of thirst.

I propose this, but Elmore rolls her eyes.

"Are all your ideas as useless as this? How will we eat? Where will we sleep?"

"We can consider that in the long term," I say. "For now, we-"

"Who put you in charge?" Elmore demands, and there are some unsettled movements from the other members of the group.

"Look," I sigh. "Right now, we're sandwiched in between Tazmily and Onett. That means that troops or soldiers from Onett could walk right into us. We need to keep moving until we're somewhere safe."

"And where would that be?" Reggie says dubiously. "A pit of venomous snakes, perhaps?"

Unfortunately, he's not far off. I have a feeling that the villagers won't like this, but I try to produce a winning smile nonetheless.

"We need to go to Onett City."

The effect is immediate and predictable. Tessie gasps. Pusher folds his arms, spitting on the floor. Elmore stands, almost shaking with rage.

"The enemy? You'd send us to the enemy?"

I remain impassive. "I'd send us to the depths of the ocean if it gave us the slightest chance of survival."

"What about the high risk of us all being slaughtered?"

"Yeah, they'd kill anyone from Tazmily on sight!" Tessie accentuates. "Sorry, but that's a horrible plan."

"How would they know where we're from?" I ask, stepping forward. "Everyone knows everyone in Tazmily, but it's the opposite in Onett. Onett's huge, filled with pockets of communities, peasants, and nobody knows who's who. If anyone challenges us, we lie. It's as simple as that."

"This is madness," Elmore grumbles. "Utter madness. We should've stayed in the carriages."

"And get killed? I don't think so!" Matt laughs drunkenly, clapping me on the back. "You're a good man, Steven. Come on, lady, listen to him!"

"Hey!" Pusher bellows. "Only I get to objectify my wife!"

Fortunately, Roy chooses that moment to stir, so I quickly excuse myself from the growing argument to hurry over to the other side of our clearing. Roy pushes himself up, looking a lot more lucid than we've seen him so far, but his red hair is still messy, overgrown and neglected. His eyes bore into mine, fearful and confused.

"Where am I?"

"You're safe," I try to explain, but then Roy stumbles forward, madness returning.

"Where's Porky!?"

"Porky isn't here," I say firmly, catching him by the shoulders. "Sit yourself down."

"No… I - I need…" He dithers, coming towards me again, but he stumbles on a root and his legs go everywhere. I rush to catch him, placing him at the base of a tree. His eyes glisten with surprise, and I have to sit down next to him.

"Roy, what happened to you?"

"Porky," he moans, his head in his hands.

"What did he do?"

"I volunteered… he promised me money, but he - he…" His eyes grow wide and he pushes me back. "You're working for him!"

"No, I'm not," I say worriedly. "Roy, come on. What exactly did he do to you? What happened? I need to know."

"He took me - he hurt me…" At once, his whole body convulses, and Duster, noticing, rushes over to still him.

"There, there, m'chap, you're alright…"

"I - I can't remember-" Roy gasps for breath, his skin pale and clammy. "There was - he put something on my neck - and - and-"

"And what?"

"Darkness." He covers his face again, shaking in place. "Where am I? I don't know where I am."

Something itches at the back of my mind. Something Porky said whilst I was imprisoned. Something about necks. Necks? What did Porky do? How? Roy opens his eyes again, grabbing me by the wrist.

"Where am I?"

"The forest - the sunshine forest," I reply, unnerved. Roy's grip weakens at my words, and he sobs.

"I don't know where that is."

"Where do you live?" I ask gently.

"O-Onett. Can you take me home?"

"We're going to Onett now," I say, patting the poor soul on the back. "You're going to be okay."

"Th-Thank you."

There is a moment of pause, and he lets me feed him a little slice of nutbread. He nibbles it tentatively, as if he's not sure what to make of it.

"Have you got any friends?" I question.

"Where's Marth?" Roy asks, swallowing. "What happened to him?"

"Marth?" I frown. "Why?"

"He's - he's my best friend… are you Marth?"

"No, I'm not," I say, still taking in this revelation. "I know him, though. He was okay, the last time I saw him."

"Marth," Roy murmurs, before his legs swing, the bread falls, and there is a loud clunk as his head hits the tree trunk.

"Roy!" I exclaim, but he's out cold. Duster bends over, helping me to lie him down in the grass. His heartrate is steady, but he's not in a good way. That much is obvious.

I don't know who he is, or how he became one of Porky's guards, but one thing is certain. I have a responsibility now, a duty of care. He asked me to help him, and I'll do exactly that.

But a rustle in the trees catches my attention. It could be insignificant, just a rabbit or a deer, but it could be something else. It's enough to put me on my toes.

"Get the others," I say, drawing myself into a standing position. "We need to keep moving. It's time to find this river."


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~~o00o~~

Chapter 23: Into the Murky Water

(Ness)

~~o00o~~

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…..

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I don't know where I am.

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I mean it. I don't know where I am.

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Can you hear me? Lucas, are you there? I'm scared. I'm so scared.

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Please help me. I'm begging you. I'm lost. I'm alone. It's not safe here. They'll hurt me.

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I don't have much longer.

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I think I'm going to die.

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~~o00o~~

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A gentle breeze rustles my hair.

The sun rising over the lake might be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Orange ripples roll lazily over the shore, splashing droplets of water onto the dew-soaked bank. The sun is golden, illuminating the distant fields in a godlike, heraldic glow. The fields are spotted only by tiny masses of green and minuscule dots of brown, scattered like dust on the hillside.

It's a shame that it all looks grey without Lucas.

Okay, maybe that was overdramatic. It's still nice. It's lovely, even, but I'm distancing myself for his safety, which means I have to enjoy it alone.

I've come outside to do schoolwork, of all things. A pile of papers lays sprawled on my lap, while I sit cross-legged under a sycamore tree, doodling away in my maths book instead of working on the equations Marth set us. It's nice, easy, not too cold for once, and I've always loved the feeling of existing amongst nature.

So why do I feel so sad?

My doodles come into focus. A boy looks back at me, a golden cowlick adorning his head.

That's why.

I push all thoughts of Lucas from my mind. Perhaps I should stop drawing.

I had a poetry phase, once. It was sort of ridiculous. It began a few years ago when I picked up a pencil and began to write a few lines, lines about ordinary things, about everyday life. Some people laughed, while most thought it was stupid, and several people told me my poetry was awkward, contrived, or melodramatic. Those were fair criticisms, looking back, but… it was still nice. It was an escape, perhaps.

Tracy mentioned being in a poetry phase of her own. I think every teenager has to go through some sort of phase at some point - even Lucas had one, and for about six weeks he wore exclusively black, choosing to look dark and mysterious, 'not like the other guys.' I totally tried to copy him for a bit - that was sort of ridiculous as well - especially given Lucas was still just the same soft, fluffy guy that he is now. It was just his way of expressing himself, I suppose. It was a lot cooler than poetry, actually, but Lucas still scolds me anytime I bring it up.

Lucas. Not again. My stupid thoughts. I am distancing myself from him, for his safety. If I start reminiscing, I'll start missing him like hell, and then I'll go crawling back to him. Which means he'll be killed by Future Humans. Stop being big dummy, Ness. Perhaps I should focus on the equations instead. Perhaps I should do my schoolwork…

But then again, I'm tired. I give in, leaning back against the damp tree trunk. My clothes are probably going to be soaked through, and I don't have any others left, thanks to the fire, but I don't mind. Grass stains are just a fashion accessory. The clouds are worth it, making pretty shapes in the sky. I can just make out a dragon, a tree…

And then, it gets me.

One moment, I'm lying down, gazing up at the distant blue. The next, metal hands are around my waist, pulling me from the ground, and I'm thrashing, writhing, screaming - it grips tighter - grey flesh, steel armour - something rotten, something awful - and it's got me - Future Human, is my last conscious thought - and I - I - I... I... .. . .

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I-I-

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...I...

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Clunk.

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"Do you think he- he-"

"There's a pulse - there's a pulse - there's-"

"Will he be-?"

"He's a - a bloody idiot-!"

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"I'm staying with him, okay?"

"But-"

"No! No buts!"

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"Ness… Ness, please, please… "

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"Ness?"

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"Ness…"

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"Ness!"

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I don't know where I am.

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I'm alone. That's the one thing I can understand.

I reach out, feeling, grabbing at the emptiness before me. I take the darkness into my palms, rolling it like dough. I let it immerse my body, letting the currents lightly tug me in whichever direction they please.

Crimson seeps in. Clouds of red, billowing from all directions. I catch those too, letting the colours dance in my outstretched palm, mingling with the darkness like flour and sugar.

Then comes the confusion.

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How did I get here? What's happening to me?

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An earsplitting pain darts through my skull. It twists my neck. I want to cry out, but I find my mouth unable to open. The crimson swirls, and I look from side to side in fear, because it's coming. I try to wave it off, to fan it away, but it's coming.

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"Is he okay? Is he okay?!"

"He's in a bad way - a really bad way-"

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"Ness? Can you hear me?"

"Do you read me?"

"Are you there?"

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I don't know where I am. I'm not entirely sure who I am. All I can see is this black void, empty, devoid of anything at all.

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What happened to me? I was outside, I was by the lake, I was...

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I was...

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My head spins. A driving stab of agony forces the thought from my mind. The crimson invades my nose, choking me - my eyes, my ears, I open my mouth-

But just like that, the pain and the crimson vanish, sucked into nothingness. I take a deep, gulping breath, darkness slipping easily down my throat.

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..

But then, I'm no longer alone. The crimson returns, but it folds, compressing into a shape. It appears in front of my eyes, hidden at first, but taking form as time progresses. It's a creature. A ghoulish, a foul… beast. It can only be described as such. One minute, it has sharp horns, powerfully emerging from a cracked forehead, the next, a pointed tail, whipping fiercely from side to side with a devilish crack. There are unfolding black wings, harsh, violent, beating the surroundings, then fangs, dripping a noxious substance from a cavernous mouth.

A wide smile. It's seen me. It pushes towards me, and my vision swims.

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Something's aching. Something above my head.

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Laughter.

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"Ness."

Yes... that's my name. Dizzily, I look up. The beast is close, grinning, mouth twisting in a red and monstrous form.

"Ness…"

"Who are you?" I find my voice, but it comes out high, mangled into a scrunched up ball. Its jaws widen with pleasure, teeth flickering away to be replaced with a forked tongue. It snaps out unexpectedly, lashing at the air.

"You've given me many, many names. 'Buttercup'… The 'Voice inside your head'…

I crawl, desperately trying to get away, but something holds me in place. "What am I doing here?"

"Allow me to show you, Ness."

It lurches forward, and I scream.

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When I surface, I find myself unable to move. The monster hisses, hovering in front of me, piercing claws only inches from my neck.

"Where am I?" I quake.

"Oh, Ness." It grins horribly. "We're in your mind, of course."

"How can we be inside my mind?"

"Nasty accident you had there… wasn't it?"

Future Human. Falling. There's a cackle, and the beast launches itself, disappearing behind my head. I try to turn, but I'm held fast. Something prickles against the back of my neck, a claw dragging slowly down my back.

"You demonised me, Ness."

Something touches my cheek, something yellow and wicked. It scrapes into my hair, brushing against the tip of my ear.

I shudder. "What are you?"

"I told you that already, Ness."

It speaks deliberately, as though speaking to a small child. It's sinister as well, an amalgamation of noise, slithering through the darkness.

"I don't understand," I whisper.

My head throbs, stars flashing in front of my eyes. An image appears for only a second; there's a body, grass, blood, but mostly metal.

"In a way… you created me." The breath on the back of my neck moves, creeping awfully close to my ear. "Your seeds of self-doubt, your negative thoughts… you gave them all form, Ness. You gave them a name."

"A-And?"

"You separated them off." There's another hiss. "You made them into a character. 'Buttercup'. You gave it a voice of its own."

"B-But how can you be Buttercup?"

The claw trails up my back, coming to rest on my shoulder. Buttercup's form slips back into my vision, a wicked grin on its face.

"You're a PSI user, Ness. If you name your negative thoughts, they can manifest into dreams. Into your subconscious. Into beings… like myself."

"But that's impossible!"

"You created me, Ness. That's about as possible as it gets."

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My heart thumps. I'm scared. What's it going to do to me? It grinds its teeth together, eyes flashing a violent red.

"Why are you here?" I cry. "What do you want?"

A crimson hand is pressed to my chest. Buttercup swims through the darkness, mouth only inches from my nose.

"It just took a little knock to the head, Ness. You're unconscious in the real world. You're in a bad way... Some people are really worried about you."

"So let me go!"

"Ah… But it's not that simple! There's much work to be done here."

"What work is that?"

Its eyes gleam.

"Punishment."

My eyes widen. I cough, choking on my saliva. I try to push back, but there's nothing I can do except struggle.

"You're a disgrace, Ness. Your thoughts about your best friend are disgusting. You're selfish. Everything you do is disappointing."

"Leave me alone!"

Claws dig into my back. Heat sears my chest. Buttercup grins, its face beginning to spin faster and faster.

"How many people have you hurt, Ness? How many people have you disappointed?"

I don't understand. I'm scared. I want Lucas. I want my mother.

"How many years have you wasted, serving yourself?

"I don't know - I don't-"

Buttercup rotates to a blur. Knives pierce my skin. Nails tear at my flesh.

"How many people want you dead? How many people want you to die, gasping your last breath as you burn, counting your seconds as you fall, thrashing in terror as you-"

"Make it stop!"

Everything slows down. Buttercup's face shifts back into focus. The knives disappear, the claws retreating into the darkness. My wounds begin to heal.

"I'm sorry!" I gasp, my eyes flooding with tears. "I'm so sorry!"

"That's not good enough."

"Let me wake up - please, just, stop it! I'll be better, I promise!"

Buttercup laughs shortly, before turning, the crimson starting to dissipate from its form.

"It's not me that's keeping you asleep. It's you."

Everything fades.

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Voices from the outside permeate my skull.

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"I'm just going to stay with him for a little - in case he wakes-"

"Okay."

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I surface, a little lucidity coming back to me. I can almost feel my body. My real body. Not my strange self in the darkness, but my real, living, body.

I think I'm lying down somewhere. I feel something hard against what I believe to be my back, but my eyes are forced shut. I don't know where I am. I'm unconscious - something must've happened to me - but then…?

Wherever I am, it's cold. Someone touches my limp hand, taking it into their own. They squeeze it, just slightly, and a yearning sensation flows through me - and I really want to squeeze it back, but I can't. I can't move at all. My head, my chest, they throb again, burning, searing, fire…

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"I've got him. I'm not going anywhere, okay?"

"I only-"

"Get out!"

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My mind swims.

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"Ness?"

This time, the voice is soft.

"Ness, I don't know if you can hear me…"

Something aches in my chest. It's Lucas. It's Lucas's voice. It sounds like it's coming from miles away.

"I won't let them hurt you, Ness. I've got you. I promise."

The hand in mine moves, a thumb circling my palm. I want to wake up so badly, I want to tell him that I'm here, that I can hear him, that I love him, but I can't. I'm scared. I'm so scared. I feel my chest compressing, my breathing accelerating.

I feel myself slipping away.

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Back in the void, I can remember the day I met him.

~~o00o~~

A boy sprawls on the ground. The bullies laugh beside him, throwing tuna sandwiches at his face. Before anyone can stop me, I'm running in.

"You-"

Wham.

"Leave him-"

Wham.

"Alone!"

The last bully falls to the ground. He stumbles to his feet, sobbing, crying out for his mother. Panting, I reach out a hand to the boy on the floor, who's staring at me in wonder. I give him a toothy grin.

"Hey there. I'm Ness. Wanna be my friend?"

"I'm - I-" He blushes, taking my hand and clambering from the floor. "I'm Lucas. S-Sorry."

Bemused by his stammering, I cock my head. "What are you apologising for?"

"I'm - I don't know," he whispers, fiddling with his shirt buttons. He stares at me as though he's never spoken to another human being before. I suppose with how many people seem to hurt him, it might've been a while since he has.

"Do you want to come sit with us?" I wave towards our table, where Toon Link and Inkling watch on in amazement. "There's loads of space."

"Um - I don't - maybe…?" He looks down shyly at his ruined sandwiches.

"You can have some of my food," I offer. "Mother always gives me way too much. Are you hungry?"

"Yeah." He frowns. I can see the idea playing on his mind. He's tempted. "Alright then," he says, with a shy little smile.

Beaming, I lead him over. He sits down next to me, mouth hanging open as if he's unable to believe his luck. Toon Link gives me a confused look, but Inkling grins broadly.

"Who's this?"

"Lucas," I explain, slinging an arm over his shoulder. "He's my new friend!"

Inkling reaches out, shaking his hand with vigour. Lucas looks a little flustered.

"I'm Inkling!" she declares. "Nice to meet you!"

"I'm - I'm Lucas-"

"This is Toon Link." I point towards my blonde friend, who nervously waves. Lucas waves nervously back.

"Ness, that was crazy," Inkling says excitedly. "You beat them up good and proper! You were like - like wham! And bam! I didn't know you could fight!"

"It was nothing," I blush, aware of Lucas's eyes lingering on me again. "I felt like I had to help him. Those bullies were really horrible."

"Sorry," Lucas says. "You - you didn't have to-"

"Nonsense!" I grin. "You're cool. You didn't deserve them being mean."

"You'll be put on the anger management course," Toon Link says doubtfully.

My face falls, remembering what my teacher said after the last incident. I'd pushed Captain Falcon into a fountain because he was giving Toon Link a hard time.

"It was worth it," I say, sticking out my bottom lip.

I think back to last night.

Father had been drunk out of his mind. He'd cornered me and Tracy with a rolling pin.

…I know how it feels to be bullied.

"Isn't that right, Ness?" Inkling is saying.

I'm brought back to reality. "What - sorry?"

I notice Lucas giving me a peculiar look out of the corner of my eye, but Inkling speaks first.

"Isn't mashed potato the worst?"

"Yeah!" I nod vigorously, glad to have a topic I know something about. "It's all wet, and mushy, and gross."

"I agree," Lucas says. "It makes me feel sick."

"I really like potatoes," Toon Link frowns. "All vegetables are nice."

"Yeah, but potatoes don't count as a vegetable, do they?"

"They're like, carbo-hy-drates, or something," Inkling says, before turning back to Lucas. "Your hair is really cool, by the way!"

"Can I touch it?" I ask. Lucas gives a tiny nod, and I reach forward, ruffling it a little bit in my hand. It's all bouncy and curly at the front, and really, really blonde.

"I like it," I decide. "It's fluffy."

"Thank you," Lucas blushes. "Your cap is really nice too."

I grin, gripping its bill, before taking the whole thing off and putting it on his head. Lucas squeaks with surprise, but he smiles nonetheless.

"Hey, it suits you, Lucas!" Inkling beams. "Much better than it suits Ness."

"Hey!" I complain. "It suits me too!"

Inkling laughs. I remember that I was going to give Lucas some of my food, so I unpack my lunch and hold out a tuna sandwich. Lucas stares at it for what feels like a whole minute, before looking at me with questioning eyes.

"Your lunch fell on the floor," I explain. "Have some of mine."

"I don't - it's okay-" Lucas mumbles hurriedly.

"It's tuna."

"...I like tuna," Lucas murmurs, but he still doesn't take it. I sigh, firmly placing it into his hands.

"It's okay. You're my friend."

There's a pause, but finally, he gives in.

"T-Thank you," he stammers, red-faced. He nibbles at the bread, and I watch him for a few seconds. I think he's the shyest person I've ever met.

He's nice, though. In fact, I bet he's really funny inside his head…

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The scene swims.

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Inside his head… just like me. The thought echoes around my mind, out to my skull and back again, as the memory fades to nothing, and I'm brought into darkness.

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I'm in that semi-conscious state.

The hand has gone from mine, and as far as I can tell, I'm alone. My eyes are forced closed; no matter how hard I try to open them, I can't. The dull aches of my head and my chest have intensified.

Buttercup.

Is it here? Panic sears at my throat. It can't be real. It must be a dream, or some sort of horrific nightmare. It has to be…

The memory. I'll focus on that.

I'd forgotten that cap I wore. Wearing caps went away with my poetry phase when I was fourteen. Lucas was so nervous that day, trembling and bumbling like a wounded animal, but what struck me was that he looked at me like I mattered. He looked at me like I was his hero. I only know now that the night before, his twin brother, Claus, had run away from home.

I can't help but feel a little angry about that. Why the hell would he disappear when Lucas needed him? What kind of coward leaves their brother alone, scared, having to fend for himself? I can only imagine what Lucas must've gone through. All the self-hatred. The guilt. Doubt. Loneliness.

But it's not like I was without my own problems. I'd kept zoning out that day because of the night before - ugh, actually, that's an awful memory. Father, screaming his head off while I tried to shield Tracy from the rolling pin. I don't want to relive that one.

My head pounds with agony.

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"Ness? Are you - are you there? Did you just move?"

Lucas is back. My heart aches, yearning for his touch. I try to open my eyes, to see him, to tell him I can hear his voice, but I can't.

"I'm here, Ness. Sorry I was gone for a bit." He takes my hand, and he squeezes it tight. "You'll be okay, Ness. I promise."

There's a moment of silence, in which perhaps he expects me to answer. But I can't. I can only lie here, useless and dead.

"Ness…" He squeezes my hand again, and I feel a droplet of something warm splash onto my face. It rolls down my cheek, past my lips, touching my tongue.

It's salty.

Lucas is crying.

He squeezes my hand once more, and I try to muster all I have to squeeze back, to tell him that I'm okay, not to cry, that I'm here, that I love him so, so much. But I can't. I can't squeeze his hand. I can't say a word. I can't even open my eyes.

Lucas releases me, and my stomach sinks.

"I'm sorry that it hurt you," he mumbles. It sounds like he's underwater. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there. It broke you, Ness. I'm - you'll heal - you have to heal. I miss you."

It broke you.

"I'll be back soon, Ness. Stay strong. I'm - I'll…"

He trails off. Thinking better of his words, I hear him leave.

The door slams. Just as it does, I feel my fingers twitch.

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Suddenly, I'm yanked back into the darkness. The sensations disappear, the consciousness disappears, and then I'm alone. The crimson mist emerges, swirling, and there's laughter, there's evil screams, horror - I can't move - I scream, but it's back.

"Got you." Buttercup pulsates, its monstrous form looming over me.

I struggle. "Let me go!"

"Oh, Ness…" It croons, dragging a claw over my cheek. "Why would you want to go out there? Don't you know that if you wake up, everyone will still hate you?"

I force my eyes shut, and it cackles.

"Nothing will have changed, Ness. Nobody wants you in the real world."

"Lucas wants me!"

"And you want him… too much." Laughter reverberates, and Buttercup ascends. "You have simply made yourself believe that you are needed. You are not."

It disappears from view. A roaring sound rushes through my ears, the taste of blood filling my mouth. The darkness presses, infinitely dense, crushing me down to minuscule.

"Not much longer, Ness."

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Falling.

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Darkness.

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~~o00o~~

It takes a while, but Lucas finishes the sandwich, just before the bell rings to signify the beginning of the next lesson. He stands, smiling nervously.

"Thank you, Ness."

"No problem!" I beam at him. "It was really nice having you. See you again tomorrow?"

"Okay," Lucas blushes. "See you."

He walks off, a little spring in his step, and I feel happy, so ridiculously happy all of sudden. I turn to Inkling and Toon Link, a broad smile on my face.

"Isn't he awesome?"

"He's sweet!" Inkling agrees. "Can he eat with us every lunchtime?"

"Yeah," Toon Link adds. "Can he play with us on the playground?"

But before I can answer, Lucas hurries back, looking embarrassed.

"I'm really sorry!" he squeaks, taking my cap off his head and practically throwing it onto mine. I laugh - I'd completely forgotten about that.

"It's alright!" I assure him, as he runs off again, covering his face. He hurries into the crowd, and I grin, my gaze lingering upon my new friend.

From now on, life's gonna be great.

~~o00o~~

..

.

..

Echoes.

.

..

.

Violence.

..

.

..

A beach stretches out before me.

Where am I now? This can't be a memory. I've only ever been to the seaside once, one hot summer when Father took us all out on another 'apology trip'. The sun shines, white sands pure and empty under my feet, but I turn away from all of that. The cave behind me is much more interesting.

I step into it. The rock arches in a surprisingly natural curve, and much deeper down, there is a faint golden light. Intrigued, I press forwards. The cave slopes lower, walls narrowing around me, but I mustn't stop. The light is something good.

The cave keeps descending. Behind me, the beach fades, merging with the walls. The light doesn't seem to be getting any nearer, glittering and glimmering in the distance.

I keep moving, ducking to a crawl. The cave is tiny now, no taller than my legs, no wider than my torso. But the light is important. I must keep going.

My head begins to throb. My chest begins to ache, and my breath starts to shorten.

The light is so far in the distance. I feel myself disappearing, shifting away, and I blink rapidly, until all of a sudden-

"Ness."

I rush through the surface. I fly through the rock, plunging through the darkness, until I'm standing alone on the beach, and the cave has gone.

..

.

.

.

.

..

I'm Ness.

I keep repeating this to myself, floating in my semi-conscious state. The name's Ness. I'm seventeen, I live in Onett, and my best friend is called Lucas. On the last day of the Christmas Holidays, Onett looks like just about the worst place on earth-

I blink.

"Ness."

That voice again. It's not Lucas's, because I know what Lucas sounds like. He's buttery, like a summer's day. This man is deep, gruff.

I can feel more of my surroundings now. My headache has become earsplitting, and my chest has set itself on fire. I can even sense my toes, hands, and earlobes.

"Ness."

The voice. It's Professor Ryu, I realise. Where's Lucas?

"Ness," Ryu says, drawing nearer. "We nearly lost you. Come on. Be strong."

Nearly lost me? An icy chill darts down my spine.

"I know that you can hear me." A hand touches my forehead. "I also know that you won't be able to move or speak. Don't waste energy trying to do so. I'm… not sure if you remember what happened to you."

No, I don't. Please tell me.

It's as if Ryu hears my thought. He removes his hand, quietly stepping away.

"You were, rather foolishly, outside alone. A Future Human… found you."

…What?

"Ness, you need to stay with Lucas. Keep each other safe. You have become major targets for the Future Humans-"

No - what happened? What did it do to me?

"-and I've heard that you've got the idea to keep your distance from him. That is the worst thing that you can do. You're at huge risk-"

What did it do?

"-especially when you're alone."

But I am alone! I'm alone right now! I'm stuck inside my mind, because Ryu won't tell me what's going on!

"I'll see you soon, Ness."

No - come back!

But he's gone.

A tear trickles down my cheek.

..

.

..

I sink back down.

..

I'm lost.

I don't know if I'll ever wake up.

..

.

..

I want to cry.

.

.

...I can't.

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...

.

I'm on a boat. It sways in the tide, drifting alone through the ocean. Ahead of me is an island; safety, but it's too far. I'm alone aboard the ark, and the ark is made of paper and glue.

.

..

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I find myself back in the void again.

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.

At least here, I can move. I can curl up in the compassionate abyss, and cry all I like. I can draw my knees to my chest and sob, letting the rawness, the emptiness, the absence fill me up.

Images of a Future Human flash through my mind. It reaches for my face, and I fall - there's laughter, cackling - because it got me, it got me…

What had Lucas said?

'It broke you, Ness.'

..

.

..

Chills trickle down my spine. They roll through my chest, creeping at my anguished fingertips. I bear the dull ache of my head, the stabbing pain of my chest, everything threatening to pull me back into the murky water.

I know that I'm unconscious. I know that whatever the Future Human did to me, it's left me out of action, and I'm… physically, my body is hurt. I don't know where I've been put - somewhere in school, perhaps? The medical ward? If I could only open my eyes, if I could see for a second, if I could just understand… Frustration burns at my skull.

I just want to know what I am.

..

.

..

Because it's been creeping up on me for hours now. The pain in my chest, aching like it's been opened. The pain in my head, throbbing as if it's been tampered with.

...

'It broke you, Ness.'

Tampered with. Taken apart, and put back together. Artifice instead of nature. Imagination turned into calculations. Flesh replaced with metal, steel, and wood.

..

There's a sick twist in my stomach.

I think I'm a Future Human.

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...

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A line of thought, a line of consciousness, is hard to grasp. I can't think, not properly, not without a haze… it's such an effort to stay awake. To keep fighting.

Maybe this is it. Maybe this is what it's like to be converted, to have your mind taken over. I'll be someone else's puppet soon enough.

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Crack.

The sound which echoes through my mind when I try to think back. Images of metal, of struggling, and… Toon Link. Toon Link?

Crack.

Darkness swallowed me. Darkness won.

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I'm scared.

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Help me.

.

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..

"Ness…"

.

..

"He's slipping away…"

..

"It's not looking good."

...

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Sobbing. Emptiness.

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Silence.

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I drift in and out of consciousness. Sometimes there are voices, sometimes there is contact, but the rest is noise.

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A blanket is laid on my torso.

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.

~~o00o~~

"Ness!" Lucas waves joyously. I run and hug him, dashing past everyone else on the platform. He's warm, just the same as ever, that familiar smell of wood and honey filling my nostrils.

"Lucas," I grin, giddy because it's been a long, long summer. Father made me study every day, and writing letters couldn't quite scratch that Lucas-sized itch.

"I missed you," Lucas sighs.

"I missed you too," I smile.

It's September, which means it's the start of the autumn term, fourteen weeks of watching the leaves change colour and spending lazy evenings in the swimming pool. It's my favourite time of the year for good reason, I get to spend most of it with my best friend.

"Our penultimate year," Lucas mumbles. "What happens after all this?"

"No idea," I shrug. The train puffs a thick column of smoke. "A life of fame and fortune?"

"University?" Lucas suggests.

"So long as it's together."

"Of course. I want to do everything together."

~~o00o~~

.

..

.

I'm alone with my thoughts, back in the semi-conscious state. I don't think that's a good thing. It's lonely, being so far away from the living world.

A thumb presses into my forehead. It stings. I want to tell them to stop, but I can't.

"Alright, pet. You'll be bett'r soon, m'kay?"

I don't know who it is. The pain in my skull seems to be getting stronger, heavier. It's as if my mind is tearing itself apart.

.

..

.

Placet Auxilium.

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.

Void, consciousness. Void, and then consciousness. It shifts, a seemingly endless cycle.

I can feel my arms, my legs, my body, resting on a bed. It must be a bed, I decide, because I can feel a pillow. I must be in the medical ward. I must've been taken here after-

.

.

Crack.

Future Human. A steel arm swings from above. My body, mangled, limp, filled with cogs, alone in a coffin - then mourners, Tracy, Toon Link, Mother, Villager, Red, Lucas-

No.

No!

That will not be me. I can't have been converted. I have to wake up, I have to be strong for my friends, and I have to keep trying and trying and trying. I've escaped the rockfall in the passages, I've outwitted Porky Minch, and I've even survived at the hands of my father. I've been through everything and more. I will not let this finish me.

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..

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…But what would be the point? Constantly fighting the conversion until the end of time?

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The end is a scary thought.

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...

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"You deserve the pain, Ness."

"Nobody deserves this."

"Is that so?"

"Leave me alone."

"Are you sure? I'm the only company you have left. I am a part of you, after all."

"You don't make sense. I don't understand you."

"I don't understand myself either. All I know is what I've seen. You're an awful person, Ness."

..

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Crack.

.

..

"There's no such thing," I say stubbornly. "Morality is grey."

"You named me Buttercup. As far as I'm concerned, morality is black and white."

"Yeah, well, you deserve a stupid name. You're not even powerful anymore."

"I can still hurt you."

"You can't touch me."

"I wouldn't be so self-destructive."

"You would."

"Perhaps. But I can still hurt your mind."

There's a moment of pause.

"…I know."

I'm getting stronger again. I can feel it. I can feel the dull ache of my chest growing sharper, more focused. I won't let the Future Humans win.

"Does anyone love you, Ness?"

"Yeah," I say, standing. Buttercup diminishes slightly into the darkness. "Loads of people love me. And what would you know? You're just a voice in my head. You're just my negative thoughts. That's all you are, an idea."

"An idea?"

"A parasite."

It vibrates. The crimson flows from it in droves. Then with a screech, it disappears, and so do I.

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In, and out, in and out of consciousness.

..

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"He'll be okay. I promise."

"What if- what if-!"

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"Sometimes he moves - sometimes he twitches, just a little-"

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.

"Hope."

.

"Keep on hoping."

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"Don't give up."

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"Never give up."

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"Ness, I'm going to try something."

I'm brought to vague semi-consciousness. Someone is talking; their voice is clear and something to cling onto.

"Hold on tight."

It's Lucas. He takes one of my hands into his - his palm is warm, comforting - and he presses it to his face.

His cheeks are so soft. I never knew I could miss them so much. But before I can do anything, there's a jolt, the void manifests around me, and then, stepping from the darkness-

I hurl myself forwards with a sob.

It's him.

"Ness!"

He looks radiant as he runs towards me. Light bursts from his body, and the void disintegrates, illuminated with a brilliant white. All darkness vanishes, eradicated to the corners of somewhere else.

I leap into his hug, throwing my arms around him. My eyes prick with wetness as I press my face into his beautiful, beautiful hair.

"Where are we?" Lucas asks breathlessly. "I was trying the telepathy - nobody's around - I wasn't expecting to be brought here-"

"It's my mind," I say. Lucas looks bewildered. "I don't understand it either."

"What - but - how?" He looks wildly around at the cavernous space. "Your mind?"

"I'm just offended that it's so empty."

"Trust you to defy science," Lucas moans, burying his face back into my shirt. "You're such a goof."

I laugh, my spirits soaring, and he looks up at me with a grin. His eyes are sunken, exhausted, and his cheekbones are a little more prominent. He's not been eating properly.

"How long's it been?" I ask worriedly.

"Just a couple of days. I'm - I - I've missed you, Ness." He averts his gaze. "A lot."

"I know. I could hear you."

"Ryu said you might be able to," Lucas says, his cheeks pinkening a little. "But, how much do you know? How much do you remember?"

A sick feeling rises in my stomach. Not enough.

"Ness?" Lucas tries.

"Did it convert me?"

The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them. My hands shake. My vision is blurry and confused.

"No," Lucas says softly. "Of course not."

I let out a sob. "It didn't-?"

"You're still you, Ness. There's not a single piece of metal inside your body."

My heart pounds. Lucas holds out his arms, and I fall into them, now crying in earnest. I'm still me. It's okay. It's all going to be okay.

"Am I hurt?" I ask, muffled. "Is that why I'm here."

"You're in some sort of coma," Lucas says, his voice turning grim. "Your head and your chest - they got injured really badly. You're getting better, though."

"I've been trying to wake up," I explain. "I've been trying and trying - but I can't do it, I can't move."

"Don't give up," Lucas says firmly. "Not for anything. What's it been like, being stuck?"

I think, but my head throbs, making it a little more difficult. The pain is sharpening again, coming back into focus like a shifting lens.

"It's hard to explain," I manage. "Sometimes it's like I'm there in the real world, but I can't move or open my eyes. Sometimes I feel like I'm here, all alone in this big space. Sometimes there are memories."

"What sorts of memories?"

"The day we met," I say, realising how stupid that sounds. "The first day of the school year."

"That's sweet," Lucas comments, but then he frowns. "I think I hear someone coming - I'm going to have to go. Uh, Ness…"

"Lucas?"

There's a moment of silence, before he touches my face, a serious look in his eyes. "Keep fighting. You'll be out of here soon, okay? I'm waiting for you."

"I will," I promise. "Goodbye, Lucas,"

"Goodbye," Lucas smiles softly, before all at once, he's gone, leaving only the brightness in his wake.

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.

..

..

Just as he leaves, there's a flicker. I turn around. In the light, colours begin to take shape. Reds, greens, blues merge to build the lake and the hillside. It all comes back, everything all of a sudden, and I'm transfixed; the horror, the memory, the fear, all beginning to play like a series of recorded images.

I know what I have to do.

~~o00o~~

One moment, I'm lying down, gazing up at the distant sky. The next, metal hands are around my waist, pulling me from the ground, and I'm thrashing, writhing, screaming - it grips tighter - grey flesh, steel armour - something rotten, something awful - and it's got me - and I...

…I struggle as hard as I can, pushing and kicking for dear life. The beast lifts me from the ground, and I swing at its head, but it does me no good. It hauls me over its shoulder like a sack, and I cry out, my head smashing into the tree.

It's going to take me away.

"HEY!"

But someone's running down the hill. The Future Human whirls around, revealing a figure - Toon Link? I cry out, but a gruesome hand clamps over my mouth - panic consumes me - I can't breathe - then there's a distant clang - the clang of metal against a skull...

The world swims. It's… my skull. It… hit me…. owie… colours flash before me, pretty, pretty colours…

"Ness!"

Toon Link… My mind swims back into focus. Toon Link!

I thrash again, as the boy hurtles towards us, a chunk of wood in hand. The Future Human just has time to turn away before-

Wham.

"PLACET AUXILI-"

Wham.

"Let him go!"

"PLA-"

Wham.

"Toon Link!" I cry out, but it's too late. The Future Human topples, and I yell, crushed underneath its body. I try to crawl out, but steel arms wrap around me, gripping me like a vice. Toon Link beats the thing, but it's getting tighter and tighter and tighter - something's dripping down my face, pooling on my lip…

My head pounds again, and I twitch, my chest compressing, getting closer and closer to the rotting creature, squeezing harder and harder - I'm - something's going to break - there's a hand around my neck - I - I can't - breathe - my head - hurt… I can - I can - see… red. , but it's…. heh… funny, so funny , I'm so.. dizzy… I can sleep…. forever….

Crack.

I fall to the floor, limp as a rag doll.

"Ness!"

Wham.

"You'll pay for that!"

Wham.

The Future Human surges to attention, stumbling from Toon Link's onslaught. The sounds of battle rage on as a sliver of consciousness begins to return, and my heart races. I try to crawl away. I'm going to die. I'm, I - there's blood - and so much pain - my head - my chest - they're going to split in two...

I paint the grass with vomit, hurling up my insides. It hurts, it hurts so badly. I sob, I laugh, I can't see - I can't even see…

"Stop!" Ryu cries. When did he get here?

"Placet Auxilium!"

A bright light sears my eyes. I feel my consciousness slipping dangerously close to the edge. From behind, something pushes me, and I'm falling, falling, falling into the abyss…

I land in the pitch-black void.

I don't know where I am.

.

..

.

But now I do. I'm Ness, seventeen years old, from Onett City, and Lucas is my best friend. That's why I'm going to get back to him. Because if I'm not a Future Human, what's keeping me here?

"Yourself," Buttercup whispers.

The lines in my forehead harden. For once, I agree.

.

.

.

My head is full of purpose.

I feel a twitch in my hands. I feel the pain in my head, sharpening just slightly. I feel a great force rushing inside of me, some kind of magical warmth, some kind of acceleration, perhaps. Lucas's visit into my mind, confirmation that I haven't been converted, maybe they were just the little pushes I needed. Lucas is rooting for me. Maybe there are people out there, right now? People watching me try to wake up?

The thought is embarrassing; I feel a slight blush settling onto my face. A blush! My mind is so busy all of a sudden, so active, so… alive. I can feel warmth. I can feel my feet, my hands, my fingers. I can hear, clearer than anything I've heard before; I can taste, dryness filling my mouth and throat; I can smell… oh, I can smell food! There's so much pain, my skull, my broken rib, soreness all over, but it's so human. It's so human.

My hand moves, slipping to the side of a mattress. My toes writhe, wriggling as if their lives depend on it. The sound is getting louder, the feelings are getting stronger, and I'm rising, rising…

..

..

..

My eyes fly open, and the light rushes in.


A/N

Well, that was certainly different.

I hope you enjoyed it, it would be much appreciated if you could tell me what you thought in the reviews!

It was certainly a unique writing experience (and all the dots have caused the document to lag a ton, I'm typing about one letter every five seconds, please help me…)

I completely baited you into thinking Ness had been converted. I feel really bad…

Not really :DD

But anyway, if this wasn't Magnum Opus enough for you, next time marks the beginning of a three-part special.

It's time for Lucas's side of the story.

~ReadyForTeddy