Chapter 36 - A Life Built on Loss
…
(Lucas)
…
Prologue: ?
Friday evening.
Sitting with Ike, Roy and Duster around a makeshift fire that we were permitted to build. The river rushes besides us, and rain tips down from the sky, the sounds of distant thunder rattling away in the distance.
Shivering and despairing, we talk about pointless stuff. Ike still isn't convinced by my pleas for him to help us out. In fact - not to sound childish, but - I don't think he likes me much. He spends more time talking to Roy than me, and it's almost as if I'm a mere intrusion.
The others, the Tazmily Villagers, continue to keep themselves to themselves. In fact, I only really see them at night, when we stop to sleep and rest, and we're all herded together. Otherwise, Angie and Ollie keep in their pair, passengers on a remarkably pale soldier's horse, whilst Pusher and Elmore refuse to ride any horses, walking on foot, and Caroline and Tessie double up, travelling with a mysteriously silent rider.
"I'm gonna bathe in the river," Roy announces.
Duster stands, pulling off his shirt. "Ah, a great idea m'chap!"
Ike shrugs. "Well, I may as well join."
"I'll tend the fire," I say.
A few seconds later, there's three mighty splashes, as the trio dive in. Sighing, I lean back, prodding the dwindling fire with a stick. But, to my surprise, Ollie and Angie approach.
I frown. "Can I help?"
Angie steps forwards. "Yeah. We - Ollie and I, we've been thinking a bit."
"Thinking?"
"And we've tried speaking to our parents," Ollie interrupts hurriedly. "But they didn't listen."
Angie looks down. "It's - why does everyone seem so content? Like they've forgotten we're riding to our deaths?
I breathe a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness. I'm glad you two are thinking straight. You're right - everyone's just slipping into this new routine, without a second thought."
"That's why we came to you," Ollie explains earnestly. "We wanted to ask you..."
Angie looks up. "...Wanted to ask: what are we going to do?"
I shift in place "I've been trying to talk to Ike, but it's been no good."
Ollie hangs his head. "We've been looking for weak spots in the brigade's defenses at night, but there are none."
I nod. "I found that too. I think tha-"
I'm cut off, by a sudden shout from behind me. "Hey! Need help over here!"
Turning around, I frown. "What's going on over there?"
It seems that the horses are trying to lead a stampede. The guy who called out is swiftly knocked down - a group of soldiers run over to try and restrain the horses, but something's evidently caused them alarm. As pandemonium breaks out, more and more soldiers are called over to try and restrain them, leaving their posts empty.
Very empty.
"Quick! Get the others!" I exclaim.
Understanding, Ollie and Angie run into the river, calling out - I meanwhile pack together the few possessions that we've retained, because this is such a good opportunity to get away-
I notice Ike obediently going over to the chaos - and I shout his name.
He groans. "What is it?"
"Come here!"
Reluctantly, he jogs over. "What? There's a bit of a crisis right now, if you hadn't noticed, and I'm supposed to be helping."
I take a deep breath. "This is our chance to get away. Ike, you can choose to come with us or not, and-"
"Escape?!" Ike exclaims. "I can't let you all do that."
"Come on!" I plead.
"Yeah,' Roy adds, arriving. "Please, Ike-"
Ike looks left and looks right. "Look, if the governments found out I'd deserted the freaking First Brigade, I'd be thrown into jail. I'm sorry, but my answer is no."
He makes to leave, but I grab his arm. "You'll die, otherwise. I think I know what Tazmily's secret weapon is, and if I'm right, everyone dies. Not just you."
Ike shakes me off. "I have no reason to trust what you say."
"Come on," I plead. "We've not got long here-"
Ike looks behind him nervously. The horses run amok, trampling soldiers, crushing supplies, creating a general panic that causes anyone in the vicinity of them to jump back with alarm.
Roy slings an arm around Ike, who visibly shudders. "Please. For Marth, for the friendship we once had."
"I've already said-"
Roy sighs. "Ike, I'm begging you, here. You might not know this man, Steven, but he means well. He leads well. In life, there are moments, moments, when we have to choose. Choose the right thing, choose our path. And I've seen what Porky can do. I've experienced it - it's hell. Agony for all. If you follow these others, into their silly battle, Porky wins. Porky takes your sanity, your soul, your humanity. So choose - choose us. Choose safety. With me. Stand with me."
Ike sighs. "...Screw you and your big speeches! Alright, alright. Fine! I'll come along. But only if you," he turns sharply, 'Steven', tell me who you really are. And don't lie - I recognise you, and I know I do."
I bite my lip. I have no choice.
"Okay, then. Ike. You know me, from your time at school. I work up at Onett Boarding School. But, recently I ended up out here, because Porky tricked me, stealing my identity, locking me in a cell in his underground… hideout. I escaped, stole his book of blueprints, put it in the bookshelf of the only two people that can possibly help this whole situation, and I ran away, out here. I reached Tazmily, met all these others, and the rest is history. Ike, my name is not Steven. I'm Headmaster Hand."
Roy lets out a shout of assent. "I knew it! I knew I recognised you from somewhere!"
"All those trips to my office," I smile, wryly. "Of course."
Ike's eyes widen. "Didn't you say Marth became a maths teacher? You must see him around! Is he alright?"
I nod. "Yeah. A little sad, I think, but otherwise alright. But come on - now you know me, we need to get the others. It's time to leave."
...
(Lucas)
A blade held sharply to my throat,
A choice that he can hardly make,
A patterned whisper in the shadow,
A path that I can't dare to take.
Responsibility now looming greater,
Than it has even loomed before,
There is no more 'we'll do it later,'
We lost the battle, but now, the war.
The thunder crashes, sheets of rain lashing my face, lightning continuing to strike. I'm sitting outside, alone, by the lake, curled up in a little ball - sobbing my eyes out. Ness would be here too, but fortunately, he has enough emotional intelligence to realise that I need some time alone.
A lot of time alone.
I don't think it's quite hit him yet; the seriousness of the situation. For one - Ryu. I can visibly see that Ness hasn't really begun to process it. Me, I'm used to a life built on loss, I'm ashamed to say that I'm already at the acceptance stage.
It's a travesty. Ryu, he gave so much. He was, in all honesty, more of a father to me than my father has ever been. The worst part is how underwhelming his death was, compared to everything else that happened:
Headmaster Hand turns out to be the villain, but he turns out to be Porky in disguise, so the real Headmaster Hand is out there, somewhere, and-
My head throbs. Either way, Ryu deserves space in my thoughts. He deserves to be avenged.
I close my eyes, venturing into the dangerous space of my mind.
Hell. Fire. Future Humans. Porky, yelling maniacally. Ness trembling, holding the blade to my throat. Burning agony. Torture. Screaming. Terror. Death. Ryu, wrestling Porky down. Toon Link, ducking under the arm of the nearest Future Human. Villager, frantically picking up Red's unconscious body. Ness, sobbing. Sobbing. Tears, flooding down my cheeks. Lightning. Thunder. Future Humans. Moving. Time. Mounting. Fire. Ryu. Dead. Ryu. My fault. My fault.
I let out a sob, throwing my eyes back open. "P-PK FIRE!"
A blaze of flame launches from my hands, before being consumed by the water.
Toon Link and Villager are attending to Red, who's still unconscious. It hits me that we're supposed to be leaving soon; the Wilderness Survival week awaits, but I can't even survive this onslaught of emotions.
I can't figure out if I'm angry at Ness, or not. I begged, I pleaded, for him to do it. To… kill me. What kind of person asks that of their best friend? But then, on the other hand, my survival meant that some kind of nanobots - whatever the hell they are - sent a signal - whatever the hell that is - that initiated the conversion of tens of thousands of people into Future Humans - however the hell that's possible.
It throws a spanner into the works of my romance issue, too. On the one hand, Ness having potentially initiated the end of everything is a bit of a turn off, but then on the other hand, him choosing me over saving the world…
A bizarre giggle escapes my mouth, and I clap my hand over it, surprised at myself. But, I conclude: however I feel, I need to work it out pretty soon, if the pressure is this high. The stakes have never been higher for Ness.
Thinking back to being underground, in Porky's base, is nightmarish. The helplessness, initiated by pressing the red button. The torturous pain. Agony. Unbearable agony, that led me to death's door, down a steep precipice of terror, into an abyss of millions of red hot knives. And then everything else that happened as well - being bound, Porky unveiling his high speed train, Ryu, the rockfall, Future Humans, everywhere-
It's too much. I plunge my head into my hands, as more and more sobs escape me. I want to throw myself into the lake. I hate this - all these feelings. I try to repress, but it's too much - there's no space left in me. Nowhere to push it all down to. And when I overflow - this happens. Tears mix with the rain, falling in equal measure. It's so cold out here - but hell if I care. I could get struck by lightning out here - but again, hell if I care.
I mentally hit myself, over and over. It's something else to focus on. I wish I had the balls to actually hit myself, but I'm too weak. Feebly, I try to swing a fist at my chest, and I barely even feel the impact.
What if Ness could see you now?
He'd be ashamed. But then again, I've probably ruined it all anyway. I asked him to kill me. To kill me! He would never have been able to live with himself.
Speak of the devil, Ness's silhouette appears out of the main school door. Hastily I dry my eyes, not wanting him to see that I've been crying - what's he even doing out here? It's tipping it down with rain! And he hates the rain. Besides, can't he see that I want to be out here alone? Mmm. I suppose his heart has always been a few sizes too big.
Ness plonks himself down next to me, making a large squelching noise on the sodden ground. "Hey."
I turn to face the lake. "Hi."
He pouts. "Aw man, you're still mad at me?"
I give him a warning glance.
"Sorry," Ness looks down. "No jokes. Sorry. This is serious. This is… serious hours. Serious hours in the pouring rain. Serious o'clock."
I look away. Not even Ness's goofing around can cheer me up. Nothing can, not like this. Not when these tears have claimed me.
Ness frowns. "Hey, come here. Come on. It's alright."
I don't move, burying my face into my pale knees. My insides squirm.
"C'mon," Ness coerces. "Talk to me. What's up."
I bite my lip, muffled. "You know what's up."
A soft hand makes contact with my back. "Yeah, but what are you doing out here? All alone?"
I pause, considering this.
"...Because being with everyone else hurts," I answer, honestly.
Cautiously, Ness tries to pull me a little nearer. "Lucas…"
I cry out, the tears accelerating. "It's too much, Ness. All this. All that we have to do! All the pain! Ryu! Everything else! And I-" I choke up. "I don't know what to do with myself."
"L-Lucas-"
"And - and I'm so alone, and so afraid, and so…" I gulp. "Miserable."
In one quick motion, Ness pulls me near, and I sob helplessly, into the gentle folds of his shirt. His tender arms wrap around my waist, holding onto my broken form, like a mother holds her child.
"It's okay, Lucas," Ness whispers.
"Help me," I choke back. "Help me. Please."
"We'll get through this. I promise, Lucas, we will.
I become aware that I'm shaking. "I-I can't - it's all dark - It all seems so dark!"
Ness tightens his hold. "Hey. Hey, don't give up. There will be light, yeah? It'll get better."
"Everyone's gonna die, a-and- it's all my fault!"
"No, Lucas, it's not your fault. None of this is your fault."
But I'm slipping away. "It is… it is… everything…"
The rain continues to pelt, and Ness continues to hold me. We stay like that for what feels like hours - until we're both soaked through and shivering, and until my tears run themselves dry. Ness unfurls himself from around me, and we end up sitting side by side, holding hands, just staring at the lightning, as it strikes down great forks in the distance.
Ness leans his head down on my shoulder. "You ready to come inside?"
An unusual feeling leaps up in my stomach. "I'm not… sure."
"That's okay."
I'm grateful that he's easy with it. I'm so grateful that he's here for me. I'm grateful for everything Ness has given to my life.
"I love you, Ness," I mumble. "I - yeah. You're everything. You're amazing. I love you."
Ness smiles softly. "I'm guessing we're still best friends, then?"
"Of course," I assure him. "Sorry. I'm not angry at you. It's, it's everything else. Porky. Mother. Claus. The end of the world."
He nods. "All those normal topics of teenage angst.
I laugh slightly. "Yeah… Ah, apathy would be so much easier."
Ness lightly thumbs my palm. "Mmm, maybe… but it wouldn't be you."
I consider it. "I guess not."
Ness runs a hand through his hair, launching droplets of water into the grass. "Come on, we really should go inside, Lucas. It's freezing out here, it's tipping it down with rain. We'll catch a cold."
I shrug. "It's not that bad."
"But we gotta go inside, prepare for Wilderness survival…"
I fiddle with the grass, plucking a blade of it and throwing it into the lake. "What preparation is there to do?
Ness frowns. "I dunno… but we should probably go do it."
I smile slightly. "How on earth am I going to survive a whole week in solitude with you?"
"How about an entire lifetime?"
I cock my head to the side. "Are you proposing marriage to me?"
Ness goes beet red, and I laugh. It feels refreshing.
"Come on," Ness dictates, picking me up off the floor. I yelp in protest - but he's way too strong. My eyes are still red and puffy - I'm not sure I want everyone seeing me like this yet. I struggle to get my feet back on the ground, but Ness decides to carry me over his shoulder, rendering me defeated. Secretly, I'm pleased for an excuse to get indoors and out of the rain - I'm soaked through, and I'm shaking like a leaf. But Ness doesn't need to know that.
When we're inside, and the refreshing breath of warmth washes over me, Ness puts me down in the games room.
"Is Red awake yet?" I ask.
Ness sits down next to me. "He is, but he's kind of gone… loopy."
A jolt runs down me. "L-Loopy?"
"Yeah… spouting all kinds of nonsense."
I bite my lip. "Those - those things - the receivers - I hope they didn't mess with him too bad."
Ness shifts uncomfortably. "They might've. It's hard to tell..."
There's a knock at the door, and a grave looking Shulk quickly puts his head around. "We're leaving for Wilderness Survival now. Everyone is to be on the train in the next 10 minutes. Thanks."
"I guess we'd better go then," Ness sighs, standing up. "We should find the others, so we get a compartment with them."
Conveniently, the others come through the door - but it's a dismal scene. Pit and Toon Link are devoid of their usual smiles. Villager supports a docile Red with one arm, a pained expression on his face. Everyone looks tired, and fully worn down. Fair enough though - down there in those caverns was-
My head swims, and Ness has to catch me.
Toon Link walks over briskly. "You got him in then, Ness?"
Ness gives a grimace. "Eventually."
Toon Link claps me on the back. "Don't beat yourself up over all this, yeah, Lucas?"
"I won't," I lie.
Villager shifts. "We should get going."
"Going," Red giggles. "Going nowhere… going… everywhere!"
I gulp.
'Loopy.'
Ness takes my hand. "You're right, Villager, we should."
It's in nervous silence that we walk back outside, back through the continual rain, down the long, gravel track, to the bottom of the hill, where the train station lies. Strange, I often forget the station is there when we're not using it, but that's life. I give a last glance at the school - I'll be glad to get out of here, with all that's happened so far this term, but… I can't help but think, it's safer than being alone, in the middle of the woods, especially in the heat of a war.
If all is the same as normal, we'll be deposited somewhere near the big river that runs through the forest, in our pairs, and then left to our own devices. It's the same river that's near the school, just, we'll be further downstream… which, from past experience, is a blessing, and a curse. On the whole - I can't decide if I'm excited for this week, or immensely terrified. But, I can't really decide, or feel, much of anything, if I'm honest.
Ugh.
It feels weird, having been stuck in Porky's underground hideout for an hour or so, and then all of a sudden, we're leaving. And even worse - Ness and I are going to be separated from the others. Alone. What we really need to come up with is a plan… yet, our silence continues. I suppose, after what's happened, none of us even know what to say.
This continues all the way to the train station, where we're stopped. Of course, it seems the train hasn't even arrived yet, so we'll be waiting even longer. Realising something else, I inwardly curse - dammit! I've forgotten the best known Wilderness Survival Week trick - smuggling food from the previous meal along with us in our pockets. With the play happening, I completely forgot. Vaguely, I wonder how it ended… but, ngh, we could end up being hungry. Very hungry.
Shulk clears his throat. "So, uh, before we all get on the train, there's some announcements that I have to give."
I bite my lip. Rosalina must've told the rest of the staff the news.
Everyone ignores Shulk though, and he shifts in place. "Uh, can everyone listen up, please?"
Rosalina interrupts, clapping her hands together loudly. "Please, everybody, these are important announcements. You'll all get out of the rain soon enough, just listen up."
Silence falls - but it's broken.
"Sorry I'm late," Hop gasps, running onto the platform. "I was taking Wooloo back - oh-"
There's some muted laughter, but Rosalina and Shulk's faces remain unamused.
"Alright," Shulk begins, visibly shaking, to my alarm. "This, this is going to be a surprise, but, Professor Ryu, to those who don't know him, the History teacher, has been killed.
There's alarmed gasping from everybody, and talk breaks out.
"And," Shulk raises his voice. "Professor Wario, Business teacher, has also been killed. You'll probably remember we thought that Wario was behind the disappearances - well, Headmaster Hand turned out to be an imposter, and both Professor Ryu and Professor Wario were killed by this imposter, and we have no idea where the real Headmaster Hand is-"
Everyone begins to shout out questions, and Rosalina has to cut in.
"I know, this might be a shock. This is all very sudden, and, terrifying, not least to us other Professors. But, we're trying to sort something out. We're appealing once more to the Onett government to get you all home, despite the virus. The events of this term have highlighted the lack of safety in our school. Until then, we will have to carry on as normal - beginning with this Wilderness Survival Week."
More questions are shouted out, but the train rolling into the station with a mighty puff cuts any of them out. I'm not even sure what to say, what to think, especially if we're all sent home after this week - the least of my worries right now is living with Father and having to deal with life in Onett. Hell - everything's up in the air. Everything. Words can't even describe it anymore.
Silently, I board the train, Ness still holding onto my hand. I'm grateful for that. It's some anchorage to the real world. Something that manages to hold through, despite the pain.
The six of us choose a compartment, and we sit down, closing the door behind us, fully uncertain as to what the hell we say and do now. Ness sits by the window, which I'm again grateful for; memories of the Face, pressed against it, from the journey to school at the start of the term, are still very much fresh in my mind.
Rain splatters the top of the train. How long can one storm last? Though, I've not heard any thunder or lightning in a while. Maybe it's getting better...
"Alright, we're out of earshot of everyone, we need to make a plan," Toon Link decides, taking initiative.
"I agree," I nod, grateful for the opportunity. "If we're gonna take Porky down-"
"-Then we're going to need to work together," Ness finishes.
"And Red," Villager mumbles. "We need to work out what to do about him."
"What do you mean!" Red laughs, a dopey expression on his face. It would be funny if it wasn't so horribly wrong.
I try to ignore it. "We also need to find out where our pre-assigned spots are, for this week."
"Yes," Toon Link agrees. "Then, we can meet up, and go to New Pork City, and overthrow Porky!"
"I don't think it'd be that simple, Toonie," Villager sighs. "New Pork City is probably massive, if what the newspapers have been saying is true. And then if what Porky said was true, then there's also 10,000 Future Humans waiting for us."
Toon Link shivers. "But we've got Ness and Lucas's powers, yeah?"
I nod slowly. "Yeah, but… after, after, the big fireball that killed all the Future Humans," I deliberately avoid mentioning Ryu. "I felt really, really drained-"
"I did too," Ness nods.
"-so, I'm not sure we'd be able to do that too many times. I think our powers have a limit."
Toon Link curses. "Well, that's no good."
We fall into another silence as the train begins to move. I register vaguely that Pit is barely talking. Ness leans his head against my shoulder again, but his hair is wet and cold, so this time it's slightly less comfortable… yet still pleasant. For once, I wrap an arm around him, instead of the other way around, and I'm sure I catch a little smile on his lips.
Stop getting your hopes up, Lucas.
I frown. Hopes up? When did I start thinking like that?
"So, yeah," Toon Link continues. "The six of us need to meet up - Pit, are you gonna be okay with that? With you and Red?"
Pit snaps out of a daze. "Huh?"
Toon Link frowns. "Pit, you ok?"
"Sorry, sorry, just… thinking about… Porky, the underground place, it's, a lot to take in-"
"What happened to you, before we arrived?" Ness asks curiously.
"Well, uh, I got sent to the headmaster in the morning, for beating up Diddy Kong-"
"-That was a good move, by the way," Toon Link chips in.
Pit smiles weakly. "...Thanks. But, he saw that as an opportunity. He's very smart, see. When Wii Fit Trainer left the office, Headmaster Hand took me away, down the passages to the underground, I tried to struggle, but of course, it was no use. He kept me there all day, planning stuff, planning to trap you all. And then it turned out he wasn't Headmaster Hand, and - ngh."
"Damn," Villager grimaces. "Sounds rough."
"Yeah…" Pit shifts. "Uh, how about the play? Did I miss much?"
It's obvious that he's trying to change the subject.
"Hah, you missed a lot!" Toon Link laughs, perking up. "Ah, so, me and Villager dressed in drag, and then I asked Villager to be my boyfriend."
Pit snorts. "Yeah, right. What actually happened?"
"I can unfortunately confirm that Toon Link is telling the truth," sighs Villager.
Pit's eyes widen. "Wait - what?! Well - are you guys together!?"
"Ah," Toon Link begins. "Well, Villager doesn't know how he feels yet, so, I'm gonna be nice and patient for him-"
"You better," Villager smirks.
"-And then we'll see. Fingers crossed."
Pit laughs, and it's surprisingly not forced. "Wow. Guess I did miss a lot."
The tension slightly lifted, I stare out of the window as the train begins to move. We're probably going to be here a long time - every half mile or so, the train will have to stop, so that a group can get off. It's an unfortunate side effect of spacing everyone out for the wilderness survival week. Hopefully though, Ness and I will get off the train nice and early. And hopefully, we'll get off at a bit that's close to the river, so it's not too long a walk.
I can't help but feel there's got to be a much better way to arrange this, but I guess the school makes do with the transport that's available, and that's that.
Professor Rosalina knocks on the compartment door. Her eyes are notably puffy and red - and I feel a twinge of guilt as Ryu enters my thoughts once again.
"Alright," Rosalina tries to smile, once the door is opened. "So, I'm here to tell you when you're getting off." She produces a very large piece of paper.
Toon Link nods. "Okay."
"Pit and Red, you'll be getting off at the 18th stop."
Red laughs and claps his hands. "Okay!"
Rosalina frowns, caught out. "Uh-"
"There was an incident,' Villager explains sadly. "He's gone a bit… wrong."
Rosalina's face falls. "Oh dear - is he going to be okay to do this week?"
"I'll take care of him," Pit assures.
Rosalina nods slowly. "If you're sure… Okay, anyway, Villager and Toon Link, you'll be getting off at the 20th stop."
Villager nods, only slightly listening.
"Ness and Lucas-"
I look up, upon my name being called.
Rosalina checks the list. "You'll be getting off at the 19th stop."
Ness nods. "Ok."
"I'll let you know more when you're there, but best of luck."
"Thank you," I say, as Rosalina leaves.
Toon Link turns. "Okay, that's pretty much perfect. Here's what I think: When we get off the train, we walk down to the river. We sleep, then in the morning, Villager and I will travel along the river, until we reach Ness and Lucas. Ness, Lucas, you two would just stay in place, and wait for us to come. Then, when we've got to you, we can find Pit and Red. After that, we'll retrace our steps, going the other way, following the river until we get into Onett. Sound good?"
I frown. "Onett? Why would we go there? Don't we need to get to New Pork City?"
"We need to go to Onett to get supplies, before going to New Pork," Toon Link reasons. "We'd need food for example, 'cause, I really don't wanna starve-"
Villager holds up his hands. "Wait up here though, you're really proposing that we walk right into New Pork City?"
Toon Link shrugs. "What else can we do? We need to go there and destroy it all, somehow. Before Porky takes over the entire world."
"But, that's so dangerous! We don't even know what we're doing-"
"I'm with Villager," agrees Ness. "That's crazy."
I shift. "It's the best we've got, though."
Pit nods, joining the conversation at last. "I agree. From what I heard down there, when he had me captured, there's a big, big factory that is going to be used for mainstream conversion. If we could destroy it…"
"With a big PK Fire…" Ness adds.
"Then, we could destroy all the Future Humans, and destroy Porky!"
"Oh yeah," Villager pulls a disgusted face. "Porky's somehow kept alive by the Future Humans, or something."
Toon Link pats him on the head "It's best not to question it. That's what I do. With all of this freaking impossible stuff."
Nervously, I move forwards. "So that's agreed?"
Toon Link nods. "When we get off the train, we walk to the river, we sleep, then meet up, then Onett, then New Pork City. Got it."
Pit nods too. "Definitely. We're gonna do this. I'm going to avenge Dark Pit."
"And Ryu," Toon Link adds confidently. "Villager, Ness, you in?"
Ness shrugs. "Well, if Lucas is in, I'm in."
Villager rolls his eyes. "Well, if I'm going to end up getting killed, I wouldn't mind getting killed with you guys, so yeah, I guess I'm in."
Toon Link cheers, and a new kind of confidence forms over our group. I try not to worry about what happens when it comes to the Wilderness Survival Week ending and the professors discove us missing. I try instead to focus on the positives - we have a plan, we're gonna hopefully sort this out. Suddenly, it seems a lot more feasible, the whole thing.
Pleased, I snuggle up to Ness in spite of myself. Maybe everything will be okay, after all?
Suddenly, Red turns to us. "Where are we?! Where is - he! Porky!"
Alarmed by the sudden noise, Villager jolts. "Huh? Porky? He's not here, what do you-"
But Red seems completely panic stricken. "Are you working for him - all of you!?"
"Red, please - chill! Porky isn't here."
Red rocks back and forth. "He did things - such terrible things - such terrible things!" All of a sudden, he's grabbing Villager around the neck, and Toon Link is up and trying to prise them apart - and there's shouting - and noise, until with an almighty sound, Red collapses back against his seat, fast asleep.
Villager gasps for air. "What - the hell - was that!"
"What the hell has Porky done to him, more like," Toon Link mutters darkly. "Are you hurt, Villy?"
Villager grimaces. "I'll live."
Ness turns to Pit. "You sure you'll be alright with him, for a whole week?"
"He'll get better," Pit says, though it's without much conviction.
The train slows to a halt. Marth makes his way through our carriage, clipboard in hand. "This is stop number 1! That's Nana and Popo. Come on, out you go-"
I catch a glimpse of the pair, as they walk past our compartment. But, remembering the awkwardness of Nana confessing her feelings, I decide just to turn away. Soon enough, they've gotten off, and we're moving again.
"Did anyone remember to save any food from dinner?" Ness asks us all, hopefully.
Toon Link nods. "You bet! Did you forget?"
Ness hangs his head. "...Yeah."
Out of his many pockets, Toon Link produces an array of apples, slices of bread, some pork, oatmeal, three sausages, four carrots, a lot of peas, and a solitary parsnip.
Villager frowns. "Where on earth did you get all this?"
Toon Link shrugs. "Been saving it up since the start of term. Grabbing what I can."
I think. "But I don't remember eating any parsnips…"
He blushes. "I brought them along with me, from home."
"From home?" Villager laughs. "First, you bring scented candles - then you bring a parsnip? Toon Link, what else are we going to find in your dorm?"
Toon Link's face takes a worried expression. "Uh, lots of crazy things, hah. But uh, don't go looking, please-"
"Yeah," Pit chimes in. "Don't do that."
Villager looks between the pair, visible confusion on his face. "Are you hiding a dead body, or something? Gosh, I'm not planning to go looking, don't worry."
Toon Link leans back against his seat. "Good. Sorry, it's just… uh, something. A thing."
"A thing," Villager repeats.
"A thing," Pit agrees.
"Alright, you two are mad," Villager concludes, turning around.
Toon Link nods, pleased with himself. "You bet I am,"
"Though, I am glad to be teaming up with you, even if it's gonna be just for tonight," Villager nods appreciatively, towards all of the food, and Toon Link grins.
"You bet. Oh, yeah, my point was, Ness, you can grab some of that if you're hungry."
Happily, Ness takes an apple, biting into it. "Delicious."
I look back out of the window. Finally, it seems, as we move away from school, we're getting away from the storm. The rain is certainly less, and there's no signs of any thunder or lightning. That has to be a good sign, right? A sign that our newfound plan will work out? I can't help but feel like I'm due a piece of good luck.
The journey continues, and we make more stops, but it's nearing our time - we're fortunate that our stop is fairly early on. Then, when we arrive, we can simply head to sleep, and all of us can meet up in the morning, and then we can, well, sort this all out.
Sorry for the repetition. I keep running over it in my mind. I can think of scarcely anything else. I need sleep - I need so much sleep. I lean my head against Ness, for the umpteenth occasion today. I could well believe that time has been going slower since this morning - I can hardly think back to having lessons earlier, I can hardly remember anything we've been taught today. It all got overshadowed, by, well, everything. Everything that happened.
I resist my eyes that threaten to well up, again. Why can't I process it? Why can't I process what happened down there? I don't get it - I feel simultaneously like I should be more affected by it, but then, I also feel like I'm overreacting over it. We escaped, didn't we? Unscathed? But…
Pain. Agony. A million knives, slicing into every cell in my body. I retch and roll on the floor, screaming. There is only screaming.
Ness senses my distress, and he pulls me near enough for our foreheads to just make contact.
The weird tingling sensation of his voice speaking in my head comes. 'What's on your mind?'
I put an arm around him.
'Everything.'
There's no real need for words. Ness just wraps me in one of his signature hugs, and I suppose it eases my mind a little bit. A smidge. Not much, but enough. Enough to prevent a second breakdown.
"We should get some sleep," Villager decides. I hum my approval.
"Someone should stay awake, in case when we reach our stop,' Ness realises.
Toon Link waves a hand dismissively. "I'll stay awake, then. I won't be getting to sleep anytime soon. Bloody insomnia."
"Alright," Villager agrees, curling up on his side.
And so, I let my head droop against Ness's shoulder, tossing myself into a restless sleep.
…
…
…
Darkness.
Why's it so… dark?
Where am I, even?
I pick myself up off of the floor, gasping for breath, instantly alert. All around is pitch black - I run my hand along the ground I'm standing on, and it feels… rough. Like dirt. Only, more regular. It's still loose enough to pick up and toss around in my fingers.
"Hello?" I call out nervously.
I'm met with a deafening silence.
I take a cautious step. "Is anyone here?"
Again, there's no reply. I shudder - I hate the dark. Wherever, this is cold, so miserable. There's a real sensation of… desertion. Loneliness.
Nothingness.
All of a sudden, a bright light erupts from the sky - momentarily blinded, I turn, shielding my eyes. The light comes from what looks to be an immense sun, angry, and red, and it's joined by blue sky, and the brightness shows me exactly where I seem to be. A desert - but completely flat, completely empty. No cacti, no oasis, no dunes, just flat, earthy, orange tones, spreading as far as I can see.
I sweat. Forget the initial cold - I'm burning up now, the sun is intense, beating down. Nervously, I try to cover my face - I burn really easily. Once, when I was much younger, I'd gotten sunburned all over my cheeks, in the summer months, and it had hurt like hell; red, raw skin, peeling, flaking away. I remember not knowing what it was - thinking I was dying, and rushing to Ness's house, where Ness had to assure me that it was alright.
The problem at hand though; the desert. In a desperate attempt to stay cool, I pull off my shirt - I figure there's nobody around, so there's no way I can get too embarrassed. Next, I run my hand through the sand, trying to gauge its depth - but it's seemingly infinit.
I find myself gasping for breath. Somehow, this open space is incredibly claustrophobic - and in fact, I start also feeling dizzy.
In the haze, sit down, just staring up at the sky. Walking anywhere wouldn't do me any good, so, why not just stay here? For the rest of my days? There's no worries here. No problems. No death. But as soon as I think that, the great red sun disappears in a flash, and pitch black darkness swallows me again. Shivers run down my spine - somehow, the temperature has shifted back down to absolutely freezing. Confused, I stand to put my shirt back on.
But then, without warning, comes the fear.
It comes, just as I'm pulling my shirt over my head. It freezes me in place, fully immobilising every limb, every finger and toe, and suddenly I'm deadly cold. Terrified. In a flash of memory I see the big red button, Porky's grin, Porky's horrific grin, that he wears when he looks at… me. Why me? What's so special about me? But then those thoughts are replaced - almost as if my mind is working of its own accord. Instead, images of dark, howling birds fill my vision, and I can hear them, hear them screaming, like lost souls, like Ryu, like Wario, like Dark Pit, like-
Suddenly, a voice. "Tonight will be awful, yet tomorrow, unimaginable."
All of a sudden, I am released. The terror eases. I'm not sure where those words came from, but… I quake in place, straining my ears for any sounds of howling but, mercifully, there are none.
But all of a sudden - there are - and it's deafening. Blasts of icy winds, pummeling my face, throwing my shirt out of my hands, away to who knows where. It plasters the hair to my face, and mounts, and I can almost feel it picking me up, and taking me away, but-
All of a sudden, it's finished again. No more wind. Dead silence, in this awful, awful place.
But then; the fear, for the second time. This time worse than before - leaping and bounding, diving at me like crows, and I lie terrified, helpless and alone, certain that something is deeply wrong. Deeply awful. I must be going mad. Then the wind starts up again, lurching into a sickening scream, building and building, and there's a sudden thumping noise, coming from behind me - I whirl round, heart racing. And in a final awful moment, terror seizes me like a beast; then comes a tearing crash, the howl of the wind suddenly so much harsher, colder, and a great blast of it flings me cowering away. Someone shrieks - there's banging, clattering, and I lie, scarcely conscious, as all these sounds and feelings and horrors unfold around me. But then there's a voice, calling in concern, and a merciful light, that brings me back to life.
It's Ness's voice. "Lucas? Lucas!?"
Slowly, I open my eyes, to see the roof of the train, to see Ness's dark pupils, staring over me with concern, to see the clock on the wall, ticking slowly. I must've collapsed into Ness's lap - my knees are drawn right up to my chest.
Seeing my open eyes, Ness takes my hand. "Lucas? Are you okay?"
I nod, my voice evading me.
"You were shaking - was it a nightmare?"
Again, I nod, trying to move my lips, but I find them stuck in place.
Ness runs a hand over my forehead. "You're burning up. It's alright, you're safe. You're okay." Each word of Ness's calming tone brings me closer to reality again.
"What's going on?" I ask, weakness penetrating my words.
Ness pulls me up, so that I'm leant against his shoulder again, before he puts his arms around me. "Not sure. The train hasn't moved in a while - and all the gas lamps went out."
Just like before.
I quake. "Wh-What!?"
"The others have gone out to investigate, but they've not come back yet."
"Which stop are we on?"
"Stop 13," Ness says briskly. "Nearly at ours."
"13? Already?"
"Yeah. Already. It's stopped raining though, at least."
He's right. Though droplets remain on the glass, no new ones are being added.
Quietly, I turn my head, back to Ness's shoulder again, speechlessly grateful for his presence. "We should go see what's happening."
"We should," Ness agrees.
I sit up. "Alright."
Checking myself over, I use the table to help my quivering legs take root on the ground. Everything seems to be okay. But, still, I feel colder than the wind had made me, in the nightmare. The dry ache of terror still hangs rigidly in my chest. If only it were as simple as having been afraid of the darkness… yet, something about the dream was deeply, deeply troubling.
I hear the howling voices again: "Tonight will be awful, yet tomorrow, unimaginable."
…
We walk out of the compartment, to an eerie silence. The train corridor is empty - I move my hand near a gas lamp, feeling the remnants of its heat on my palm.
Ness nudges me, pointing with his eyes to the carriage door. In silent agreement, we walk towards it - past other compartments, that are, to my relief, still full of people. But what's happening?
But just as we reach the door, it bursts open - and out tumbles Toon Link, Pit, and Villager, with a disconcertingly giggling Red.
"Did you find out what's going on?" Ness asks, nervously.
"Not a clue," Villager sighs. "The professors are all in the front, talking to the driver - they wouldn't let us in."
Crash.
"What was that?!" I yelp.
"Can't be anything good," Pit says, with a sharp turn. I notice the people in the other compartments start to crane their necks, looking around, worried.
"Bloody hell, I've had it with creepy stuff!" Toon Link exclaims. "Screw this. I'm going back into the compartment, going to sleep, and then waking up when everything is okay."
He makes to storm off, but Villager grabs his shoulder. "Toon Link, please-"
"No! No, I am not fighting any more monsters, or creepy Futures Humans, or creepy men, or anything else!"
Villager releases him, and a sort of understanding passes between the pair. "Alright, fair enough. But you have to look after Red."
Red claps his hands. "Hooray!"
Grumbling, Toon Link agrees, and, taking initiative, he walks back down the corridor, entering into the compartment again, Red behind him.
Villager sighs. "Well, guess it's just-"
Crash.
"It's coming from the roof!" Ness exclaims.
He's right.
"What do we do?" I ask nervously.
"I say, we go down the train some more, ask around, see if anyone's seen anything weird," Pit reasons.
"Sounds as good as anything," Villager says, and so we open up the carriage door, crossing between, and we knock on the first compartment we come to.
It turns out it's Hop and his friend, Victor. Hop opens the door with a smile. "Hello."
"Hello," I reply, taking the lead for once. "Do you know what's going on?"
Crash.
Hop shrugs. "I dunno. But didn't something weird like this happen on the train before, too?"
"Yeah," Pit remembers. "Now you mention it…"
"Yes," Ness says, impatient. "And so kickstarted a sequence of events that lead to a lot of bad things happening."
Victor stands. "Well, if I may, there's something weird going on outside the window."
Without time for pause, we hurry into the compartments, pressing our faces to the glass. At first, it's dark, and hard to make out exactly what he means, but, amongst the trees…
"That's a lot of birds," Pit notices. "They're huge!"
"Rooks," Hop scowls. "We get a lot of them on the farm at home. Sometimes they try to eat the chickens."
Birds…
Dark, howling birds. The empty plains. Unimaginable.
I shudder. "Well, they're just birds, right? Gathering?"
"Yeah…"
"It's freaky," Ness decides. "I don't like it."
Crash.
"And I don't like that noise, either!"
"Do you think Porky's sent something after us?" Pit tremors.
Hop cocks his head to the side. "Porky? Isn't he that rich businessman-"
"Long story," I cut him off. He looks downcast. "Sorry," I add.
"It's alright, but-"
Crash.
"That came from right above us! Something's definitely up there." Ness moans.
Hop tenses. "What, on the roof? Like what!?"
"I wish the gas lamps would get relit," Victor whimpers. "I hate the dark."
Pit stands up, quickly. "I think Toon Link was right. We should just go back to our compartment."
I cast a nervous eye at the roof. "...Yeah. Probably."
We leave Hop and Victor, but Rosalina runs down the corridor.
"Professor-" Ness calls out.
She stops running. "Yeah?"
"Do you know what's happening?" Ness asks plaintively.
"Tree fell down on the line, thanks to the storm. We've had to stop. Bowser and Wii Fit Trainer are out there trying to shift it."
"Why did all the gas lamps go out, then?" Villager asks.
"We're not sure, but, don't worry. Maybe go back to your seats."
Crash.
A chill runs down me.
"What was that?" Rosalina asks, frowning.
"It's been happening a while," I explain, stumbling over my words. "It's coming from the roof."
Ness grabs my hand. "We were trying to figure out what's going on, but…"
Rosalina's face darkens. "Then something is very wrong. All of you need to get into your compartment, at once."
"But-" Ness begins.
"No buts. Us professors are going to sort this out, okay?"
"No-" I protest.
Rosalina sighs. "Look, I don't mean to be snappy, but get back in your compartment, or I will have to give you all a detention, alright?"
I exchange an alarmed glance with Ness. "Sorry-"
Rosalina nods. "Alright. I'll keep you updated, alright? Just try not to worry."
"Right," Villager says, unconvinced.
We re-enter our compartment to find Red staring at the roof vacantly, with Toon Link asleep, true to his word.
Villager shoves him. "Oi."
Toon Link sits up rapidly. "Huh?"
"We got sent back here, so wake up, you're gonna need to help us out."
I sit down by the window, and Ness slides next to me, slipping an arm around my waist. I'm too emotionally exhausted to even be scared by whatever this is.
All of a sudden, Red freezes, looking down. "Cold. The night. The cold. The night."
Villager turns nervously. "Red?"
"Wrong. Wrong, it's all wrong!"
Crash.
"What's wrong?" Ness asks, holding protectively onto me. "Red, are you - are you back? Back to normal?"
Red's eyes freeze in place. "The fire. The ice. The cold. So. Cold."
Toon Link shudders. "What is he saying? Red, what do you mean?"
Crash.
Red suddenly goes slack, and he collapses against the wall of the train. Alarmed, Villager hurries over.
"He's got a pulse," Villager says, upon checking. "But, God, that was… weird. What the hell?"
"Beyond weird," Toon Link agrees. Pit barely responds.
"Probably the after effects of being under Porky's control," I reason. A hush falls over us.
Crash.
I jump, a lump rising in my throat. That one - it was louder, definitely louder.
Unimaginable.
Ness tightens his hold on me. "It's like nowhere is safe anymore."
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
We all freeze. It's an unmistakably different noise - the sound of something striking the roof.
Right above our heads.
"It's coming for us!" Pit exclaims suddenly. "It is - it's coming for us!"
Toon Link shakes. "No - it can't be. If there even is an it."
Villager turns sharply. "Are you really trying to suggest it's just the wind making that noise, or something?"
"No, but-"
Villager eyes the roof. "There's definitely something."
Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.
Toon Link stands, quickly, before hitting the roof four times, in response.
"Toon Link!" Villager hisses. "Don't do that! Now it knows we're here!"
"It already knew!" Toon Link argues. "I'm just seeing what it does!'
I gulp, staying silent
"Lucas, you okay?" Ness asks, quietly. I try to nod in response, but I find myself unable to.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Pit cowers in his seat. "It's trying to break through the roof!"
"Pit, please, calm down," Villager whispers harshly. "We need to be quiet. Maybe then it will think we're not here."
"It won't fall for that!" Ness debates.
Thump. Thump.
Something registers in my mind, and I jump, with alarm. "It's a countdown - it's a countdown! Five hits, then four, then three, now two…"
"You're right!" Ness yelps.
"Then what happens when it reaches zero?" Toon Link asks, his voice growing high.
We wait, with bated breath, staring up at the roof. Ness clings tight, onto my hand, and I cling tight onto his. My eyes burn from concentration, from the agony of waiting, from-
Thump.
…
Kaboom!
There's a sickening lurch - the train rocks to the side! Somebody screams - I can't see anything - it's dark - sparks fly - I focus on Ness's hand, but suddenly, we swing in the other direction - Ness shouts out - a whirlwind of chaos spins around us, before -
We're back to normal. The train is the right way up - I'm the right way up - but, but I feel faint, dizzy…
From all around, cries of alarm can be heard from the other students in our carriage. Heaven knows what that was, or what the thing out there tried to do, but evidently, it failed. The roof is intact. Relief washes over me.
"Is everyone okay?" I breathe, raggedly.
Toon Link gives a slight nod. "Yeah - yeah, I think so -"
"What the hell was that?" Ness cries out.
Toon Link shakes his head, as if trying to shake the memory from his mind. "It's like, it tried to knock over the train, and failed."
Ness stiffens. "Or tried to get in-"
"Or hit the roof-"
"Or tried to disconnect our carriage-"
"Or-"
"Or-!"
"Never mind all that," Villager whispers cautiously. "What's up with Pit?"
I turn. Pit's crouched in his seat, huddled. His knees are drawn up to his chest, and his arms are wrapped around his legs. He doesn't seem to be moving.
"Pit, you alright?" Toon Link asks, cautiously.
There's no response.
"Pit?"
The dark haired boy lifts his head, coming into our vision. He's become deathly pale - eyes glassy, completely absent.
Ness and I exchange a nervous glance.
"Pit, it's alright," Toon Link reassures. "It's stopped. The knocking's stopped, see?"
A voice that is not his own comes out of Pit's mouth.
...
"We are rising."
…
"P-Pit?"
"We are rising."
Toon Link shrinks back. "Oh God - what's happened to you!"
"What if the thing from outside-" Ness theorises. "But-"
Thump.
I shudder. "No, it's still out there."
"I'm scared," Ness whispers.
"So am I."
Pit's head turns sharply, and a small smile forms on his face. "We are coming. His power waxes and wanes."
Villager tenses. "Pit - what do you mean?"
Ness shrinks back "I really don't think that's Pit talking!"
"We rise. The Future Humans rise."
I shudder. Future Humans? Porky must be behind this! But, what, how-?
Thump.
"It is inevitable!"
"Someone, make him stop!" Toon Link wails.
"Shush!" Villager counters. "We need to find out information!"
"I don't care! This is all crazy! Bloody crazy!"
"We are awake. The storm has brought heaven down upon us! The end comes."
"Not if we have anything to do with it!" Ness exclaims.
"A new age is coming. An age without fear. An age without hatred. Without love, without kindness."
"No!" I protest. "That would be awful!"
"We will be liberated. We will be freed. Our inner selves, unleashed. The pain. The pain, it hurts!"
"I don't understand!" Villager cries out. "What do you mean?"
"Placet."
"Auxilium!"
There's an almighty crash - I instinctively duck, and glass shatters across our compartment. A metal arm reaches through the now shattered window, I blink rapidly, and Pit begins to laugh-
"DO SOMETHING!" Toon Link shouts, jumping to his feet.
I leap into action - hearing the wind rush outside, and the intensifying howls of the rooks - and the creaks, as climbing through the window, comes the unmistakable form of a Future Human.
"Come in!" Pit giggles. "Come get the fresh meat!"
"Push it out!" Toon Link yells, making to grab at it - but it's strong, it grips hard, to the window frame.
"Should I use PK Fire?" I exclaim.
Ness grabs my hand. "Too crowded in here for that!"
Pit rocks in his seat. "So much flesh! Flesh, to be burnt, consumed, replaced with metal, wood, and stone!"
"Toon Link, quick, get Red out to safety!" Villager commands.
"No! No, look, this thing, it's coming in! We have to get it out of here!"
"Toon Link, just listen! Get Red safe!"
Red stirs with a giggle.
"No!" Toon Link shouts. "We need to get this-"
"All will fall! All will be converted, improved beyond belief!"
The Future Human ducks its head underneath the window frame, and the stench of rotting flesh begins to fill the compartment. I try to push at its shoulders, but it doesn't budge at all-
Ness jumps up. "Guys! Stop arguing! Toon Link's right - we need to get this out!"
"So strong! So powerful! Divine!"
All of a sudden, the train begins to move forwards, and I'm thrown back against my seat. Rosalina's voice drifts down the corridor. "We're moving again, the tree has been cleared!"
"HELP!" Toon Link shouts out, but it's too late as Rosalina moves to a different carriage.
Pit begins to laugh, as we struggle.
"It's gripping too tight!" Villager cries, trying to unclench the Future Human's hands from the window frame.
"Blood of soldier, bone of sailor, all gone! All dust! All flesh is grass! Come in, come in! Look at this feast!"
The torso of the future human starts to slip into the carriage. The rooks swarm into a violent frenzy, circling above, and the train picks up momentum, clouds of smoke seeping in through the window.
I cough loudly, and panic builds, as the Future Human gives a great, angry cry, turning its head towards me, raising a fist as it begins to maneuver its leg...
"That's it! That's it! Further! Further!"
"Come on!" Toon Link shouts. "Push it!"
"I don't see you helping much!" Villager shouts back.
"I can't reach-"
Villager moves his legs out of the way. "Quick, then! Through there!"
Toon Link dashes through, colliding with the head of the Future Human - but it draws out a sword - where did that come from - and I scream, pushing for all I'm worth, and the train gets faster and faster… the blade swings, striking the clock on the wall with a crash! But, Ness snatches a piece of broken window glass and throws it into the fleshy eye-cole of the creature - with momentary agony, it lets go of the frame…
"NOW!" I yell.
With an almighty shove, the great metallic body slides out of the train, clattering to the ground outside. The creature lets out a metallic scream, making to get up, but it stumbles - we watch in haste, as it tries to grip onto the train - but it's too fast, and as we accelerate away, it disappears into the distance!
But there's no time for celebration.
"Check Pit's neck!" Villager calls out, sharply. Toon Link brushes Pit's hair to the side - and lo and behold - one of Porky's receivers! Toon Link makes to tear it off, but Villager holds him back. "Don't!"
Pit's eyes turn glassy, before returning to their normal state. "What the-"
"Am I talking directly to Porky?" Villager demands.
Pit frowns. "Huh? What do you-"
"We found the receiver. You must've be listening in on us - you must've attached this to Pit, down in your base!"
The receiver flashes briefly, and Pit snarls. "Game is up. At least I know your entire plan, though."
Toon Link curses. "What the hell!? So, Pit's in with Porky?"
"No," Ness explains. "Porky's talking through him, with the receiver."
Toon Link lets out another moan. "Too weird. I hate this."
The receiver flashes again. "Oh yes, by the way, I did escape, after you collapsed my hideout. Don't worry! I'll come get you soon! Hee hee! Ah, but I was hoping to have Pit as a spy for longer. There was some interference though... I'm an honest man, I'll admit that I lost control of him for a bit."
"Well, we threw off your attack on the train," Ness swells smugly. "Nice try."
"I didn't attack the train."
"I think we've heard enough," Villager decides, and just like that, he pulls the receiver away from Pit's neck, throwing it outside the window. Pit's eyes become completely vacant, and he collapses into Villager's arms.
There's a small silence, save the rushing noise of the wind through the open window.
"Everyone else, check your necks," Villager commands. "Just in case…"
I lift my hair, exposing that I'm all clean. Ness does the same, and Toon Link and Villager too. Relieved, Villager leans back with a sigh.
"Well, that was terrifying."
"We did it though," Toon Link notes, weakly. "But - ugh. Today has been too much. Way too much."
Villager rubs his arm. "Yeah. Sorry for shouting."
"I'm sorry too."
I lean back against Ness, knowing full well, that we may have won that battle, but knowing Porky… the war is long from won. Today has been truly terrible.
"There's broken glass everywhere," Ness notices. "We should find a new compartment."
Too exhausted to say anything, we do just that.
Ness eyes Pit. "So, so, Porky attached the receiver to him, while we were down in his hideout?"
"He was really quiet the whole time," I realise, sadly. "I didn't notice…"
Toon Link shakes his head. "I don't get it! How can those little things just - mean Porky has full control over someone?"
Villager shudders. "I don't know, but we need to watch our step. Question everything. That's Red and Pit that Porky's managed to get now. Anyone could be under his control."
Toon Link observes Pit sadly. "He'll be ok, right?"
"It'll probably be the same as with Red, won't it?" Ness utters.
I nod, saddened. "Yeah…"
We fall into silence. I phase in and out, between my thoughts, my worries, and unconsciousness. I'm so tired. So, so tired.
Eventually, we reach stop 18.
"Toon Link and Villager," Rosalina reads out. "Alright, come with me."
I wave. "See you soon..."
Villager smiles, but it's faint. "Yeah, see you guys soon."
They're led out of the carriage, and we travel in continued silence. They'll be okay - we'll see them again, tomorrow. I don't have the energy to worry about it.
Pit comes to, after a while, but he just lies, unspeaking, against the wall. I nearly start a conversation with him, but I don't think he's all there yet. At least he's better than Red, who remains asleep.
Soon we're at stop 19 - and it's finally our turn to leave. I'm glad to get out of this dirty, cramped space.
"Ness and Lucas," Rosalina smiles, as we haul ourselves up. "Just this way. You know the drill. Get off the train, walk due east for half a mile or so, until you reach the river. That'll be your place, okay? Stay there for the week, and come back here, next Saturday. Yeah?"
Ness nods, despite us having no intent of coming back. "Okay."
Rosalina frowns. "You two look absolutely shattered. Is everything alright?"
"Yeah," I lie. "Fine."
"Alright then, see you in a week's time. Stay safe."
"We will."
Ness and I step off of the train, into the night. The train puffs an enormous column of smoke, and Ness and I merely watch, as the wheels begin to turn, and the train disappears off, into the distance.
We're alone.
A/N
That became more intense than planned… some interesting things amongst all that. More clues being dropped…
And so Wilderness Survival week begins! Except, our protagonists are deciding to say 'Screw wilderness survival week, we're gonna save the world instead.' Go figure.
Maybe next chapter I'll give them a break.
Maybe.
Also, if you're on AO3, you would've seen the map, at the start! I've never drawn a map before so, uh, how is it? If you're on FFN, feel free to pop into the AO3 upload of this chapter, where you'll be able to see a hand drawn (by me) map of the whole setting of this fic! So, that's pretty cool. It took quite some time, and delayed the update. In fact, as of writing this, the map isn't done, but the chapter is… Also as of writing this, the chapter is a bit dialogue heavy, and it's another long one. Time to go edit!
Also, it's my birthday! If you're reading on the 5th July, anyways…
Side note: sorry for the slightly slow updates lately. School Work has been very mean. Also, the chapters have been longer than before… and, unsurprisingly, the map took some time! but fear not! I'll be on summer holiday soon.
Anyway, thank you for reading!
~ReadyForTeddy
