Chapter 41 - The Smiling Man (Part 2)

(Lucas)


Recap of Part 1 (because it's been a while, let's face it):


Whilst Villager and Toon Link had some casual banter in the prologue, our protagonists were found by none other than the Onett first brigade. After a chase where Lucas broke his ankle, they were collected up - when Lucas noticed an out of place smiling man amongst the crowd. Probably nothing, right? Claus, Ness and Lucas were then put in the 'prisoner area,' where they met the real Headmaster Hand and the Tazmily villagers, including Duster, Ollie and Angie for the first time. Unfortunately, that meeting was rather marred by the appearance of the smiling man - who turned out to be the very intimidating Geldegarde, whose presence started to drag up old memories for Lucas. Ollie used his wit to uncover that Geldegarde has a plot involving gunpowder, but before anything could be done, an overload of memories knocked Lucas out of action.


(Prologue: Villager)


Once we've cooked and eaten Toon Link's singular parsnip (no euphemism intended) and the sun has moved a reasonable way across the sky, it's time for us to set off again.

Or, it should be. Procrastinating is brilliant fun though, right?

"Fancy a swim?" Toon Link suggests.

I smile, pleased for an excuse to spend more time in this beautiful place. "Sounds good to me."

The river has calmed down since last night; much of the water from the storm has already entered it and flown away downstream by this point, so the current is a lot calmer. Pleasant, even. So we strip off to our underwear, and jump right in.

"Colder than I imagined," Toon Link shivers, standing. "But still nice. I was covered in dirt from sleeping on the ground the whole night."

"I think some insects got me," I realise, only now noticing a range of red marks covering my chest.

"Ouch," Toon Link groans in sympathy.

"Or I could just be allergic to you."

"Hey!" He exclaims, and I grin.

I lie back in the water, letting it carry me across to him. "We really should head off soon. To the others."

Toon Link grins. "Ah, relax. We're just giving Ness and Lucas a chance to get together."

I let out a snort of laughter. "Good point."

"How do you think Red and Pit are faring?"

My expression grows concerned, as I backstroke over to the opposite bank. "I'm not sure. I can't imagine they were even allowed to do the wilderness survival week, in the state they were in. You gonna swim, by the way, or just stand there?"

Toon Link rolls his eyes, turning onto his front. "Fine, I'll swim. But, agh, I still can't believe that Red and Pit were under Porky's control. How is that even possible?"

"I'm not sure," I murmur, as I find myself tangled in a load of reeds. "That Porky guy seems to have power that nobody else ever can."

Toon Link drifts over to help me out. "I wonder what Ness and Lucas did to rile him up so bad?"

"It's probably that they were being hopelessly slow with actually getting together, so Porky decided to create a load of tension and disaster, so it inevitably happens. The protagonists always get together - it's all a cunning ruse."

Toon Link snorts. "Well, that'd be quite the turn of events."

"You never know."

"Yeah…"

I swim downstream, finally free of the reeds. I turn onto my front, feeling a general flush creeping up my neck, threatening to invade my cheeks. I definitely don't need Toon Link seeing that. I notice a couple of small fish darting freely under the water, completely unaware of the fact that above them is a pair of very awkward boys. One of which has still no idea how he feels.

I suppose it all stems from what happened with Zelda. I say 'what happened' - more what didn't happen. I was dumb, I was stupid, but when I first came to Onett Boarding school, me and her became good friends. See, being with Red for so long at primary school, it was great and all, but young me wanted to branch out. To meet more people. So, when I ended up next to Zelda in Maths, I spoke to her, and turns out, we had a bit in common, and we got along great.

This was around the same time that I met Ness. See, Ness and I, we got on great too. He introduced me to his friendsLucas and Toon Link) and as a result, me, Red and them, the five of us, quickly formed our group. I never mentioned Zelda to them, though. I don't know why. Perhaps I thought they'd get the wrong idea, or tease me, or something. Perhaps because at that stage, we didn't really talk about anything aside from games and school.

But anyway, Zelda and I, we'd hang out in maths lessons, we were good friends, and that was simply how it was. Just friends.

Until the next year.

Puberty hit me like a brick, and because I was a dumb kid, that meant that of course I developed some kind of crush on her. I mean, why wouldn't I? She was beautiful, by the world's standards, and she was already my friend. Which meant, of course, because I've never been the shyest person ever, I eventually worked up the nerve to ask her out.

And I got rejected hard, and she hasn't talked to me since.

I mean, since when was asking someone out a cardinal sin? What's her problem? Why's she got to just ignore me? A simple no would've been fine, and we could've easily carried on as friends, but, of course not. She had to take it personally, and to think that I'm weird.

Again, I never told any of this to our group.

So, I suppose I've been trying since then to fix things between us. But, she is adamantly ignoring me, no matter when I try to talk to her, and that's just how she seems to have become. Obviously, I got over the crush pretty fast, as you do when you're rejected so harshly, but, that led to the next problem, which-

"You falling asleep?" Toon Link jibes. "C'mon, Villager. We got a big walk today, can't have you slacking off!"

I sigh. "Shut it, you."


(Lucas)


Giant's Mine. The biggest and the most intimidating of the Onett cavern entrances, named after the supposed 'giant-shaped' footprint on the ground outside it.

Giant's mine's reputation preceded it. Rumours of ghosts, workers that fell down and died, and rumours of conspiracies have always circled around Onett. It is a centerpiece for some religious groups within the city, and a prime tourist location, accompanied with its very own predictable tour company (run by Porky) that everyone knows (but never says) sowed the seeds of all the rumours for profit.

I remember seeing it myself for the first time. At the dead of night, of course. Father had taken me up there, to look at the mines, to show me how he worked. To show what was what. It was the first and only time he'd taken me out anywhere since Tazmily, or done anything nice for me.

Young me was admittedly quite frightened of it. Ness had dared me once in the past to run up there, but I'd flat out refused. Father's first ever offer to do something with me, though? No matter how scary, I wasn't going to turn that one down.

It was massive. A great mouth in the cliffs, leading vertically down a sheer 80-foot precipice that would result in almost certain death, as Father so kindly told me, if one were to go down without the proper safety equipment. I, for one, wouldn't dare step within 5 metres of a place like that, regardless of the safety equipment.

So when Father held up a harness and a rope, I was horrified.

"You're a man," he'd persisted. "Just go down. Come on - it's fun. It's safe, I swear."

I curled up in a ball. "I don't want to!"

"Your mind is just playing tricks on you, Lucas," he said, stepping forwards. "Come on…"

I looked again into the unholy hole. "It's - it's scary!"

"I go down there every day. It's not scary. You're just being a big baby about it."

"B-But- I wanna go home!"

His voice had taken a stern tone. "I'm trying to do something nice for you, Lucas. We're not going home until you've gone down there, and touched the bottom with your feet, and come back up again."

"I don't want to!"

"Claus would've gone down in an instant," Father scorned bitterly. "He'd have loved it. He'd have thought this was great fun. Why can't you just be more like him?"

I whimpered miserably, as I was swiftly strapped up in a harness. I should've just run. I should've just left, but I was too afraid. The Claus comment had gotten to me. Father was right - Claus would've gone right down there, no fear.

"Please," I begged, as I stood over the edge. All sorts of thoughts of what dreadful monsters could lurk down there entered my mind. "Please, I don't want-"

Father had sighed. "I'm holding onto the other end. It's easy. Just keep your feet to the wall, and don't let go of the rope."

"Bu-"

And then, he pushed me.

I remember the rushing feeling, the slam of cold air against my face, how my stomach flew up into my chest, how black and infinitely far away the bottom looked. I remember how I screamed, how the darkness swallowed me whole, and how all of a sudden, the rope had tensed and my body had jerked, and in nanoseconds, I was flying headfirst towards a jagged, cavernous wall, and I'd thrown my arms forwards, and suddenly, my hands were shreds, and I was clinging onto a ledge for dear life.

My Father's voice came again from above. "Come on. You've only gone about 5 meters. Quit whining, start climbing down. Easy as that."

I burst into tears, feeling the emptiness looming beneath me.

"Just hold onto the rope again. You're not going to fall, Lucas. Come on."

But I was inconsolable, clinging onto the stone like a child to a stuffed animal. As far as I was concerned, if I let go, I'd die in an instant. It'd all be over. No more Ness. No more painting. No more omelettes. And try as Father might, he couldn't get me to go any further down, and, by the crack of dawn, he finally relinquished, and he pulled me back up.

I'd proven myself to be worthless.

He's barely spoken to me since.

...

"You definitely said something," Ness insists. "Something like 'I did it to save you.' What did you mean?"

"I didn't say anything," I sigh, my head throbbing. "Really, I didn't."

After my major meltdown at hearing Geldegarde's name, and thinking back to, well, things, Ness seems to have managed to get me under control, and I'm propped up against a tree, with my ankle being set and bound by a resourceful Tessie.

She wraps the last loop around. "That all better, love?"

"Yeah," I breathe, gratefully. "Thanks."

At least now I can walk again. With makeshift crutches, still, but I can walk.

But, Geledegarde. I blocked everything out. I made myself forget everything. But now all these thoughts, these horrible memories, that I tried so hard to forget…

My mind flashes.

"Tell me where he is!"

"No!"

"Tell me where Ness lives. Give him to me."

"Wh-Why?"

"Leverage. Give him to me."

"I won't! I'll never give you Ness!"

Laughter.

"Then this will never end. Perhaps you need more motivation..."

My mind flashes back.

I'd begged, pleaded. I didn't understand his obsession. I didn't understand why he wanted Ness. But, I wasn't going to let him have him. No matter what he did to me.

He did some terrible things.

When I opened up about the street life to Ness, it hadn't been the full truth. I couldn't bring myself to tell the full truth. Sure, I told him that Geldegarde had me under his control, with his customers that came, and did as they pleased, I'd told him about that. I'd told him that Geldegarde used violence. But, I'd heavily implied that Geldegarde was doing it of his own free will, for kicks, or for money. Blackmailing me with my own death.

In reality, it was blackmail of a different sort. Geldegarde did everything that he did to me in order to try and make me give Ness up. To 'be honest'. To tell him where Ness lived.

I never gave in.

I was so afraid that Geldegarde would hurt Ness, hurt him like he hurt me - I didn't know why he wanted Ness, and I didn't want to find out. That's what got me through - that was the focal point. That's what I had to remind myself of, every day, even as I got Ness's worried letters in the mail, that's what I had to remind myself of. Everything was for him. To keep him safe.

But that mixed with guilt. The things being done to me - I'd had it preached that they were sinful. That I had broken rules. And that was in no part helped by Geldegarde's words. He was a master of words - twisting everything into my fault. My choice. My doing. As far as I was concerned, so long as I chose to keep Ness safe, everything else that happened was completely and utterly down to me. Nobody else. Just me.

That's why I couldn't answer his letters.

It was torture.

It still is.

"Come on, Lucas," Ness pleads. "Is there anything you're not saying? I'll listen. I," he looks from side to side. "I love you, Lucas. Please."

"I can't," I murmur, my head throbbing. "I'm sorry, Ness."

Ness looks crestfallen, and I ball in on myself.

Ollie and Angie are out solving the gunpowder case. Heaven knows who or what Geldegarde plans to blow up, but they're onto it, I suppose. Headmaster Hand wheedled permission out of Ike for the pair to go out of the prisoner zone, and have a poke around to see what's going on.

I, meanwhile, have been left behind, in shame.

"Lucas, I promise I won't laugh," Ness says. "I won't judge, I won't do anything, I'll just listen."

I grit my teeth. "Ness, I don't want to talk about it. It's in the past now, yeah? That's the end of it. Please, leave it alone."

"But are you sure, though? You know I'm always here for you…"

I fold my arms, decisively. "Yes, I'm sure."

Ness leans back, evidently not satisfied, but he still knows better than to press further.

"Do you reckon Ollie and Angie are having any luck?" he asks.

I shrug. "No idea."

"They're kinda weird. Like, not in a bad way, but I don't quite get them. I'm still kinda freaked out by Ollie figuring out everything about us so easily."

"So am I."

There's an uncomfortable pause.

Ness rubs his hands together, tensely. "Lucas, I'm really worried, you're not acting like yourself, are you completely sure that you're-"

"Yes!" I exclaim, hurt. "I'm fine! Just stop going on about it!"

"I'm sorry," mumbles Ness.

Luckily, Ollie and Angie rush into our midst before things can escalate.

"We couldn't find the gunpowder anywhere!" Angie exclaims. "We looked amongst Geldegarde's possessions, we looked around the fire, but there was nothing."

"We can help, then," Ness says, suddenly keen for a distraction. "Well, if that's okay with you, Lucas-?"

I shrug non-committally. "If I'd be any use."

"Of course you'd be of use," Ness pouts. "You're the smart one, remember?"

"But my ankle..."

Ness jumps to face me. "It turns out that Lucas, you are not going anywhere. You are staying here, until you heal!"

I laugh, but it's weak, and forced.

Ollie and Angie look between us, no doubt thinking: why are these people so weird?

"Well, what can I do from here?" I offer, trying to not be a complete misery. "Let's think - gunpowder. Black powder. It must be hidden somewhere. But somewhere accessible to fire, because it has to be lit? I'm not sure how gunpowder works, really."

"Luckily, I know exactly how gunpowder works," says Ollie, calmly. "To summarize, gunpowder consists of a fuel, an oxidiser, and sulfur, to allow for a stable reaction. Upon being lit, the carbon from the fuel plus the oxygen in the atmosphere forms carbon dioxide, and the energy in the gunpowder converted from the chemical energy store to the thermal and kinetic energy stores. The expanding gases, nitrogen and carbon dioxide, provide the propelling action."

"So?" Ness asks, more bluntly than he probably intended.

"So, Lucas is right. The gunpowder indeed has to be lit, for the combustion to take place."

Ness furrows his eyebrows. "The combustion?"

"For it to go boom," Ollie syllabises, as if talking to an eight year old.

"Right," Ness nods, uncertainly. "So, what do we do?"

Ollie has evidently had enough, because he stands, and Angie follows suit. "Let's see. You two can… scan this area. For anything suspicious. Angie and I, we'll do some proper investigating. Goodbye."

Ness sticks out his bottom lip, as the pair leave. "Ooh, proper investigating - God, could they be anymore up their own-"

I give him a look.

"Sorry," Ness backtracks, miserably. "Tired, and hungry. And cold. And sad."

"I think Ollie is just… very self assured," I measure. "But, it's alright. We can let them do the job. They'll easily figure it out, I'm sure. It's nice not to have every problem that comes up laid upon us."

"Yeah," Ness agrees, with limited enthusiasm. "We can just stay here, and talk."

"About what?"

"Well, we are boyfriends now. We can talk about… uh, romance stuff!"

Claus comes slowly round from around a tree, with a puzzled frown. "Who are boyfriends?"

"Uh, nobody important," I lie. "NIce to see you, Claus, how are you doing?"

"I am very very good," he smiles, toothily, sitting down opposite us. "Very happy! No more Porky. I found my twin brother again! Today has been… a very good day."

"I agree," I say, with some conviction. It's certainly been an interesting day. A lot has happened, after all. It's certainly been unimaginable, there's not a shadow of a doubt about that.

Suddenly, Ness and I are more than friends, and Claus is here.

I keep having to remind myself that Claus is here.

Because it still doesn't feel like him. He still doesn't seem like the role model I left behind. It's a question of if he ever will - this is not Claus. This is not what Claus should be. And I know, I have thought that, I have said that, many times already. But those thoughts, they just plague my mind. They don't leave. I need to connect this face to the other face. This is my brother - my twin brother. It hurts to think about.

Sometimes I look at Ness, and I just want us to run away. To leave the world, to leave everything else that is happening, to run away into the sunset. Design some new comfort, live in it, and be free. To let everyone else fight the big battles, to live in a blissful, apathetic state. But that's not how life is. Some people are born heroes - the people that must go round, and sort out all the bad guys, because if they don't, nobody else will.

Nobody ever said that being the hero would be so hard.

I never liked heroes, whenever I read books about them. They always seem too perfect, so idealised. And, for that matter, so tragic. But that's a whole other problem. Ness and I defy that stereotype in every possible way. We're certainly not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination. Which, I suppose, makes us pretty rubbish heroes.

Ness shifts about like a firecracker. "I wonder how they're getting on with investigating out there? I wonder if they've found it?"

Yet, Ness is a hero alright. Always keen to do the pre-conceived right thing. Always looking towards the right, always alert and ready. So unbelievably selfless, he'll throw anything away to help.

But those are the heroes that die at the end.

"They'll be fine," I say, watching their shadowy figures poke around the campfire. I catch a couple soldiers giving them strange looks.

"Will they find the gunpowder? Will we all die in a big explosion?" Claus asks plaintively.

I bite my lip, shrouded in dark thoughts. "Eventually."

He bursts into tears.

Huh?!

I curse, sitting up, but my ankle catches the ground, and I let out a yelp. Ness hastily moves over to the sobbing Claus, hugging him, trying to console him that no, we aren't all going to die, and Lucas was only being sarcastic, he didn't really mean it. ("What does sarcastic mean?") I drag myself over, but my head is spinning.

I'm in complete disarray. That came out of nowhere. He was completely happy! Curse my big mouth - causing him to cry? And he's seemed so apathetic so far! Nothing has scared him, but… a small mention of death? Suddenly he has a meltdown!

"I'm sorry," I mumble, disconsolately. "I didn't think."

"I-It's okay L-Lucas," Claus sobs. "I-I'm really sorry - don't hurt me!"

"I'm not going to hurt you," I whisper, suddenly disturbed. "Why would I hurt you?"

Claus only sniffles.

What the hell has Porky done?

"Maybe you should get some sleep?" Ness offers Claus. "Clever people are sorting out the gunpowder, and everything will be okay in the morning, yeah?"

Claus inhales, evidently trying to breathe deep. "Y-Yeah. Can you read me a story?"

"A story?" Ness asks, bemused.

"Mother always used to read to us, before bed," I explain, quickly. "Uh, let's see… Ness, are you good at telling stories?"

"No."

"Fantastic. Looks like I'll have to come up with one…" I try to smile kindly, at Claus. "Now, how about the story of…" I look around me wildly, picking out anything I can. "The story of… the moss, and the stone?"

Claus nods. Ness sets about letting him lie down and making him comfortable.

"Once upon a time, there was a…" I glance around the space again, seeing some fox droppings. "There was a fox. The fox was a wicked, wicked fox."

"Bad fox," Claus agrees.

"There was also a grey rabbit. The rabbit was a very clever rabbit. The fox was called… Fred, and the rabbit was called… Todd."

"Todd is a silly name."

I smile slightly. "Fred was a hungry, hungry fox. He wanted to eat Todd. So, he set up a trap. He dug a pit with his hind legs, and covered it up with moss, and sticks, for when Todd would run by."

"Oh no…"

"And so, Todd did run by. He fell into the trap, and got all covered in moss. Fred ran out of his home, delighted, because his plan had worked."

"Poor Todd…" Ness murmurs, entranced. I cast him an amused look, shaking the dark haired boy awake again.

I continue. "Todd was clever, however. He found a big, grey rock, at the bottom of the trap. He covered it in moss, and he burrowed his way away. But Fred thought that the rock was Todd, and so he ate the rock whole, giving him a big stomach ache."

Claus giggles. "That's what he gets!"

I mime closing a book. "The end."

Claus lets out a long yawn. "Thank you, Lucas."

He closes his eyes, falling asleep.

"Who's Todd?" Ollie asks, coming back.

Ness jumps up. "Ollie! How's the gunpowder? Where is it? Did you find it?!"

Ollie nods, inclining towards the campfire. "Yes, it was quite obvious really, having thought about it. Hidden in plain sight - it's just there, amongst all of the other storage bits and pieces. In a bag. Ready to be thrown somewhere with a match, to cause a nice explosion."

I grimace. "Delightful."

"But why?" Ollie presses. "Why on earth would someone do this? Sneak all this here?"

I glance at Geldegarde, whose shadowy figure remains partially hidden behind some trees. I gulp. I think he's looking at us. "Who knows."

"Assassination?" Ness suggests, and Angie nods her head.

"That's what I said, but Ollie's not convinced."

"Assassination would require no more than a simple knife," Ollie grumbles. "Yet, we know, this is not a genocide, because he said, there's no reason for anyone else to get hurt tonight."

Ness shrugs. "Well, who cares why it's there, just splash a load of water over it."

"He's right," Angie agrees, looking nervously at Geldegarde, who's on the move now. "Before he sets the gunpowder off."

"And we still need to find out who sent the tapping signal," Ollie complains. "That Geldegarde man has an accomplice."

"What's Headmaster Hand doing?" I ask.

Ollie eyes the man. "We had a disagreement, so he's doing his own investigating now."

"So what do we-" Ness begins, but Angie cuts him off.

"We're going into circles. Let's just soak the gunpowder, and be done with it. Then, it's all over, and we can finally sleep."

I yawn suddenly, looking at the restful Claus. Yeah, sleep sounds good.

"Angie and I will go and do that, then," Ollie declares. "Come, Angie. You two, keep watch for us. Get help if we need it - you'll be able to see us from here. After all, Lucas, your vision is pretty remarkable, isn't it?"

My mouth opens, taken aback. "Uh, yeah. We'll watch out."

"Great."

The pair scamper off, back out of the prisoner zone.

Ness sits down besides me slinging an arm over my shoulder. "Keeping watch, then? Y'know, I don't know what it is about those two, but something just makes me want to impress them, at every opportunity. Like I have to say something clever, for them to accept me. I'm glad you're not like that."

"...Thanks!" I exclaim, sarcastically. "Good to know you're not deeply intimidated by your own boyfriend-"

He grins. "Well, you are slightly scary."

I cock my head, puzzled. Me, scary? I'm a big pacifist coward! No way am I scary. "Really?"

He wrings his hands, suddenly thoughtful. "Well… yeah. As in, you could combust at any second. You're super powerful."

"I'll try not to burn you in a column of flame, unless you're really annoying."

He laughs, and we fall into an awkward silence.

Geldegarde had grown steadily more angry as time went on. I refused to give him Ness, and so the clients continued to line up and up, and the punishments became more and more elaborate, and there was nothing I could do.

"Are we going to have to move onto more serious things, if you don't cooperate?"

I'd pleaded that no, no we did not. Surely it would be a lot less effort for him to just look Ness's address up in the telephone directory? But Ness's address didn't feature in the telephone directory apparently, so that was a write off.

"You jest, yet you do not understand."

"What don't I understand?" I'd asked, bitterly.

"Ness is blackmail. If I have blackmail, I have everything. I can take all I am owed."

I didn't know what he was talking about, and as my face collided with the pavement again, I didn't think that I knew much of anything anymore.

"Lucas, look!" Ness exclaims suddenly.

I look.

To my alarm, in the firelight, I watch two men, dragging the shadowy outlines of Ollie and Angie behind a tree.

"We have to do something!" I exclaim, and Ness instantly stands, helping me up too. Ness searches around - there's no debating that I'm coming too, even in spite of my ankle, and he quickly manages to find two large sticks, suitable for use as crutches.

I make an experimental swing - good, they work perfectly. I might get splinters, but who cares about splinters! Ollie and Angie could be in danger!

We rapidly make our way over to Ike.

"We need to leave the prisoner camp!" Ness exclaims. "Ollie and Angie - they're being taken away by some men!"

Ike sighs. "Did Headmaster Hand put you up to this? That's an awful escape plan. Try again."

"No - really!" I beg. "It's an emergency. Come with us, if you like. In fact, please do!"

Ike's expression is unreadable. "You seriously think that Angie and Ollie have just been dragged away but some vagabonds? You think we have traitors in our midst?"

"Yes," exacerbates Ness, impatiently gesticulating. "Now quick, come on!"

Ike relents, and he utters a sharp word to a guard, who stands aside. I leave first, hastily swinging my crutches, propelling myself along, at a somewhat reasonable place. Where did they go? I squint through the darkness, past a miserable looking soldier, into the mass of trees ahead… it was between that oak and that maple, wasn't it? Wasn't it?!

We power on past the storage pile. "The gunpowder is gone!" Ness notices.

"What?" Ike asks, wearily. "Gunpowder? This is getting even more ridiculous…"

"Did you see it get taken?" I ask, worriedly.

Ness puts a hand to his neck. "I wasn't watching the pile… Now, quick! We need to be quick!

Spurred on, I accelerate my movements, Ness actually having to jog to keep up with me, though the journey still feels infinitely slow. Come on! Anything could be happening! And despite some strange looks, I power around the oak tree, and round a birch, and there they are!

I quickly observe, crouching behind a bush. Ollie and Angie are tied to the birch, with what looks to be multiple lines of rope, and some sizable knots. Ike swears quietly. "You're right - something is happening!"

I ignore him. "If Geldegarde is involved in this," I whisper, in low tones. "Watch out. He's good with words. He'll twist your thoughts - he'll mess with your mind. Don't let him talk."

"Got it," Ness whispers. I grip onto my crutches.

"Then, let's get in there."

"Hey, you! Let them go!" Ike commands, stepping forward, into the light. "They may be prisoners, but protocol applies! They are to be kept under guard, if they are useful. Only if they have no purpose, may they be freely used. So, unhand them at once!"

The shorter of the kidnappers turns, and lets out a short bark of laughter. "Ah! Protocol. Silly man. Isn't he a silly man, Frederic?"

"Yes Bungle," guffaws Frederic, the other kidnapper. "Yes, very very silly."

Ike looks between Ness and the tied up Ollie and Angie. Ness gives a sharp nod, indicating he'll be ready to untie them if fighting breaks out. Smart. Following Ike, I advance further towards the kidnappers, not letting my ankle hinder me. I can whack them round the head with these crutches, if need be.

Ike spreads his hands. "Come on. What is this? The game is up. You've been busted. Now, if you don't want to be blasted to the year 3000, end it all here. I won't tell Captain Strong."

"Silly man! Silly man! Silly man!" Frederic chants.

"I think you need to go and sit on the naughty step," accuses the other man, Bungle.

"They're mad," I observe, and Frederic giggles.

"Oh yes, precious! Very mad. Quite mad! But our boss likes us. He thinks we are… what does he say, Bungle?"

Bungle, the shorter man, hops on one foot. "He says we're like the jesters, don't he, Frederic? Strong jesters!"

"Geldegarde?" I guess, grimly, and the pair applaud.

"How did he know?" Bungle exclaims.

"I do not know!" Frederic exclaims back.

A sour taste hits my throat. Geldegarde works with innumerable employees, unlike Porky, who works completely alone. They pose a completely different threat.

Ike sighs. "Look, whether Geldegarde is involved or not, which I highly doubt, just let Ollie and Angie here leave."

"Silly man! Silly man! Silly man-"

I glance over at Ness, who seems to be ready to launch into action, if need be. I know we won't be able to use PK fire - I've had too many nightmares of burning down a forest with that thing. I look over at the imprisoned pair. Ollie appears to be trying frantically to speak, but a sock has been shoved in his mouth. I think I know how this is going to go.

Ike draws a spear. "I didn't want to have to resort to this, but you two have committed treason. This is your final chance. I will get Captain Strong"

Bungle and Frederic stop chanting, and they crack their knuckles, drawing out blades of their own.

"'He doesn't call us the Strong Jesters for nothing," Bungle grins, menacingly. "Take us if you can!"

Of course.

There's a blur of action - Ness dashes over to Ollie and Angie, whilst Ike spins with his spear outstretched. Bungle parries Ike's attack with his sword - and Frederic takes the opportunity to run round the back - but I reach out, bringing down a wooden crutch down on his head. He spins chaotically upon impact, nearly impaling Bungle, but nearly impaling Ike as well! Ike dashes forwards again with his spear, but Bungle makes a low slice that drives Ike back, right into the path of Frederic…

"Ness, now!" I exclaim. Ness instantly stops trying to untie the ropes - I throw him a crutch, resigning myself to being immobile, for now. Ness whacks Frederic's blade with the wood, and Ike collides with Frederics stomach. Unfortunately, that means Frederic is propelled into me, and I find myself sprawled on the floor. My vision tinges a light blue, but I grab around for my crutch, and, taking control of it, I crawl on my hands and knees, as Ike performs a dramatic dodge, and I give Bungle a strong hit to the shin. Bungle curses. Ness runs in, capitalising by hitting Bungle in the rib cage, and he collapses to the floor, knocked out by his head landing on a boulder. Result!

Ike backtracks, facing Frederic one-to-one, who snarls, but just as Frederic leaps, Ike sidesteps, and Frederics momentum carries him right into the path of Ness, and with another vigorous swing of the crutch, he's lying besides his counterpart, knocked out on the floor.

Ness helps me up, handing me my crutch. "That's three out of three battles we've won, now."

I grin wryly, relieved. "I'd say beating all those Future Humans was a tad more impressive than defeating two henchmen, one of which was named Bungle."

"Good work!" Ike compliments, grandly. "Right, you two, untie Ollie and Angie, and I'll go and get Strong, and tell him what these two were up to. How their documentation was accepted to join the brigade, I do not know…"

But his rambling is cut off by a more dominant presence.

Geldegarde.

The birds above let out a sudden cry, and my throat catches, as he steps out from behind a bush. His face twisted in a sneer, he whips around, still cloaked in his dark jacket, a hood covering silver hair, bloodshot eyes, a neat mouth and nose, a sharp jaw and clean shaven cheeks. It's quite the departure from how he appeared in the street - always a fresh suit and tie, familiar green bowler hat, a generic, winning expression.

"Remember," I whisper to Ness. "Don't let his words trick you."

"Well done!" Geldegarde applauds, though there's venom on his tongue. "You took them down - good job - especially considering the cripple in our midst… How are you, Lucas?"

Ness's eyes flash with anger, anger that would send me packing for Australia.

"Don't talk to him like that."

"Ooh, tetchy!" Geldegarde holds up a hand, amused. "Now, impressed though I am by your victory… Did you forget? What did I tell y'all about interfering in my business?"

"It's you!" Ike exclaims. "Headmaster Hand said - I didn't think he was bloody serious! I thought it was another escape plan!"

Geldegarde laughs. "Well, you would, wouldn't you. Paranoid little Ike… you're so far from home, aren't you? Missing your family?"

I grit my teeth. "Don't listen to him."

Ike stands forwards, proudly. "Geldegarde. You're breaking the rules."

"Am I?" Geldegarde asks, with mock surprise. "How may I correct my ways?"

"What are you doing here?" I challenge. "You're a politician now - I know you are. Why are you here?"

He chuckles. "Ah, ahh, that's a long story. One I shan't tell. But, Lucas. Long time no see? Why are you here? And again, why, despite my telling you quite plainly, are you still getting involved in this?"

"You can threaten me all you like!" I exclaim, fiercely. "I'll never do what you want! You should know by now! You don't scare me anymore!"

But Geldegarde only smiles pleasantly, pulling his hood down over his head, to reveal a balding, scabbed scalp. "And you should know by now, that I always carry out my threats."

I bite my lip, trying hard not to think back to that night.

"I know what you've done to him!" Ness exclaims, standing forwards. "I know everything!"

"Oh…" Geldegarde sighs, happily. "Oh, but I fear you don't."

"I do!"

Geldegarde sighs. "Dear me, Lucas. Wasn't I quite clear? You don't tell a soul about what happened, or I kill you."

I shudder, my skin crawling, and Ness shifts nearer to me. "You wouldn't."

His eyes glint. "Oh, I would. You're unimportant, to my plan. You're just a toy. A plaything. And you were very fun to… play with."

"You're working for Porky!" Ness accuses.

Geldegarde turns suddenly, spitting on the floor. "Porky? Never. I would NEVER work for Porky! How dare you. How dare you assume I'd work with - that! I am better than him. I am more powerful than him!"

"Less hair, though," Ness mutters, ruefully.

Geldegarde's smile suddenly turns sickly sweet. "As may be, but… Oh, but who's this come to join us now?"

I turn, to see Claus behind me.

I tense.

"Claus? What are you doing over here?" I ask, carefully. "I thought you were sleeping?"

"Hello!" Claus exclaims happily. "I woke up again, but the very nice man told me you were here!"

"Which man?" Ness asks.

"He said his name was Reggie!"

My shoulders relax. Good - Reggie, he's one of the Tazmilians.

"What's your name?" Geldegarde asks, with a kindly smile.

"Claus!"

Claus looks at him with trusting eyes, and I feel a sharp hit of foreboding.

"We're a bit busy now," I say, deliberately. "But it is nice that you came over, Claus."

"Yes!"

He remains in place.

I continue. "So…"

Claus looks obliviously at me. "What?"

Geldegarde laughs. "Oh, come on Lucas. Don't try to send your own brother away! Maybe I should tell a story?"

Ness gives me a worried look. "A story?"

Ike grumbles, annoyed. "Look, Geldegarde, you're supposed to be being arrested right now-"

"Oh, relax!"

Claus points at Ollie and Angie. "W-Why are those people attached to the tree?"

"A game!" Geldegarde exclaims, happily. "Where-"

I cut him off. "Claus, Geldegarde, this man, he tied them up. He's bad - he's done bad things. Ness and I are here to finish him off. Now please, go back to where we were before. It's safe there."

Claus's mouth forms an 'o', before he points at Geldegarde. "My brother is gonna - he's gonna sort you out!"

"Claus, maybe you should go," Ness suggests, again. "It'll be quite dangerous, over here, we wouldn't want you to get hurt."

"I can help!"

"Yes, let him help!" Geldegarde chides. "Don't exclude him from the game!"

"It's not a game!" Ike exclaims.

"Is it a game?" Claus asks me.

"Claus, was your name, wasn't it?" Geldegarde asks, before I can reply.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Ah… Claus, Lucas ever tell you what really happened to Boney?"

.

.

.

.

.

.

My blood runs cold.

A million images flash through my mind.

"Shut up," I whisper, fiercely. "Shut up, now."

"Don't you wanna know?" Geldegarde charms, enticingly. "Come on… it's a great story!"

Claus looks from me to Geldegarde, evidently curious, but evidently nervous too. "A story about… B-Boney?"

I try desperately to banish the onslaught of memories cutting into my mind. The worst ones. The worst night of my life.

"Stop it. Stop it!"

"You'd better stop!" Ness exclaims angrily, but Geldegarde effortlessly waves him aside.

"Come on, Claus… don't you wanna know the truth?"

Claus's voice goes high. "The… truth?"

Four and twenty feet deep-

I cover my ears. "Stop!"

"Your brother is a big, fat liar, Claus."

Claus points defensively. "H-Hey! Don't call Lucas a liar!"

But his voice wavers.

Geldegarde shakes his head, regretfully. "Poor Boney…"

Claus looks back to me, apparently frightened now. "L-Lucas? What's he saying?"

"I'm sorry," I choke. "I'm so sorry. It's my fault. It's all my fault."

"L-Lucas?"

Ness looks worriedly between us.

Geldegarde nods, in earnest. "Do you want to know what he did to Boney, Claus?"

I cover my ears. My thoughts reach a crescendo, scratching into the highest octaves. This can't be happening. They're coming back - it's all coming back!

"Come on…" Geldegarde teases. "You want to hear it, d-don't you, Claus?"

Claus gulps, as he sees the fear in my eyes. "Y-Yeah."

.

.

.

.

.

.

I fall to the ground.

.

.

.

~~o00o~~

I'm thrown to the floor.

"Give him up. Everything will end! Everything will be over."

I stiffen my expression, feeling my chin shatter beneath me. "No!"

"You're selfish, you know. You weren't good enough for the clients today."

I close my eyes, trying to force the faces out of my mind. "I'm sorry."

"You do realise it's your fault, don't you?"

I nod, miserably.

I'm tossed to the side like an animal, as his face invades mine."Remember, you've chosen to be treated like this. Touched like this. You like it, don't you? You dirty whore - you like it!"

"N-No!" I tremble at the accusation. "Please - please - I don't!"

"All you have to do is hand him over! It's as simple as that! You would - or do you love him? How unbearably pathetic. You disgusting boy!"

"I-I-"

"It sounds like you need more motivation."

My head spins, as I lift it from the pavement. "I-I'll never give you Ness! Never! No matter what you do!"

"How cute. We'll see if a surprise will change your mind, won't we?"

My eyes sting, and my throat constricts. "A-A surprise?"

Geldegarde grins, a grin of pure evil, his pupils glinting. "Oh yes, I think so. A surprise. Come with me."

"I-I don't want to-!"

But two rugged men haul me up onto their shoulders. I kick, struggling for all I'm worth, but I fall limp as a knife is positioned against my throat.

"Stop."

"Let go of me!" I plead, petulantly.

They don't let go.

My eyes are covered with a blindfold, my mouth gagged, cloth pressing down into my throat. Everything stings. And then we're moving - I'm carried, fragile and defenseless.

Nobody pays any attention, as I'm carried through the city. Nobody calls out over the bustle of the crowd, as the men carry me, through the street. Nobody cares. Nobody's coming to save me.

Whatever this is - whatever is happening now - this is new. Never has Geldegarde's motivation ventured beyond the red alley before. It's not his clients. It's not more pain. It's something else - something bad. Something awful. I can see it in his eyes.

That scares me.

A horrible noise reaches my ears. An awful mechanical noise, baying like the grinding of bones, the gnashing of teeth, the repetitive chewing of a thousand enormous mouths - mixing with the wind to create a horrific howl.

I'm roughly put down. I feel with my hands - only dusty ground is below my hands. The wind is shrill, I can feel it, tearing at my tattered shirt, pulling at my trousers, a maelstrom around me.

And suddenly, the blindfold is ripped from my face, and it's apparent where we are.

Giant's mine.

The pit looms mercilessly before me, the great chasm bringing back the worst memories. Father. Terror. Darkness, I push myself away from it, but there's a kick to my chest, that knocks the wind out of me, and I fall pitifully onto my back.

A distant voice comes. "I've got him, master."

My mind swims, down on my hands and knees. Him? Master?

"Good…" Geldegarde's voice comes out a pleasured vibrato. "Oh yes, very good. That's him alright."

"Wh-Who's there?" I manage, but Geldegarde only laughs.

"Motivation, Lucas. Oh, have my assistants travelled far for this… Rest assured, you will be handsomely paid, Lucio."

A shadow is cast on me, as Lucio bows. "Thank you, Master."

I shake, not daring to turn around. I don't know what's happening. I try to force myself up - but a kick to my side renders me useless.

The air screams, as Geldegarde moves, standing in between me and the great precipice. He smiles, so pleased, so confident.

"Lucas. Oh, Lucas. The choice is: tell me where Ness lives, or…"

My voice comes out louder than the wind. "N-Never!"

Geldegarde's expression turns stony, his eyes flaring. A feeling like fire trickling down the back of my neck hits, and I involuntarily fall back, my skin crawling.

"Do as I say, Lucas. Tell the truth. Lucio, bring over the motivation."

Coming out from behind me, one of Geldegarde's henchmen advances. But as they come into my sun-dazzled vision, they're not alone - for in their arms, they carry a dog.

But not just any dog.

My blood runs cold.

Boney.

.

.

.

.

"NO!" I cry out. "Boney!"

Boney lets out a singular bark of panic, as he's lifted by the scruff of the neck, and handed to Geldegarde. The wind intensifies, dust billowing up into my face, burning my eyes.

"Ah, Boney…" Geldegarde smiles, blissfully. "Old Duster was an idiot, leaving you all alone in the house, while he went to the shops. The perfect time for us to bring you here?"

I desperately scramble onto my feet, rushing towards him. "Give him back! Give him back - now! Leave him alone!"

Geldegarde steps effortlessly out of the way. "Tell me now, Boney, do you think Lucas should be honest, and tells me where Ness lives?"

I cry out with horror. "He's done nothing wrong!"

Geldegarde brings Boney's mouth to his ear, like a child pretending to speak to a stuffed animal.

He grins. "Really? You think so, Boney? Can you think of a way to show Lucas how important it is that he tells me the truth?"

He raises Boney to his ear again.

"Let him go!" I beg, falling onto my knees. "P-Please, let him go!"

Geldegarde gasps in mock surprise. "Really, Boney? Well, only if you're absolutely sure…"

Geldegarde's head gradually turns, malice coating his visage. He slowly steps forwards towards the chasm.

"NO!" I cry, the words catching in my throat. "Don't!"

"You know," Geldegarde comments, serenely. "Dogs can sometimes survive falls of up to a hundred feet. Of course, they break their legs at the bottom, and are left to suffer in silence until they die, but…"

"DON'T!"

Geldegarde holds Boney out, the poor animal letting out a frightened whine. "You have a choice, Lucas. Tell the truth, Lucas. Or I do it. Or you do it. You let him fall."

Tears flow down my face, the wind's howls joining Boney's panicked whimpers. The violent sun burns the back of my neck.

Geldegarde begins to sing, a slow, gleeful song.

"Sing a song of sixpence,

Lucas is all mine.

Four and twenty feet deep,

At the bottom of the mine.

You know what will happen,

If he isn't all mine.

He'll be my little treasure,

Lucas is all mine."

"Please," I beg. "You don't have to do this!"

Geldegarde's expression hardens like concrete. "This is your final chance, Lucas. Tell me where Ness is, or Boney falls."

I fall to the floor, in despair. "I-I won't tell you! I won't!"

"Then so be it."

As if in slow motion, Geldegarde's hand unclenches.

The wind shrieks. Boney barks - a short, terrified bark. I thrust my hand forwards - but I can't reach. He falls. Gravity takes its hold, dragging him down, plummeting endlessly, into the black abyss.

He's gone.

I lean desperately over the edge, screaming for all I'm worth, but nothing can change it.

A piercing howl cuts through the night.

Geldegarde lets out an angry hiss.

"I'll break you eventually."

~~o00o~~

.

.

.

Claus stares at me, completely vacant. I can't stand it - I can't stand the betrayal in his eyes.

It was my fault.

My fault.

"Boney…" he chokes. "You-You let Boney fall!"

I sob hopelessly. "Claus, I'm sorry, I-"

"Y-You murdered him!"

"Claus - please-"

"You murdered him!"

"Claus!"

With an expression of pure fright, he turns on his heels, and he runs.

My voice cracks. "CLAUS!"

"Oh dear," Geldegarde cackles. "Oh deary me, Lucas. It looks like you've messed up."

"If you wanted me so bad, why didn't you come and get me?" Ness snarls. "How dare you - how dare you!"

Geldegarde's expression tightens, weary for the first time. "Your father hid you well, Ness."

Ness scoffs. "As if."

"He kept you inside, as much as he could. He kept your house off grid. He made sure he was never followed home. Nobody knew where you lived."

Ness freezes in place.

"He did all that for me?"

Geldegarde thinks. "Well, for himself, really. But indirectly, yes."

Ness's expression turns fearful. "What did you want with me, anyways!?"

Geldegarde smiles unpleasantly. "Motivation. Leverage. Over your Father - he was the one person stopping me from reaching my full potential. But if I had his son… oh, yes. It'd all be mine. Leverage is very powerful, isn't it, Lucas?"

I do not reply.

Ness grabs my hand. "Lucas-"

I shake it off. "Don't - let go of me."

"Lucas, you shouldn't have done it!" he whispers. "I could've held him off - Lucas, I'm so sorry - it's my fault!"

Ness's voice sounds so hollow - but so awfully matter of fact. I hate it. I want to punch his stupid face in.

"Lucas - I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I-"

Bitter resentment surges through me.

I don't want to hear any more.

I throw myself at him. I lunge forwards with a guttural cry, pushing him to the ground - he lets out an exclamation, and suddenly, we're brawling like animals, pushing and shoving and kicking and-

"Stop!" Ike cries. "Stop! This is what he does - it's what you said! He gets into your heads! Stop fighting!"

But I don't care. I'm going to beat Ness to a pulp, for daring to suggest that it's his fault - for daring to suggest that-

"Stop!"

The fists are a blur - I strike Ness, and he tries to push me off, but I don't budge, and-

Suddenly, we're wrenched apart, and I topple onto my back. There's a crunch as my arm hits a rock. I breathe forcefully. "Let me at him!"

*"Stop,"* Ike insists. "Stop this, right now. Calm down."

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!"

Ness's weak voice comes. "Lucas, this isn't like you-"

"Leave me alone!"

"Oh dear," Geldegarde chuckles. "Looks like you touched a nerve, Ness.

Tears start to flood down my face. "Go away, Geldegarde. I hate you. I hate you so much."

Geldegarde laughs again. "Oh, I know. I know that very, very well. You're so fun to play with, Lucas."

I cover my eyes. "Stop it. Just stop it!"

Geldegarde leers. "That's what you get, for crossing my path. For getting in my way - for disobeying me. This is what you get, Lucas."

Ike extends his spear, pointing it at Geldegarde's neck. "Drop your weapons, Geldegarde in the name of the Onett First Brigade. You have committed the highest treason, against Mayor B.H Pirkle, and you will surrender yourself at once."

Geldegarde sniggers. "Pirkle? Pirkle's practically in my pocket. And for that matter, I'm completely unarmed. Search me!"

"Being unarmed is wholly unwise if you are intending to perform a second gunpowder plot," Ike glowers, surging forwards to pat Geldegarde down, spear still outstretched. "I'm going to catch you - and then Strong will give me my position back!"

"Oh, yes. No doubt about it," Geldegarde states plainly.

Ike begins to search him, and soon enough, he draws a box out of Geldegarde's coat.

"Aha! Matches! Bet you were going to light the gunpowder with these, weren't you? Well, not anymore!" He passes them to me, and I pocket them, absent-mindedly. Everything hurts.

"You got me!" Geldegarde mock-exclaims. "Ah, man. I can't believe it!"

Ike brings out a stretch of rope from his other pocket. "Perfect! Rope, too? Like the rope used to tie up Ollie and Angie over there? It seems you've messed with the wrong soldier!"

"It rather does seem that way," Geldegarde replies, with equal enthusiasm, and Ike moves him over to the maple tree, tying him up with the rope.

I emptily watch the scene play out.

Ike continues. "Ness, Lucas, you keep guard of him. I'm going to get Captain Strong, and tell him exactly what's going on here."

Whatever. I don't care. Ness nods obediently. "I will."

I groan into the floor, as Ike leaves. Those memories. Claus - where did he go? Back to the camp? The soldier's wouldn't let him leave - right?

I attacked Ness.

But - how dare he say those things! How dare he suggest it was his fault! After everything - after everything that happened? Everything I chose to give up? It was my choice!

I'm in the wrong.

I stare Geldegarde in the face. At least he's lost this one - Strong will sort him. He'll be arrested. But the damage is done. And the damage is immense.

Ness breaks the silence, bitterly. "You might as well tell us, Geldegarde. Why are you planning to blow something up?"

Geldegarde sighs. "Oh, oh, I just wanted to take out a political rival. But I hadn't counted on people as smart as you showing up. Such a shame."

Ness narrows his eyes at the compliment, checking the knots. I daren't add to the conversation.

"Y'know, I think Ollie's trying to say something," Geldegarde says, casually. As if he's not about to be caught. As if everything is goddamn wonderful.

I cast a brazen look round. I'd forgotten about Ollie and Angie - and about Frederic and Bungle. They probably saw everything. They probably hate me now too, just like everyone else.

I'm so helpless.

"Why don't you go and see what he has to say?" Geldegarde asks with an air of innocence.

"Very clever," Ness folds his arms. "We're not turning out backs for even a minute. You're staying right here."

Geldegarde frowns. "Oh, I don't know, it looks really important…"

"Screw you!" Ness exclaims. "I'm not falling for that trick!"

Olie's eyes are wide. He's seemingly trying to communicate something, but God knows what. Probably another way I could've done it. Another way I messed up.

"What is it?" Ness asks me, tensely. "Can you see what he's trying to say?"

I deliberately ignore him.

"Why don't you go and find out?" Geldegarde asks politely.

"Because you'll stab us in the back!"

Geldegarde sighs. "I'm unarmed, remember?"

To our fortune, Ike comes back, Captain Strong in tow. Strong seems to be a boulder of a man, with beefy hips, not too tall, but there's a ruddy colour to his face.

I groan weakly from the floor. I hate him already.

"Here he is!" Ike announces proudly, and Strong examines Geldegarde, before glancing at Ollie and Angie, tied up too.

"What is the meaning of this?" Strong demands of Geldegarde. "Ike has told me what you have been doing."

"Oh, he's making it up, the lot of it," Geldegarde sighs, easily. "He got the prisoners in on it. Promised them escape. He tied them up, as well as me, to make it look more realistic, and then went to you, to try and land me in trouble. He wants a promotion, you see."

"Is that right?" Captain Strong muses, turning on Ike. "A clever ploy, Ike, but not clever enough to fool me. Need I remind you that this treason is illegal, and that the death penalty is still very much in play?"

"Geldegarde is lying!" I shout, furiously. "He's messing with your mind - don't goddamn listen!"

"Hold your tongue!" Strong barks down at me. "Know your place, as a low-life prisoner! Don't speak out!"

"See the kind of people Ike employs?" Geldegarde croons. "Shouting like a wild beast. Pauper children…" He spits on the ground.

"No, Geldegarde is lying!" Ike exclaims. "He has gunpowder - he was going to blow something up!"

Strong raises an eyebrow. "Oh, really? You're choosing to continue this web of deception, despite being found out? Where was that gunpowder exactly, huh?"

"I - I don't know!" Ike blusters. "He must've hidden it!"

"Look," Ness points to Bungle and Frederic. "They're Geldegarde's henchmen."

Geldegarde gasps. "I've never met those men before in my life! They're Ike's henchmen, not mine! He promised them a share of the wages, should his plan work and he gets promoted."

Strong narrows his eyes. "Ike, it seems that your time in this Brigade has drawn to a close. For lying to me, for treason, for framing, you are hereby sentenced to-"

"No, wait!" Ness exclaims, stepping forward.

Strong turns. "I hardly think you're important enough to listen to."

"Ike's telling the truth!" Ness insists. "Geldegarde is planning those things! He said it himself!"

"Captian Strong, remember how loyal I've been to you over the years?" Geldegarde coerces. "I'd never hurt a soul."

"You never would hurt a soul," Strong agrees, untying Geldegarde from the tree. "Ike, I'm hereby sentencing you to death. Geldegarde, you tie Ike up, and I will go and untie the other prisoners."

My blood boils. This is wrong - this is all wrong. Unjust. Geldegarde's silver tongue has won - of course it has. Of course it goddamn has. I plant my face into the ground, a horrible lump in my throat.

"Yes," Geldergarde nods, respectfully. "Good plan."

He pushes Ike against a tree, and with a cruel grin, he begins wrapping the rope around them. Strong moves to Ollie and Angie, beginning to make work on the rope.

Ness looks hopelessly at me, and I continue to ignore his gaze.

Strong unwraps the first layer of rope - I realise that Ollie is struggling quite frantically now - what on earth could be the matter? Fear sets in, my heart skipping a beat as I see Geldegarde's victorious expression - what's happening here?

"Take off his gag," Geldegarde instructs gleefully, and Strong obliges, causing Ollie to cough and splutter for breath.

"Stop!"

"What? We're untying you!" Strong exclaims. "Bloody ungrateful prisoners!"

"No - you don't understand-" Ollie gasps. "It's too late - oh God, it's too late!"

It's a trap - it's a trap. I know it already. It's all a trap. Of course it is.

"What is it?" Ness asks patiently, though I can see he's shaking. He must feel it too.

Ollie's forehead creases with tension. "Behind the back of the tree - look!"

My stomach sinks with realisation. I reluctantly grab my crutches, and I hobble over, as fast as I can.

And there it is.

The bag of gunpowder.

And worse, a fuse.

A lit fuse.

Ness comes around the other side, letting out a cry of alarm. "What the hell is all this!"

I look around. How could Geldegarde have lit the fuse from over there? But, I notice, smouldering in the grass, the stump of a candle. A small shelf, attached to the tree. The coil of rope, lying loose on the floor.

"It was a trick," I moan, anguished, putting the pieces together. "As soon as Strong untied the rope - it knocked the candle, and lit the gunpowder."

Strong himself comes round. "What is the meaning of this?"

Geldegarde appears, with a false look of alarm on his face. "Oh no! What could that be doing there?" He suddenly points to me. "Hey, that one, that one had matches! He must've lit the gunpowder, and prepared all this himself! He's working with Ike!"

I glare bitterly at him. Of course.

"Search him!" Geldegarde orders.

I'm thrown against a tree - and out of my pocket, is brought Geldegarde's box of matches.

"He planted them there!" I exclaim, but even I know how ridiculous it looks to an onlooker. Geldegarde is too clever.

I've lost to him again.

"Untie us, please!" Ollie shouts. "It's gonna blow any minute!

I grab my crutch quickly - he's right! If we're too slow...

Gedlegarde laughs. "Alright, Strong, my man, the jig is up. I've won, I've already won. About 3 minutes until that thing blows, taking out everything in a 10 metre radius. Ike's innocent. The kids are innocent. Surprise! It was all me!"

Huh?!

Captain Strong turns in shock. "You - what?"

Geldegarde smiles, like a kid on Christmas. "Yep! And it all went exactly how I planned."

"Can you please untie us!" Ollie practically screams - my heart pounds, as Ness and I hurl ourselves round, and begin making work on the knots.

"How - how could you!" Strong exclaims. "And exactly what were you trying to achieve with this?"

"Oh, your death," Geldegarde comments, absent-mindedly.

Strong's face turns purple. "My-"

"Yeah, don't take it too personally. Take out the leader, and then I can take over the brigade. Simple."

"How did you get gunpowder here!" Strong demands.

Geldegarde laughs again, a hearty laugh that threatens to tip me over the edge."Oh, easy. I hid it in the saddle bag of my horse."

Strong exhales. My fingers feel raw, struggling against the lengths upon lengths of rope. There's so much of it - and so little time.

Strong's face convulses with fury. "You - you - tell me how to stop it! To stop it from exploding! Or I'll call for backup!"

"Oh, we're too far out for that," sings Geldegarde. "Nobody will hear. And, I will tell you how to stop it. After I've explained my whole plan."

I look around nervously at the fuse, as the flame edges closer, and closer. Ike shouts from where he's tied up - dammit, we're going to have to free him too! I try hastily to dry my eyes, as my vision swims - forget Claus, for now. Forget Boney. I have to do this. Everyone has to be okay.

"What - no! I am not listening to your plan!" Strong shouts, angrily. "You are a traitor of the-"

"Oh, blah blah blah," Geldegarde scoffs. "My accomplice and I-"

"Your accomplice?"

Geldegarde waves a hand. "Yes, shut up. I'm telling a story."

We have a minute, at most - only 3 coils of rope left. Ollie frees his hands, and helps out, while Angie strains to weaken the knots.

"My accomplice and I," Geldegarde continues. "We planned to set this mechanism up. We'd make sure some prisoners overheard, and then we'd therefore be able to get Ike over here, who you already mistrusted. The prisoners happened to be those two," he points to Ollie and Angie, who are so, so nearly free. "So, I tied them up. Ike came over. I let him think I'd been foiled, so he'd get you. I'd make you untie the prisoners, to light the fuse. Then, kaboom!"

Strong stands forwards. "Well, it's not going to work. You've been found out! Tell me how to stop the explosion!"

Ollie and Angie's ropes come off - we help them hastily to their feet, and I grab my crutches, as the others rush over to untie Ike.

"Oh, it's really quite simple," Geldegarde says easily, walking away from the barrel. "Just stamp on the fuse. That'll stop it. It'll put out the flame, see?"

There's just one tie of rope around Ike - he's soon freed, and Ness grabs my hand, practically dragging me away from the blast radius. I don't even care anymore that it's him - we need to get to safety!

"It's that simple?" Strong questions.

"Oh yes," Geldegarde replies, reaching us too, and suddenly, I know exactly what's going to happen.

Strong positions his foot above the lit fuse.

"DON'T!" I cry out.

But Strong doesn't listen. "Watch this," Geldegarde whispers, and a wave of hopelessness courses through me.

I make to dash forwards, but Ness pulls me back with a cry, throwing me down to the floor, throwing his body over mine.

Strong puts his foot down.

And everything erupts.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Blinding light surges through the trees. It tears apart branches, a roaring filling my ears, a burning heat washing over me. Fire engulfs everything. The grass. Captain Strong. Bungle. Frederic. I slam my hands over my ears, as the sound intensifies, a rush of noise, a whirlpool of horror, spitting out in great columns. An incandescent rush of smoke swiftly replaces it, twisting in billows, fighting with the flames, a hungry red one moment, a stormy grey the next. I slam my hands over my ears, and the pressure of Ness's body on me mounts, everything tearing apart, and-

And as soon as it began, it's over. Ness collapses to my side, as the smoke vanishes into the atmosphere. I dare to turn myself around, to see the damage done.

Everything is gone.

The earth is scarred.

A great crater replaces where we were mere seconds ago. Metres deep. Spreading wide. Cracks emerge viscerally from the epicentre, slicing up the ground, some having torn past even where we were standing.

The centre is black and hollow. The sudden gasps of men in the vicinity pierces the silence, as the now-visible campsite soars into life. I shrink back into the trees, away, away from the devastation, but a force holds me back.

Geldegarde laughs with delight, as the hapless soldiers scour the scene for any evidence of what could've happened. "Now that's what I call a plan."

A voice comes from my side. "Ness, Ness, are you okay?"

I sharply turn - Angie and Ollie are leaning over his body, displayed flaccid on the floor.

Ness throws me down, shielding me with his body, as the light tears the air apart-

A strangled gasp hits the back of my throat - but Ness sits slowly up, rubbing his head. "Yeah. Yeah, I think I'm okay."

I help him up onto his feet, trembling. His already filthy clothes are peppered with burn holes, but other than that, he's relatively unscathed. I pull him into a relieved hug, and it's a pleasant feeling as his head rests on my shoulder. Who cares what he said - he's okay.

"Well, I'll be off!" Geldegarde announces. "It has been pure luxury to spend such time with you all, and especially to see you again, Lucas. But my job is done! I'm sure you have some reporting to do, Ike, etcetera, so I'll fly. Life is sweet! Nice to meet you, Ollie and Angie, but-"

Ike's burns with a fierce rage. "I don't think you're getting away that easily."

"Well…"

Geldegarde begins sprinting into the Forest.

"HEY!" Ike exclaims, before turning to the rest of us. "What are you all waiting for?! Let's get him!"

But with Ness's exhausted weight on me, and my broken ankle, and the weight of all my thoughts, there's no chance. He'll be long gone. At least he'll be away from here - but after all the damage he's caused…

I look over to our prisoners camp, where Claus may or may not be, and I internally cringe. How angry will he be with me? I dread to think. I dread to think about everything I've done.

It's my fault.

"We should go back," Ness whispers. "We should go back to the camp. Sleep."

"Sleep," I agree, miserably. "Sleep."

And so, taking my hand, he leads me.

We walk in complete silence.

When we reach the prisoner site, it turns out that Claus has gone back to bed. At least he's okay. Even if he may hate me.

I collapse against a tree, utterly burnt out.

The soldiers's panicking only goes over my head. It's been the longest day of my entire life. I'll be plagued with nightmares tonight, I don't doubt. Not that it's any less than I deserve.

Poor Boney.

"I can't believe he got away," Ness growls savagely. "I hate him - I hate that Geldegarde. More than Porky!"

"So do I," I mutter, miserably. "So do I."

"I'm sorry," Ness sighs. "Really sorry. I said the wrong thing, again."

I exhale, leaning back. "Don't talk about it. It didn't happen."

There's a small pause, before Ness lies down besides me.

"It didn't happen."

We're quiet, and I finally feel myself succumbing to sleep. So late; it's over. It's all over. At last. Everything we've been through today - it's over.

A rook calls up above.

The unimaginable night is over.

Or so I think.

"Right!" Ollie exclaims, bursting onto the scene. "Reggie, you've got some explaining to do!"

Reggie comes out from his shadowy place. "Huh?"

Angie folds her arms, accusingly. "You were working with Geldegarde. You were his accomplice."

Reggie rolls his eyes. "How do you work that one out, then?"

Ollie takes a deep breath. "Your frustration has increased exponentially along the journey. After your failed stint as leader, you took it upon yourself to ally with a potentially dangerous man. Your fingernails are long - you could've easily tapped the morse code to Geldegarde. You've been in the right position to do so. You sent Claus over. You planned it all out with him - only you'd be smart enough. But Geldegarde played you - he used you to his advantage, to achieve his goals. He never wanted power. He just wanted to get rid of Captain Strong - the third most powerful man in Onett. That means Geldegarde moves up a space - one space behind Ness's father, who is undoubtedly his biggest rival besides Porky, judging by his reactions. But helping him - it couldn't have been anyone else but you."

Reggie sighs. "I was right to help him, though."

Angie narrows her eyes. "How so?"

"The explosion created chaos. Every soldier has deserted their post. Order is lost."

"And that means?"

A slow grin forms on Reggie's face.

"That means we can finally escape."


A/N


The worst bit is that I knew I'd get stuck here.

When making the long term plan for this fic, I knew this very section would catch me out! And all in all, I think this chapter has taken almost 3 months which is pretty ridiculous.

But aside from that - Boney, oh man, I alluded to it a lot in previous chapters, or at least alluded to the fact that something specific happened with Geldegarde, and when Duster says that Boney ran away, and that sucks.

It's weird to think that this whole two-part chapter was partially inspired by a detective show I was watching at the time, 3 months ago, but it really, really strayed from that in the end. The whole mystery thing of course took shadow to Lucas and Geldegarde, and their whole feud. Which is pretty great.

What else have I done in the past 3 months?

Well, I wrote a whole new album, I recorded a bunch of songs, I'm supposed to be figuring out what to do with my life apparently, School started again (and we're actually IN school, despite the big plague - for now, anyway) and also I edited chapters 1-32, and the majority of those edits increased the word count by 1000 each which is kind of mad. I haven't added anything major though, just a but more description, a couple more lines, really nothing important that you need to go back and check on :))

Next chapter is going to be a blast. It's going to be Toon Link's perspective for the whole time, because I've made some changes that means cutting out about 5 completely arbitrary chapters - except that means I need to stuff 5 Toon Link and Villager prologues into one chapter, to keep everything in the right time point. But that should be fun. I loved writing Toon Link's perspective before, especially when it came to sections with him and Villager, so I have good hopes for this!

One more thing - THIS IS OFFICIALLY THE LONGEST NESSCAS FIC NOW! I'm overtaking RainyTazmily ( :) sorry hehe) and that's kinda crazy. How did I get here in under a year?

Anyways, I'll be seeing you all in the next one, so, peace!

~ReadyForTeddy