[Author's Note: Of all the games I have ever played, (and I used to rent a different game each week!) Earthbound has been the best, hands down. The graphics are crap, the sound is choppy, the battle animation is nearly non existent, and yet it still crushes any N64 game I have ever seen. The story is mysterious, funny, exciting, weird, intricate, and much, much, more! It isn't a pushover, but not really frustrating either. It's also sufficiently long, a quality that is seriously lacking in a lot of newer games. I beat Starfox 64, the hard way, in less than 1 day! Kirby 64 lasted 2 days, including the collecting of the shards. Earthbound, however, took me about two weeks, which is pretty good compared to most games. It can be only described in one word, incredible. If I had to pick a second, however, it would be The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, followed closely by Kirby Superstar in third, with Ogre Battle 64 and Mega Man 2 tied for fourth. This part takes place two weeks after the chosen four have beaten Giygas. Also, when I use "italics in quotes like this" it means that Paula is speaking to someone telepathically, or vice versa. But enough chit chat, it's time for…]
Chapter 7: Ness's Birthday Party
Paula stood at the corner of the Polestar Pre-school holding a small wrapping object. Suddenly, a white blur appeared down the street. It slowed down as it approached her house.
"Hey, Poo." said Paula.
"Greeting, Paula." said Poo as he slowed down to a stop in front of her. He was holding a long package wrapped in green leaves in his hand.
"What is that?" said Paula pointing toward it.
"It's a bat, made from the sturdiest tree in all of Dalaam. My sensei enchanted it with good luck, too!" said Poo as he held it up. "I hope he likes it."
"Wow. I'm sure he will." said Paula.
"And yours?" asked Poo.
Paula held out her hand with the gift in it. "Well, this first thing is this yo-yo. The second part, though, is kind of a surprise."
"Oh. I understand." said Poo. "However, we need to leave now if were going to pick Jeff up and get there on time."
"Okay." said Paula.
"You sure you can keep up? If your too slow, you won't be close enough for the warp to work." said Poo.
"Hey, I kept up when I was behind Ness! What makes you think this will be any different?" said Paula defensively.
"I was merely making sure." said Poo. "Here we go."
Poo then started to walk. Paula got behind him and matched his speed. They began to jog and finally run, going faster and faster until they were blurs. And then, they disappeared altogether.
********************************************************
They slowed down as soon as they got to Winters. Jeff was waiting outside his boarding school with a large and bulky present. It was almost as big as he was.
"A… little help… here!" said Jeff struggling under the weight of his gift.
Poo gave Paula the bat. "Hold this." He then went over to Jeff's present immediately grabbed the other side.
"Ah, that's better." Jeff said with relief.
"Geez, what do you have in there?" asked Paula as she watched the two struggle to put it in a comfortable position.
"It's an automatic pitching machine." said Jeff. "I know how much Ness loves baseball, and I found an old washing machine at the dump, so I fixed it up with a couple spare parts I had lying around, and Voila!"
"Ingenious." said Poo. "Only problem is that I can't teleport carrying it."
"Don't worry, I thought of that." said Jeff triumphantly. "We'll just take the Skyrunner. I put it behind some bushes over there so it wouldn't be stolen."
Paula went to the spot he nodded his head toward. Sure enough, the Skyrunner was sitting there.
"Okay you guys, bring it over here." Paula said.
The guys brought the machine to the Skyrunner and put it in the back. Then the three of them got in.
"Okay." said Jeff. "Hold on tight!"
He punched a couple buttons on the control panel and the Skyrunner took off and headed toward Onett.
********************************************************
"A little more to the right." said Paula. "There! That's perfect!"
The Skyrunner slowly descended from the air and settled down in a nice open spot next to Ness's house.
"Wow, Jeff. I think that's the first time you didn't crash the Skyrunner when you landed." said Poo. Paula laughed.
"Ha ha. Very funny." said Jeff.
Paula went up to the door as Jeff and Poo grabbed the machine and hauled it out of the Skyrunner. She rang the bell. The door opened and on the other side was Ness.
"Paula!" said Ness.
"Ness!" yelled Paula.
They gave each other a big huge. Ness looked behind her and saw Poo and Jeff.
"Let me guess, that's Jeff's present." said Ness with a smirk.
"How did you know?" replied Jeff.
"Cause you're the only one who would make something that big." said Ness. He helped them in with the gift. They had trouble getting it through the door.
When they got inside, Paula, Jeff, and Poo greeted Ness's mom in unison. "Hello."
"Hi, kids!" she said. "I'm glad you could make it for such a special event in Ness's life."
"Mom, it's my eleventh birthday! That not a special event." said Ness.
"Every Birthday is a special event in your life, sweetie!" said Ness's mom.
"Moommm! Don't call me sweetie!" bawled Ness.
"I'm sorry, sweetie!" said Ness's mom.
"MOOOMMM!!!"
Jeff couldn't contain himself and let out a snicker.
Paula looked around for a second. "Hey, Ness, where's your sister?"
"Oh she's working today." said Ness.
"So is this everyone?" asked Paula.
"No, my dad should be here soon, too." said Ness. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Your father always did have perfect timing!" said Ness's mom.
Ness opened up the door and his father stepped through.
"Ness, it's great to see you." said Ness's dad.
"Dad!!" cried Ness. He gave his father a big hug.
"Sorry I've been away so long." he said. "These business trips keep getting longer and longer."
"I'm just glad you made it." said Ness. "I want you to meet my friends. This is Jeff."
"Aren't you the son of the famous inventor, Dr. Andonuts?" asked Ness's dad.
"Yeah, I guess." said Jeff quietly.
"I can see the resemblance." said Ness's dad. "And this must be Poo. You're a prince, right?"
"Yes, that is correct. I am the son of the king of Dalaam." replied Poo.
"Wow. I am impressed." said Ness's dad.
"And over here is Paula." said Ness.
"Ooohh, so THIS is Paula." said Ness's Dad. He gave Ness an overt wink.
"DAAAADDD!!!" yelled Ness.
Paula turned red with embarrassment. Jeff almost fell over in laughter. Poo smiled.
"Okay, everyone." said Ness's mom. "It's time for cake."
********************************************************
When everyone had their fill of cake, Ness began opening presents. He started with his dad's.
"Oh cooooll! It's an autographed baseball mitt!!!" said Ness in awe. "Thanks, Dad!" He began to open Poo's gift next, but he was interrupted.
"Wait a second!" said Ness's mom. "I have a little surprise, for everyone!"
All of a sudden, the photographer spun down from the ceiling and landed on the dining table. "Pictures taken instantaneously! I'm a photographic genius if I do say so myself!"
"OH NO! NOT HIM AGAIN!!" yelled Ness. "LAST TIME I SAW HIM, HE TAILED ME ON MY ENTIRE ADVENTURE!"
"Okay, everyone in the picture!" said the photographer. "Say Fuzzy Pickles!"
"FU-ZZY PICK-LES!" said everyone. Ness gave his signature peace sign.
Snap!
"Wow, that picture was great! It will always bring back the fondest of memories." said the photographer. He put away his camera and spun back up to the ceiling. Then he disappeared.
"I wonder how he does that?" asked Jeff.
"I don't care! I just want to keep opening presents!" said Ness.
Ness finished opening Poo's gift. "It's made with the finest wood in all of Dalaam." said Poo. "It is also enchanted with good luck by my sensei."
"Wow. That puts the Legendary Bat to shame!" said Ness. He stuck it in his belt and started to open Jeff's present.
"It's an automatic pitching machine!" said Jeff. "I'll help hone your baseball skills, even when there's no one else around!"
Ness gave Jeff a puzzled look. "Aaahh, interesting."
Finally, Ness got to Paula's gift. "Actually it's a two parter. This is just the first half." said Paula shyly.
"Swweeeet!! A new yo-yo!" said Ness. "And this one is top of the line! Thanks Paula!" He stuck it in his back pocket.
"Well, what's the last part?" asked Ness's mom.
"It's kinda weird." said Paula. "It's a psychic technique that I just learned." Paula turned to Ness. "Ness, you've been such a good friend that I've decide to share with you all of the happiness you've given me."
"Awww!" said Ness's mom. "Isn't that sweet."
"Wow." said Ness. "What do I need to do?"
"Just sit down there and clear your mind. I will establish a psychic link." said Paula.
"Okay." said Ness. He closed his eyes and did actually what Paula said.
After a couple seconds, he heard a voice in his mind. "Ready?" said Paula telepathically.
"I think so." responded Ness.
"Okay. Here we go!" said Paula.
At first, it wasn't much, just a fleeting thought here and there. But every second that past, it grew. Ness relived scenes from their adventure, from Paula's view. He also felt everything that Paula did at those times. It was warm and fuzzy, like a thick blanket, but better. It completely surrounded him, and it smothered him in goodness. It felt like being wrapped up in joy, if such a thing was possible. It was the greatest thing that him ever experienced in his whole life. He wanted to laugh, and laugh and laugh, until he couldn't laugh anymore. He couldn't see, hear, feel or sense anything that was happening in the real world at that time.
Unfortunately, that was a big liability right now, because the Master Hand had already grabbed him and was pulling him into the rift, plus he couldn't hear his friend's and family's shouts of warning to him.
"NESS!!! YOU'VE GOT TO WAKE UP!!!" screamed Ness's mom, dad, and Jeff. "NESS!!! CAN YOU HEAR US!! PLEASE WAKE UP!!!"
By now, Poo was regaining consciousness and getting up off the floor where the Master Hand had knocked him. Jeff did not bring his weapons and Paula was in the same state as Ness.
"NESS, WAKE UP!!! NNEEESSSSS!!!!!" yelled the trio as loud as they could. But it was too late. The portal was almost closed.
When it finished, Ness and Paula simultaneously screamed. Their psychic link was brutality severed.
********************************************************
Ness woke up an hour later. He saw his mother standing over him looking over him.
"Paula! Are you okay?" asked his mom.
Ness shook his head. "Yeah, I'm fine. But why are you calling me that?"
"Calling you what, dear?" asked his mom again.
Ness sat up and looked around. He was at Twoson Hospital. "Calling me Pau…" He then screamed so loud that it woke up every other person in the entire hospital.
The reason he screamed so loudly was because at that moment, he saw himself in the hospital mirror. Or, more accurately, he saw Paula in the hospital mirror. Finally, he realized the horrible truth…
I must have somehow switched bodies with Paula!