Author's Note: Chapter 5 is divided into 4 different sections. One for every member of the Chosen Four (duh!) The sequence in which you read them doesn't matter as long as you read them. Or else you'll be lost at chapter 6.
EarthBound:
The Seed of Giygas
by
JamesPicard_007
Chapter 5 – Paula
Paula was blinded by the lightning. Everything around here was white. A sharp ringing sounded in her ears. Paula tried to walk forward to catch herself on the table in front of her. Instead her hands missed the table and hit solid ground.
Paula quickly felt the area around her. Instead of a plush carpet, there was dirt and gravel. It didn't take much for Paula to realize she wasn't home. Slowly Paula's senses came back to her. A rancid smell suddenly hit her full force. It smelled charred, as if it had recently happened.
The whiteness clouding her eyes began to recede. As her sight came back to her, Paula could tell she wasn't home. The landscape in front of her was barren and scarred. The sky above was filled with dark clouds. The land painted with burning fires. What seemed to have been beautiful forests was now nothing but a wasteland.
When she tried to stand up for a minute her lungs were suddenly overwhelmed by the land's pollution. Paula quickly scrambled to the ground to get some fresher air.
"Now I see why nothing lives here." She thought to herself. "Nothing could last long in this environment." Suddenly it had hit her. She wasn't even on Earth anymore. This had to be an alien world. But what could have brought her here.
The last thing Paula had remembered was the incredible bolt of lightning and the crashing of the thunder. No. She remembered a strange sensation. Like her body was being split apart at the molecular level and yet joining together at the same time.
How she got here wasn't exactly the problem at hand. How she was going to get home was. Paula knew she couldn't survive very long if she stayed here. She reached for her dress' sleeve and ripped it off. She tied the fabric around her face, making a protective filter.
She scanned the horizon for any signs of possible shelter. Far in the east she spotted what seemed to be several large buildings. Normally the trek would take several days, however if she used teleportation bursts she'd be able to get there faster.
Several hours later
Paula laid down on the flattest rock she could find. After running for several hours it seemed like she was no closer to the distant city. Her legs were now crying for rest. Fatigue was also settling in on Paula. She hadn't eaten anything in hours.
Her body was crying for nourishment and rest, but Paula knew if she were to fall asleep she might not wake up. Still she couldn't ignore the fact her eyelids were growing heavier.
"I can just rest my eyes for a minute." Paula said to herself. She closed her eyes and began to think of home. A cool breeze began to blow over her face. The air around her had suddenly become quite refreshing. She opened her eyes to face a bright orange sky.
Paula sat up and stared in awe. The desolate landscape had suddenly become a flourishing paradise. Beside the rock she was lying on, a small stream of crystal, pure water flowed. The fields were filled with vibrant green grass as far as the eye could see. Trees filled with fruit were spread like wildflowers.
Paula leapt beside the stream and began drinking water greedily. The cool liquid quickly soothed her dry mouth. After several large drinks she decided to satiate her hunger. The trees were filled with fruit as large as apples, but the skin was blue.
Her hunger got the best of her and she reached for the fruit.
When she bit her teeth into the fruit, flavor just exploded in her mouth. Suddenly voices filled the air. Paula looked around and saw the field was filled with families. They were laughing and playing. Some of the children were running carelessly towards her. She tried to move, but the children ran right through her.
As Paula stared at the horizon the orange soon became more ominous. Suddenly the ground beneath her began to crack. Huge fissures began to mar the perfection of the land. The sky grew dark with storm clouds. Cracks of thunder boomed that was almost deafening.
Lightning struck the trees creating uncontrollable fires. Suddenly in the distance a familiar silhouette appeared. Paula suddenly realized she was seeing what had happened to this once beautiful paradise.
Paula awoke with a start. The dream of destruction had frightened her beyond comparison. This was the fate she and her friends had save their own planet from. The fate of destruction by Giygas!
What does this startling revelation have to do with the current plight of Earth? What is happening to the rest of the Chosen Four? Find out in The Seed of Giygas Chapter 5 - Jeff
