Chapter 19: An Untimely Death
AN: Hey all! It's only been a day and here's another chapter done! I'm a bit ahead of the game so, I was able to get another chapter
done. I won't promise the next one will come out tomorrow, but here's a little post Halloween treat for you all! Enjoy!
***I don't own anything in this story, so please don't sue me.***
Samantha's eyes scanned the room and she began looking for a way out.
"Gotta leave…need to get out of here…I…I can't stay…"Samantha tried getting up, but a doctor stopped her from getting out of the bed.
"Sam, I can't let you leave. You…nngh…you are not cleared…" He struggled to restrain her. "You are not cleared to leave!" Samantha eventually overpowered him and knocked the doctor to the floor. She grabbed her clothes and sprinted out the door. "Security!" He called out, but Samantha was already gone. Frantically running down the hall, Samantha was looking for the exit, but she didn't recognize any of the hallways.
'Come on, come on…which way's the exit?' Samantha thought as she continued running. As she turned another corner, two orderlies in white clothes restrained her.
"No! Let me go!" She screamed while trying to kick free, but her strength was not completely back yet. The doctor rushed towards the princess; breathing heavy and taking a few moments to catch his breath.
"Sam…I…" He groaned. "Hold on…one sec…second." He huffed and puffed. After a few moments, he caught his breath and began speaking in a calm manner. "Sam, I don't know what you are talking about. Who is coming?"
"Gannondorf! He's trying to KILL me!" She blurted out loud. "I need to leave…you must let me leave! I order you to-"
"In my thirty six years as a doctor, I am not going to let you just walk out while you claim that someone is going to murder you." He insisted. Lusamine and Francine began walking towards them from around a different corner.
"What is going on? What is the meaning of this?" Lusamine asked in a motherly tone.
"Lusamine, I have reason to believe that Samantha is suffering from some kind of dehydration or-"
"It is NOT dehydration! I have a day to leave or I am going to die!" Samantha yelled while still trying to get free, but unable to break free.
"Or perhaps some form of hysteria." He muttered under his breath. Lusamine looked at Samantha for a moment before sighing.
"Sam, how about if we spend the entire day with you? Would that give you piece of mind?" Lusamine asked. Realizing she had no other options, Samantha nodded her head and the doctor left to retrieve a wheelchair for her. Lusamine motioned for the orderlies to let her go.
"Don't. Run." Lusamine said quietly as the orderlies finally let go of her. Samantha looked at the ground and remained in place.
"Maybe Sam just wanted some fresh air." Francine suggested. "We could go outside, or-" Francine noted the glare that Lusamine was giving her. "…or we could return to her room and stare at the wall aimlessly while Sam gets better." Francine dismissed in a rather rude tone.
"Francine, she needs to stay inside." Lusamine informed her friend. The doctor returned and Samantha took a seat in the wheelchair. The four of them returned to Samantha's room and both Francine and Lusamine noticed how nervous she was acting.
"Sam, nothing is going to happen. We'll run a few tests and spend the entire day with you." Lusamine smiled which made the princess feel a little better. As they returned, Francine and the doctor helped move Samantha back to her bed.
"Anyway…" Francine said before laying down in one of the nearby beds. "I feel like we should open up to each other a bit. Since we're stuck here and all." Francine smiled and quietly exhaled. No one said anything for the longest time.
"Will Mallow be disappointed that I can't go to the spa today?" Samantha asked with a hint of sadness in her voice. She was incredibly excited for the spa treatment that Mallow talked about, but since she was now incredibly scared for her life, she felt that she was letting her new friends down.
"I could use a back massage." Francine stretched upward and sighed.
"I've been taking lessons." Lusamine chimed in before standing up and walking towards Francine.
"Wait…you learned how to massage?" Francine questioned her friend as she was adjusting herself to lie on her chest.
"Of course. I've been taking lessons from Kukui and-"
"Wait…Kukui knows how to give massages? Why hasn't he given me a massage?!" Francine barked and had a look of frustration and anger.
"Calm down, he's been taking lessons himself. He's just gotten started and he's shown me a few of the tricks he's learned." Lusamine reassured her. Samantha quietly sighed while the doctor continued examining her.
"Sam, got any fun stories about your sister?" Francine asked, but Samantha looked depressed once she brought up her sister.
"We used to be so close. Now…I don't hear anything from her." Samantha lowered her head in shame.
"Now, Sam. Your sister was…don't tell Faba or Wicke, but I consider Virginia to be the smartest person I had the privilege of employing."
"Hey now…" Francine objected, but Lusamine stood her ground.
"I'm not apologizing." Lusamine smirked and applied more pressure to her friend's shoulders. Francine's objections quickly disappeared and she quietly relaxed in her hands. "She had a way with the Pokémon and the way her mind works…I'll never understand."
"What do you mean?" Samantha questioned while the doctor cleaned Samantha's arm.
"Three, two, one…" He stuck a needle into her arm and checked the IV drip.
"Hours would pass where she'd spend time with the Pokémon in the conservation area. Or she'd be working a puzzle and spend so much time trying to unscramble or decipher puzzles."
"Ginny's always been like that." Samantha weakly smiled as the doctor placed his stethoscope against her breath.
"Sam, I need you to remain quiet and take a few deep breaths." The doctor informed the princess.
"Wait, hold on." Samantha said before the doctor began. "Why is this place called the Aether foundation?" She asked before nodding at the doctor to begin.
"It's named after my husband, Mohn Aether." Samantha's eyes grew big as she was hoping that Lusamine would elaborate since she couldn't verbally communicate that to her.
"Who is Mohn Aether?" Francine covered her mouth and did her best attempt at mimicking the princess. Samantha couldn't contain her laughter and it spilled out while the doctor was running his tests. Lusamine stopped massaging her and took a seat next to Francine.
"Don't quit your day job." Lusamine teased while Francine sat up. "Mohn is my husband. He is…" Her joy quickly turned to depression. "…was…the greatest mind I had ever known. He's not dead, if that's what you're thinking." Lusamine quickly chimed in. "We were studying ultra wormholes and…" Lusamine closed her eyes and began tearing up.
"Hey, come on…it's ok." Francine reassured her friend. After composing herself, Lusamine weakly smiled at Francine and continued.
"…I thought he had died. He was gone for so long. But one day, a wormhole opened up and he…he managed to return." She smiled and laughed while wiping the tears from her eyes. "His memories are gone and he has no recollection of what happened, but he has returned. I…he is still my husband. He may not remember me, but he is the father to my dear Lillie and the true CEO of this great company. Though I may have taken the role, I've personally dedicated my free time to him. He thinks we're dating. It's rather cute, if I do say so myself." She smiled and her cheeks turned a light pink. Seeing her smile caused Samantha to smile as well.
"Almost done." The doctor informed the princess before wrapping a band around her arm and pushing some buttons on a machine.
"How long have you two been dating?" Samantha asked.
"About three years. I feel especially horrible for Lillie. She spends time with us as well…to have her father here and for him to not know the face of his own child…I…I don't know." She looked at a monitor and sighed.
"Hey come on, Mohn is coming around. It wasn't that long ago he thought your name was Lisa." Both women laughed.
"You were…what was it? Frannie? No! Annie! And Kukui was Professor Kukiwi.
"Oh my God! Kukiwi! I forgot about that!" Francine laughed and even Samantha quietly laughed alongside with them.
"Alright, Sam. Your test are normal…I'd feel better if you'd stay at least one more day. Just to be sure, but I'll leave it up to you." Samantha looked around and then back at the doctor. Though her mind screamed that she should grab her stuff and run, Samantha listened to her heart and nodded her head.
"If you think I should stay, then…I suppose one more day won't kill me, right?" Samantha lightly laughed at her joke.
"We'll have someone check on you every hour." The doctor bowed his head and he left. Lusamine walked over to an empty chair and moved it some she was sitting next to Samantha.
"So, this Gannondorf…he was indefinitely suspended from the tournament for cheating, right?" Lusamine questioned. Samantha nodded and Francine shrugged her shoulders.
"That's what mom told me. She was hit in the back of the leg." Samantha explained.
"After that…I thought he just left. No one heard anything from him. And now, you're saying he's coming here? For what? What possible reason could he have for coming after you?" Lusamine interrogated the firstborn of Hyrule.
"I don't know." Samantha insisted. "He said that he needed me out of the way. I think he wants to go after Ginny."
"But why? What's so special about her?" France questioned, before her eyes grew big. "N-Not that she isn't special. I mean, there must be some reason as to why he's hunting her."
"I know what you meant and I don't have an answer." Samantha sighed. "I wish mom were here…she always has a plan."
"Zelda?" Lusamine asked and Samantha nodded.
"She…goddamn it, I miss her so much…" Samantha began tearing up and rubbed her eye. "My only plan is to cower like a…um…" She sniffled and gulped hard. "…a coward until I die."
"Sam, come on…you're not going to die." Francine reassured the princess. "Hey, how about we call Genny? I bet she'll want to hear from you." Francine got up and grabbed a small tablet. She called someone and waited.
"Hello?" Kukui answered her call.
"Hi honey!" Francine said with a cheery tone.
"Hey sweetie. Um…where are you?"
"Medical wing. We're staying with Sam until she's better. How's Genny doing?"
"She's getting better. They're keeping her here tomorrow just to be safe. Sam can come pick her up tomorrow afternoon."
"So…can she talk to her?" Francine questioned her husband. Kukui laughed and walked over to the little girl and handed her the camera. Francine handed the tablet to Samantha and Samantha smiled as she saw the child she was protecting. Sitting in a hospital bed like Samantha's was the little girl. Genny was pouting and her eyes were red; probably from crying and she sniffled.
"Sam…" Her voice cracked and Samantha's heart broke.
"Genny…" Samantha whispered while her own eyes started watering.
"I'll be good. Don't leave me." She quickly inhaled and wiped her eye with the back of her hand. "Come back…I'm scared…"
"Genny…" Samantha's voice cracked and she sniffled as well. "Honey, I'm going to be here one more day, ok? Tomorrow, we'll go see my sister. Her name is Virginia but…" Samantha started laughing. "I call her Ginny. You remember her, right?" Genny nodded her head. "Ok, good. I bet you two will have tons of fun. She's really funny and happy. She's really sweet and she's pretty. Just like you." Genny smiled; showing off her teeth and Samantha laughed.
"I miss you, Sam." She said while her smile faded from her face.
"I miss you too, pumpkin." Samantha told the girl. "I'll come get you tomorrow, ok?" Genny nodded her head to indicate she understood what Samantha told her. "You want to talk about your day?"
"I had juice. And a sandwich. I ate the yucky part too."
"You ate the crust? Genny, I'm so proud of you." Samantha gushed. "Look at you, all grown up."
"I'm a big girl!" Genny clapped her hands and laughed.
"Yes you are! You're such a big girl." Samantha yawned and rubbed one eye.
"Hey Genny…can I get some sleep? I'm really tired." Samantha said with a smile.
"No…" Genny whined, and Samantha could see that Genny was going to cry again.
"Ok, just a little while longer." Samantha sighed and Genny giggled. "When we get out, I promise…we'll have a very special spa day."
"Ok!" Genny cheered just before Samantha laughed.
"It'll be a special place. Just you, me, maybe Virginia, and…what's her name…" Samantha muttered under her breath trying to recall her sister's girlfriend's name. "…Serena? Was that it? I think that's it." Samantha nodded her head. "But right now, I need to get some sleep, ok?"
"…ok…" Genny spoke with a somber tone. "I miss you."
"I miss you more, pumpkin." Samantha kissed two fingers and placed it over the camera. "I love you, little girl."
"…love you too, Sam." Genny quietly uttered before waving goodbye to her caretaker. The call hung up and, for a moment, Samantha continued looking at the black screen.
'I promise you, Genny. We'll get you out of here and I'll get you home.' Samantha told herself.
"She is so adorable!" Francine gushed. "I mean, Sam…that girl…you should adopt her."
"I can't do that!" Samantha blurted.
"Why not?" Lusamine asked. "She trusts you, she loves you-"
"She has no one else!" Samantha smiled. "And her parents are probably still looking for her. I need to bring her home."
"What if her parents don't want her back?" Francine questioned.
"Who wouldn't want Genny?"
"Well, what if it takes your whole life? What if you never find her parents?" Lusamine asked.
"Well…I…I guess I could keep her." Samantha quietly suggested before feeling her cheeks turn red. "N-No…w-wait a minute-"
"So you have considered it." Lusamine chuckled.
"No, I…I could never…y-you know what? I…I need to get some sleep." Samantha changed the topic and looked around. "I…I don't suppose I could ask one of you for an extra pillow or something, could I?" Samantha nervously laughed.
"Of course, your majesty." Francine did an over-the-top bow to her before walking to another bed to grab a pillow.
"…asshole." Samantha grumbled under her breath.
"You better be careful, young lady. You're still not at one hundred percent. I might be able to take you down." France placed the pillow at her feet and took a fighting stance.
"You wouldn't dare hit a princess of Hyrule." Samantha said with a smirk. Francine gave the princess a soft tap with a closed fist; she barely touched her arm with her fist as she pulled her arm back.
"A one hit knock out!" Francine cheered while imitating the crowd cheering for her.
"One hit? Puh-leeze." Samantha laughed. "Even now, I'd-" She felt Francine give her another "knockout punch" and again, raised her arm in victory.
"What a fighter! The new champion!" Francine cheered while Lusamine laughed and clapped her hands.
"Technically, Marcus is the reigning champion. He won last year's match and since this year never technically finished…he's still the reigning champion." Samantha added.
"Hey, I have a question…" Lusamine raised her hand. "Winning the championship…what's that like?"
"Winning the championship…" Samantha looked up and smiled. "It was…wow…" Samantha really had to think about this. It wasn't that long ago, but still there were so many emotions going through her mind back then. "Well, I mean…it was tough. I ended my mom's career. The greatest woman to have ever fought in the tournament…that was tough. I remember mom and I spent some time together after it was over. I was having trouble sleeping…I guess she was too. But, it was like a torch was being passed. My mom called it quits and it was my turn. It was like a rite of passage…but there was this moment. When it was all over, it was like…everything went silent. There was no noise, no crowd, nothing. I was alone and I swear...I could hear my heart beating. It felt like time stood still and everything is just…quiet." Samantha explained to the women.
"Wow…" Lusamine said with awe in her voice. "Well, perhaps we should let you sleep." Francine sighed and got up.
"Alright. Get some shut eye; we'll wake you up in a little bit." Francine and Lusamine walked out and quietly shut the door behind them Samantha pulled the blanket up a bit and she snuggled with the pillow in hand before drifting off to sleep. Like most dreams she had, this one took place within a memory. This was after her championship run in the middle of the night. Samus was sitting alone on the back steps with a six pack next to her. Only one can was gone and Samus was sipping on the can and gazing up at the stars.
"Mom?" The younger version of Samantha asked and she turned around.
"…hey kid." Samus smiled and motioned for her daughter to sit by her.
"Can't sleep?" She questioned her idol and parent.
"…no." Samus admitted and took another sip of her beer. "What are you doing up? I thought you'd be happily sleeping with Marcus. Or should I say your fiancé?" Samantha's face turned red.
"Samantha Grace McCloud…" Samantha giggled before sighing. "What a day. Got my very first trophy…"
"Many more to come." Samus smiled as she took a beer from her six pack and handed it to her daughter.
"Mom, you know I don't drink beer. I've never liked beer."
"Fine." Samantha said sarcastically and handed the can she was previously drinking to her daughter and opened the new one for herself. "To the new queen." Samus clinked her beer can against Samantha's mostly empty one. "Hylia save this…fucking idiot." Samantha and her mother laughed and before Samantha could drink the beer, there was something that prevented her from drinking.
"Samus, you wouldn't be providing our daughter with alcohol, would you?" Zelda walked out and took the can and placed an unopened can of cherry Pepsi in place.
"You're no fun." Samus grumbled and took a sip of her drink. "Hey Sam…" Samus looked back at her daughter. "Go to the kitchen and order whatever you want. You'll never forget it."
"Oh yeah?" Samantha raised an eyebrow. "What were your first meals?"
"I had French toast and pancakes and apple juice to wash it all down." Samus replied without hesitation. Zelda finished Samus' beer and her face turned light pink. "Darling…" Samus began while Zelda stifled her laughter. "…care to tell our daughter what you had?"
"…a…triple bacon cheeseburger…"
"…with…?" Samus leered; waiting for her wife to answer.
"…extra onions." Samantha laughed.
"You know what the grossest part was? She tried to kiss me afterwards." Samantha closed her eyes and groaned while Zelda nervously laughed.
"Now, hold on, in my defense…we're a married couple-"
"No, fuck you. I have standards." Samus chuckled.
"Language!" Zelda sternly said before all three women laughed. "Samantha, what would you like? I'll go get it for you."
"I…you won't judge me, will you?" Samantha sheepishly asked.
"Sam, get whatever you want. Your mother and I won't judge." Samus reassured her daughter.
"…macaroni and cheese and mashed potatoes with gravy." Samantha licked her lips. "…please?" Zelda smiled and kissed her daughter's cheek.
"Whatever you want, my dear." Zelda knelt down and took the remained beers from her wife. "No more drinking."
"…fine." Samus reluctantly nodded as Zelda walked inside. Still holding her cherry Pepsi, Samantha took a seat next to her mother.
"Sam, I really want you to know how proud I am of you. I also want you to know…even if you never win another championship or whatever happens in the future…you can never disappoint us."
"…never?" She asked while Samus moved closer to her daughter and put an arm around her.
"Never." Samus smiled and Samantha smiled. Being with her mother, under the stars…everything seemed right.
"Hey mom…?" Samantha chimed in.
"Yeah?" Samus replied.
"What do you think happens when we die?" Samus looked at her daughter with surprise.
"Where is this coming from?" Samus laughed.
"I keep remembering what mom says…about the royal family and those who are forever cherished by us…they're in the stars looking down on us…do you believe that too?"
"I…I don't know." Samus admitted. "I'm in no rush to find out…and you shouldn't be either. When we die, we'll find out if there's life after death or reincarnation or whatever. But…" Samus gently slapped Samantha's thigh. "That's not something you should be thinking about." Zelda returned with a tray and two bowls. She took the tray and set it down next to her.
"I'll never forget, huh?" She smiled and joked with her parents before grabbing the macaroni and cheese. Meanwhile the present-day Samantha smiled while watching her memory.
"…I never forgot." Samantha whispered to herself as she felt a tear run down her face.
"…excuse me." Another voice spoke up and Samantha turned. Instead of seeing Gannondorf, she saw a woman significantly shorter than her. She was wearing a white silk dress and her hair was so light, it was either platinum white or a very light blonde. Though Samantha always considered her parents to be the most beautiful women in all the lands, but whoever this person was…she could give them a run for their money.
"…hello…" Samantha squeaked. "Are you here to kill me?" She questioned the stranger with fear. She had a look of genuine concern on her face.
"Are you Samantha?" She asked and the princess nodded. "…my, my. She was right about you."
"Who was right? Who are you? What do you want?" Samantha interrogated the stranger.
"I am not here to harm you, my dear. I am here to assist you."
"Assist me? With what?" Samantha requested more information, but it seemed that this person was being quite vague with their information.
You are heading in the right direction…the weak become strong in the right circumstance. Your answer is right in front of you."
"The right direction…the weak become strong…the answer…I…I don't understand." Samantha murmured.
"I am here to deliver a message and it has been delivered." The woman turned around and walked away.
"Wait! Come back! Who are you?" Samantha called out.
"All in good time, my dear. All in good time." The stranger faded away and left Samantha alone.
"What message? Was that for me?" Samantha probed herself. But before she could answer, she started hearing alarms and she quickly woke up from the dream she had. She opened her eyes and took note of the blaring red lights and a small, yet annoying beeping noise. "What's going on?" Samantha asked while looking at Lusamine and Francine.
"Lusamine!" One of the doctors declared. Two men are breaking through the medical wing! They're-" An explosion knocked the doctor out of the way and knocked both women to the floor.
"…what the fuck?" Samantha whispered as she tried crawling out of bed to see what was happening. Suddenly, a second explosion shook the entire building shook.
"Lusamine, I need answers!" Francine called out while barricading the door.
"What the hell do you want me to say?! I have no-" A loud bang on the door knocked Francine and Lusamine back. Gannondorf, who barely fit in the room, entered with the same man that Samantha dealt with a few days ago. "Samantha became silent and with nowhere to run, she either had to fight or die.
"Hello Samantha. Firstborn of Hyrule." Gannondorf smirked while looking at the princess in the hospital bed.
"Go. Away." Samantha quietly fumed at the man who was significantly taller than her.
"Surely, you had a better plan than that?" He gave a hearty laugh, but no one else found it amusing.
"Virginia is not here. You've wasted your time." Samantha remarked.
"Straight to business…I like that." He nodded his head with approval. "How about we play a little game? Wait outside." He ordered the man next to him and the other man quietly stepped outside. Gannondorf sat on the ground and pulled out a silver coin.
"Makao, get your fucking ass over here now! I don't know what's-" Gannondorf grabbed the tablet Francine was using and examined the tablet.
"Wh-Who are you? What are you-" Gannondorf crushed the tablet in his palm and his sight turned back to Samantha.
"This is a simple silver dollar." He showed off the coin and it wasn't in any way altered. "I'm going to ask you some questions and if your answers are not truthful or you refuse to answer, these two women will receive your punishment. Heads will be for the blonde over there…" He casually pointed to Lusamine. "…and tails will be for her." He motioned towards Francine. "Now…where is your sister?" Samantha didn't say a word; mostly out of fear and intimidation of his size. "And so it begins…" He flipped the coin and caught it before opening his hand. He turned towards Lusamine.
"Please, don't…" Lusamine begged, but Gannondorf backhanded the woman hard across the face.
"No!" Samantha begged, but there was nothing she could have done.
"Let's try again. Where. Is. Your. Sister?"
"Don't tell him anything." Francine demanded. He's going to kill us all anyway."
"I give you my word. I will not kill you." Gannondorf remarked.
"I…please…stop…" Samantha pleaded. Gannondorf flipped the coin again and smiled.
"What a day to be you." He grabbed Lusamine and slammed his fist into her stomach. She exhaled as her body went limp.
"Stop it, please!" Samantha screamed while bawling her eyes out. She got out of bed and started running towards the man.
"This is your last chance." He held Lusamine's limp body in the air. "Tell me the location of your sister, or I will snap her neck."
"Sam…you can't…" Francine begged, but Gannondorf moved the coin so it was in between his middle finger and his ring finger and punched Francine's gut.
"Vaniville Town!" Samantha blurted while she cried. "It's…It's in the Kalos region. Please…don't kill them…please." Samantha closed her eyes and fell to her knees. Gannondorf carefully set Lusamine down on the ground.
"Thank you. Oh, and one last thing. Come with me." He motioned for the princess to follow him. Though Samantha was hesitant, she feared for what he might do if she didn't cooperate.
"S-Sam…d-don't…" Francine coughed up blood, but she knelt down in front of her.
"Francine, call Virginia. You must warn her…I…I think I know what's going to happen."
"No…Sam…" Francine started crying as it seems that she also pieced the same result.
"Tell Genny…" Samantha rubbed her eyes and sniffled. "Tell Genny I love her…and that I'm sorry."
"Sam, puh…please…don't…" But Francine's grip was far too weak as Samantha slowly walked out of the room. The moment she took a step out, The second man grabbed the IV drip and threw her away from the door; ripping the needle out of her body. Samantha inhaled sharply and looked up to see that Gannondorf was holding the same gun that killed her mother.
"You…You said you wouldn't kill us." Samantha stood up and rubbed her arm where the IV drip was inserted.
"No, I said I wouldn't kill them. I never said I wouldn't kill you. However, if you do run, then I will kill them." He turned the gun on and while Samantha tried to hold a brave face, her mind race with everything she failed to complete.
'You failed to bring Genny home…you failed to protect your kingdom…you've failed everyone...' Samantha closed her eyes and sniffled once more.
"You'll kill them anyway." Samantha wiped her eyes and sniffled.
"Eggman, take her back to base when it's done." Gannondorf told the lackey; completely ignoring the princess.
"I have my own mission, and I-" Gannondorf glared at the shorter man.
"I will not repeat myself. Do as you are told." His voice boomed and there was genuine fear on his face.
"Y-Y-Yes of course." He uttered before looking back at the princess.
"You…You don't have to do this…please." She sobbed while he was fixing the weapon pointing at her. "I don't want to die…please…" She begged while her voice cracked and he simply started chuckling.
"Let it be known that, in her final moments…the firstborn of Hyrule…begged for her life." Realizing there was no other option; Samantha clenched her fists, but remained where she stood.
"You're such a jerk. I hate you. I really fucking hate you." Samantha wiped away her tears just before the gun fired and, her last act was the loudest scream she could produce. Then, a white light engulfed her and then blackness. The only thing that remained was a simple fact: Samantha Grace McCloud was officially dead.