Chapter 20

"We have to move quickly," Jeff said as he hurried through the dense woods away from Stonehenge.
"So that was Paula, one of the Chosen Four," Robert noted.
"That's right," Jeff replied, "And I'm sure you picked up on the seriousness of the phone call."
"Something is wrong with Ness?" Robert inquired.
"It was that Supreme Starman," Jeff cursed, "He had some unique attack that left a wound on Ness that could not be healed with PSI, but now it seems that it has also affected his mental and physical state."
"So we got a souped up legend on the loose who might do anything," Robert commented, "Definitely doesn't sound good. We should get there ASAP."
"We?" Jeff asked.
"You may need some help," Robert said, "Are you and Paula able to stop Ness if he gets dangerous?"
"I'm hoping it doesn't come to that," Jeff said.
"But it might," Robert pointed out, "And you may need some extra firepower around to slow Ness down. I don't know how strong he's become, but I'm considered to be pretty formidable myself."
"Just as long as you're not searching for a way to let loose with all your pent up aggression caused by Supreme Starman and that Shendi," Jeff retorted.
"I'm no hothead," Robert shot back, slightly offended, "Like you said, hopefully no sort of force will have to be used, but just in case Ness can't be reasoned with, you should have a backup in place."
"All right," Jeff said, "Sounds reasonable."
Jeff wasn't sure exactly why he wasn't being cooperative. Most of his mind was preoccupied by whatever might be going on in Onett, and he hated that idea that it all may come down to him fighting against one of his best friends.
"I can tell you're worried," Robert said, "But I have definitely learned that it's not good to let emotion take too much control in times like these. You'll need a clear and cool head to come out on top."
"Well, you can't always just be devoid of emotion," Jeff answered, "Even if you are able to be, I simply cannot."
"Not completely devoid," Robert said, "Just... balanced."
Robert's mind wandered to Sarah as he spoke. Whenever he wasn't thinking about what was going on in the moment, his mind was on her. He blacked out as Shendi was picking him off the ground back in Berk, and he remembered seeing Sarah right there. What if she tried to save him somehow? What would Shendi have done?
His heart ached as he thought about it, but just as he told Jeff, he had to know the time and place to be overwhelmed by emotion. When he got back to Berk. When he figured out what was going on and when he stopped Shendi, Supreme Starman, and whoever else was invading Earth... That's when emotion can rule the day, but not until then. Not until...
"We're getting close to the lab," Jeff announced, "I just have to gather a few things and calibrate the Phase Distorter with the proper coordinates and we'll be off to Onett. I just pray we get there in time."

Paula ran up her street. She didn't even know where to begin looking for Ness. She couldn't even be sure that he was still in Onett.
"Oh, this is silly," Paula snapped at herself, "Just concentrate and stop worrying too much. If I just focus I should be able to figure out where he is."
Paula closed her eyes and said a small prayer. Even with her eyes still shut, she seemed to see much more than average people. She saw the blades of grass whistling in the wind on the outskirts of Onett. She saw the children playing at Polestar Preschool, and quite suddenly, she saw a hideous looking cyborg charge at her husband.
"Ness!" Paula gasped.
She then heard a distant explosion and turned her head towards it.
"I'm coming, Ness," she cried and began to run.

The door of Ness and Paula's house slowly opened.
Christian stepped out onto the front porch. His mother told him to wait in the house and that it was very important that he not go anywhere, but something in his mind was screaming for him to leave.
He stood on the porch and looked out into their street. Everything seemed normal and quiet, and yet he felt bothered by something.
Suddenly, he heard a small boom and looked out into the distance. His mind sensed something and recognized it instantly.
"Daddy?" Christian spoke.
Without any hesitation or thought to how mad his mom would be, Christian ran down the stairs of the front porch and ran down the street.

"ARRRGH!" Pokey roared.
He slammed his fist into the ground, causing an intense vibration to rocket through the ground to where Ness stood.
Ness stumbled and fell.
Pokey took off from the ground and rocketed towards Ness with his fist flying forward.
Ness brought up his arms to block. Pokey's fist struck his arms and the force seemed to vibrate outward all around them.
Pokey quickly grabbed Ness by the shoulders and threw him back.
Ness fell back into the wall of the cliff. Pokey fired a beam into the wall above Ness. The explosion caused many rocks to become loose and fall, burying Ness beneath them.
"No!" Angela gasped.
"Let's move quick!" Mako yelled.
They began to run towards where Pokey was. Pokey turned to face them.
"Now that he's taken care of," Pokey said, "It's time to handle you bunch once and for all."
Mako ran out in front and prepared to attack Pokey, but before he did, a loud noise stopped him.
A large rock flew off the pile and landed next to Pokey.
"Hmm?" Pokey said.
The pile of rocks were slowly pushed apart as Ness crawled his way out. His shirt was ripped up and his hat was crooked. He had quite a few cuts and scratches on him as well.
"How?" Pokey gasped.
Ness stepped away from the pile of rocks.
"Not good enough, Pokey," he gasped.
He straightened his hat.
"There's simply no way a human could have survived that!" Pokey raged, "And since that's true, just what are you!"
"I'm too much for you, that's for sure," Ness answered.
Ness panted a bit. Sweat was pouring off of him and his veins were pulsating.
"Ness, let us help you," Mako said, "Something isn't right with you."
"I told you to stay out of it," Ness growled, "and I mean it."
It was then that Pokey noticed it. The scar from Supreme Starman's attack on Ness' chest. Pokey could tell it was still fresh.
"You're injured?" Pokey wondered aloud, "All this and in reality, you're injured?"
"Makes you feel even more pathetic, doesn't it Pokey?" Ness taunted, "A Ness that isn't even a hundred percent is still too much for you to handle."
"You're not getting the better of me again!" Pokey yelled in an almost whining tone.
"Cover your eyes!" Ness yelled to Mako, Angela, Brian, and Kayla, "PSI Flash Omega!"
Brian and the others quickly covered their heads and shut their eyes tightly.
"Noooooo!" Pokey gasped as his eyes were blinded by the intense light.
"PSI Paralysis Omega!" Ness yelled.
Pokey's body stiffened up and he collapsed.
"He has him now," Angela said.
"Looks like it," Mako said guardedly.
"Curse you!" Pokey screamed as he struggled to move.
"You should never have come here," Ness said, "Now, your pathetic life will come to a gruesome end."
Ness held out his arms and began powering up his Rockin' Omega.
"Ness, there's no need to kill him!" Mako gasped.
"Yes, there is," Ness replied simply.
"Ness, stop!" a new voice shouted.
"It's Paula," Angela announced in awe.
Paula ran up to the scene and towards Ness.
"Ness, you need to stop this right now," Paula ordered, "You're not well."
"Never felt better," Ness retorted, "Please don't get involved."
"Ness, listen to me," Paula urged, "Supreme Starman's attack was more than just a physical attack. It was a psychic attack as well. You're not thinking clearly. You're not a murderer. Pokey is human."
"Doesn't look like one," Ness growled.
"But inside, he is," Paula pressed, "If you do this, there's no walking away from it. Do you hear me!"
"Um... yea, Ness," Pokey muttered, "You're not the bad guy here. Come on now. There must be some way to talk about this, right?"
"Shut up, Pokey," Paula spat, "You're not helping."
"Ness, listen to your wife," Mako urged, "You must realize that you're not yourself right now."
Brian exchanged nervous looks with Angela. Neither knew what to do to help.
"Daddy!"
"Christian!" Paula gasped, "I told you to stay at home!"
"Daddy, you're hurt," Christian noticed.
Ness finally seemed to notice something other than Pokey. He looked at his son and slowly eased up.
"Nothing to worry about, sport," Ness said with a smile, "Your dad's just fine. He always will be."
Paula began to form a smile, and then it happened.
Paula saw a massive shadow overtaking the Earth. She saw Supreme Starman and a cloaked man. Both fired menacing attacks, and in the middle of it all was Ness.
Paula staggered backwards and grabbed a tree to support herself.
"Mommy, what's wrong?" Christian asked.
"Oh, God," Paula gasped, "Ness, get away!"

"Master, they are awaiting you word," a mook reported as he ran into Rygwar's chamber.
"The word is given then!" Rygwar chirped, "All forces, commence the attack!"

"What is it!" Ness yelled, "What do you see!"
"Just get away!" Paula cried, "Get away before..."
Suddenly, the ground gave a violent shutter.
"What was that?" Kayla asked.
A loud, whirring sound began radiating all around them.
"It's coming from up there!" Mako yelled, pointing up the cliffs.
They heard an explosion, and then a light appeared from somewhere over the cliffs, and then a gigantic wind soared down the cliffs.
Dirt and small branches flew through the air as the wind kept blowing intensely. Christian began to fall, but Paula reached him and cradled him in her arms. Kayla and Angela grabbed a tree to hold themselves up.
Pokey was pushed back against some bushes. He began to regain feeling in his legs, but it still wasn't enough to get up.
"What's happening!" Brian gasped.
Ness began to feel something inside him, and he looked up at the cliffs in terror.

A young girl walked up to the small outdoor market in Happy Happy Village. She pulled out her money to buy the apples her mom sent her out to buy. As she handed the money to the market owner though, an explosion of wind and debris rocketed out of the nearby cave entrance. The girl was knocked off her feet. She screamed as she crashed into a fence and lost consciousness.

The water of the hot springs splashed around violently while the Mr. Saturns were blown incontrollably around Saturn Valley.
"Violent winds!" one yelled, "The doom is here!"

Jeff and Robert rounded another tree and could see the clearing far in the distance where Jeff's lab was. Suddenly, the ground shook slightly.
"What was that?" Robert asked.
Jeff slowly turned back. "It came from Stonehenge."
Suddenly, a violent wind tore through the trees. Many branches and snow came flying at them.
"Get down!" Jeff gasped.
Robert and Jeff ran a bit and dove to the ground as the snow overtook them and buried them within seconds.

"Look, I'm very sorry that we're not getting anywhere, Mr. and Mrs. Monotoli," the chief of Fourside PD comforted, "but no one is sure of where your daughter went after arriving in Threed earlier today."
"Well, she can't have just vanished," Mrs. Monotoli protested, "If you have to, expand the search. Call in more reinforcements. I want to know where my daughter is!"
Before the chief could respond, his office shook violently and they heard many screams outside. The three of them ran to the window and looked outside. Many signs, bikes, and even motorcycles were flying down the street as a giant wind overtook the block. The chief looked down the street and his eyes widened.
"Get back!" he gasped.
He pushed Mr. and Mrs. Monotoli back just as a tree came crashing through the window.
Mr. and Mrs. Monotoli fell back against the far wall, and as they looked up, they saw the chief crushed to death underneath the tree.

The castle in Dalaam shook and bits of the roof fell down as the winds flew upward through the village.
Poo's wife, Li, clutched to a nearby column.
A poof sounded in her ear and she looked up to see the Star Master.
"You won't be safe here," he reported, "Come now!"
He took her hand and the two vanished just as the ceiling caved in.

The Tendas fell to the ground as their village shook.
"What did they do?" one Tenda gasped.
The village leader made his way to the hole leading underground. Suddenly, a violent burst of air erupted from the hole and knocked him clear across the village.

The Tendas of Tenda Village 2 ran around in a panic as the ground tossed them around. The dinosaurs raced away from the far end of the Lost Underworld, where a river of lava burst out from the caves.
"Do not fear!" the village leader shouted, "We are protected in this village with the wise rock! We will survive this! We will..."
As he spoke, the dinosaurs stampeded through the village walls. A wetnosaur ran straight at the large rock in the center and shattered it into pieces as it continued to stampede on.

All at once this happened, and back in Onett, Ness cried out in pain. His body was surrounded by a white light as he floated slightly into the air.
Eight beams of light erupted from within him and rocketed into the air.
The winds died down and the shaking ended.

And Ness crumpled to the ground, unconscious and unmoving.