Otherworldly Infection
Themes for this chapter: When I'm Gone, Never Look Back, The One Star, Ten Thousand Fists
So hold me when I'm here. Right me when I'm wrong. Hold me when I'm scared. And love me when I'm gone.
-&-
Chapter Two: Good Byes Hurt
"BRIIIIIIING!!" went the alarm clock. An arm snaked out from under the bed covers and threw it into the wall.
"Pit, that wasn't very nice..." a female voice mumbled.
"Who cares? It's just an alarm clock," was the response. The female only sighed and threw the covers off both of them, revealing Pit Icarus and Zelda Harkinain. Zelda was in a short nightgown and Pit was dressed only in his boxers. Zelda stretched and yawned and Pit got off the bed.
"Besides, it's not like Master Hand can't afford to replace one alarm clock," the angel said. "The guy's mega rich, Zelda. Even richer then you and Peach!"
"Yeah, but I overheard him talking about financial problems...apparently, Crazy's been tearing everything expensive apart and it's costing him majorly to replace them," Zelda replied. She leaped over the side of the bed and picked up her housecoat from the floor where she had ditched it last night. "I wonder how he'll last without us? The tournament's finally over...I can't believe six months are up already."
"Yeah. And take a look at us. We're lucky we found each other in those six months," Pit said, smiling. Zelda smiled back.
"It's even luckier your mother is allowing me into Skyworld to meet her. I'm so excited about this, but a little nervous too...is there anything I should remember when I meet her? Like not to mention certain things or should I call her by a specific name..."
"Well..." Pit's face darkened. "One thing to remember is never mention I released Reenie from her prison. Mom would probably punish me severely for it..."
Zelda frowned. "But Reenie's dead. Well...that's what Samus and Snake say. I still hate to think it's true, but she's nowhere in sight..." the princess sighed. "I still wonder who killed her. Poor Link hasn't been the same since she vanished. He seems really intent on finding out the truth on what happened."
"I guess he feels a responsibility for her..." Pit shrugged. "Whatever. As long as it's not me."
"Pit, I love you dearly..." Zelda began. "But you can really be a stuck up jackass sometimes."
Pit flushed with embarrassment. "Just tell me if I start acting that way towards you. Sometimes I don't even realize it...and I don't want to hurt you. Not after everything two months ago when I almost lost you."
"I know. But I'm not the only one you need to act polite to. Remember last week when you snapped at Lucario?" Zelda asked.
"Hey, he had it coming," Pit argued. "My wings are not toys to pull on."
Zelda smiled. "But did you have to call him a blue numbnutted mutt?"
"Yes."
The princess merely rolled her eyes in response. "Enough of you. I'm going to go get ready. See you at breakfast, love," she said, giving her lover a kiss on the lips.
"Yeah, see you," Pit called as Zelda left his room.
&-&-&-&
Breakfast was huge. There were pancakes, waffles, cereal, oatmeal, steak (for Wolf), omelets and hash browns. It was the final breakfast before everyone was going home and it was a major good bye party as well. Flights were coming in before and after noon and everyone was in a fever to see their old friends and family.
"Seeing Paula again is going to be just great...I've really missed her," Ness said to Lucas.
"I know how you feel. I'm really looking forward to seeing Kumatora," Lucas replied. "I wonder how she's been? Her letters sorta paused and have been going off and on. I wonder what's up..."
"I bet she found someone else," Ness teased, earning him a punch from the blond.
"Now now, boys..." Olimar wandered over to the psi kids. "What appears to be the problem here? Young love getting you down?"
Lucas mumbled something completely inaudible and Ness glared at him. "Paula and I would never do that!"
"I said let's just go eat, not 'Ness and Paula go crazy in heat'!" Lucas retorted. Olimar chuckled.
"What's that? Ness and Paula go crazy in heat?" Popo jumped into the conversation. Nana, who was nearby, giggled loudly. This resulted in Ness and Popo getting into a minor shouting argument and Nana laughing at the whole thing. Olimar attempted to break it up, but due to his size he didn't appear very intimidating to the two boys. Lucas merely shrugged and walked away for some pancakes.
"FALCON PUNCH!!!"
"WAUGH!!" The two boys were sent flying across the room. Captain Douglas Falcon smirked his usual smirk and Nana stopped laughing. A Falcon Punch can do that; it scares crying babies into silence.
"Impressive..." Snake commented. Samus merely rolled her eyes. She was the only one in the place who wasn't afraid of a Falcon Punch. Her boyfriend was always trying to mimic it, though.
"Wario wants garlic!!" Wario was yelling at the kitchen crew.
"I'm sorry, Wario, but you ate it all last night. We simply don't have anymore..." a silver haired woman spoke softly.
"WARIO WANTS DA GARLIC, NAO!!!" Wario screamed. The woman glared at the fat, short man and leaned over the counter and smacked Wario in the face.
"I JUST TOLD YOU, WE'RE OUT!!!"
"Goddamnit..." Wario scratched his butt and wandered away. R.O.B and Mr. Game and Watch watched him leave.
"Beep beep beep boop?" R.O.B asked Game and Watch.
"Bwoop beep beep beeeeeeeeep," Game and Watch replied. They both made strange beeping noises, as if they were sharing a private joke and laughing. Donkey Kong and his pal, Diddy, stared at the two digital beings weirdly.
"Donkey don't know what they're saying. Diddy, what do the two beeping things say?"
"Like I would know. Come on, I spotted some banana muffins Peach made over there."
"Banana? I wanna banana!!"
Diddy rolled his eyes and led his pal away to the cafeteria lineup. They passed Lucario and Metaknight, who were having a private conversation.
"You were a formidable opponent."
"You as well. I've never seen anyone so fast before. Well, aside from the other blue furred creature..."
"Never compare me to that hedgehog. He and I are very different. I am far stronger and more skilled in fighting, and he just runs around like his butt is on fire."
"Hmph. Never doubt your opponents before you've had a chance to engage them in combat. I do not recall either of you locked in combat together during this time."
"We trained together. He and I compared our fighting tactics and moves then. Needless to say, I was not impressed with his ways of fighting."
Suddenly, the blue hedgehog came barreling out of nowhere and collided with the two conversing warriors. "WHOA, WATCH OUT!!" Lucario reacted fast and used his quick attack. Metaknight was thrown down by the force Lucario used and Sonic landed right on his mask. "Yo, sorry Metaknight!! I slipped on a banana peel!"
"Get OFF of me, you blue furred lunatic!!" Metaknight yelled. He threw Sonic down and straightened his mask and was horrified to see a crack in it. "You moron, you broke my mask!!"
"Hey, I said I was sorry! It was an accident!!" Sonic protested. Metaknight growled and pointed his sword at Sonic.
"I'll show YOU an accident!!"
"Metaknight, discipline!! Exercise discipline!!" Lucario said. He grabbed a hold of the armored puffball and held him up. Metaknight glared at Sonic through his mask and started taking deep breaths.
"Uh...listen, I'm looking for Link. Have you guys seen him?" Sonic asked nervously.
"No," Lucario answered. Metaknight didn't respond.
"Oh well...thanks anyway...and sorry again, Metaknight," Sonic said. He dashed off.
"I want to STRANGLE that hedgehog..."
"Easy, Metaknight..."
Sonic approached Ike and Peach, who were getting their food together. Ever since they made the news of their engagement known to all, they haven't been seen apart. Maybe they were afraid of a certain cafeteria incident repeating itself.
"Hey almost newlyweds," Sonic said.
"Morning, Sonic," Ike said.
"Hello Sonic," Peach smiled. "What's your rush? Have you had breakfast yet?"
"I'm about to, but Link's not here. I wanted one last chance to eat with him, Pit and Red before I go back to Station Square..." Sonic explained.
Peach's expression turned into a worried one. "Maybe he's outside again..."
"I know he is. I saw him out there after I woke up...he's been out there for a few hours now," Ike said. "He's at the grave site of the dark angel girl."
"Alright...thanks, man," Sonic said to Ike. "See you in a bit." The blue hedgehog headed out to the courtyard.
"I'm a bit worried about Link..." Peach said softly. "He's been really unhappy ever since the girl was killed. I overheard him talking to himself the other day...he thinks it's his fault she was killed. He kept on saying if only he hadn't gone with Master Hand, or at least stayed outside the room...maybe he could have saved her."
"The past can't be changed..." Ike shook his head. "It's going to give him a bit of time to get past the guilt trips he keeps sending himself on. Does he have anyone he's going home to?"
Peach shook her head. "And Zelda's not going to Hyrule either...she's going with Pit to meet his mother in Skyworld. Toonie doesn't belong in that world, he's in an alternate one. And Ganondorf and Link aren't really friends..." her voice trailed off. The couple grabbed the rest of their food in silence and went for their usual table.
True to Ike's words, Sonic found Link huddled on the grave site the smashers had dug for Reenie. Since they didn't actually have a body to bury, they just buried the bloodied arrow Samus found and the bloody tissues they had used to clean Link's room with. Link had insisted on giving her a proper memorial, but the smallest doubt in his mind still rested on the possibility Reenie was alive.
Link was on his knees, looking at the gravestone resting out of the ground. The words enscribed on there weren't much, but they told enough.
Reenie Blackwing
Revealed "Star Icarus".
Cousin of Pit Icarus and friend to the smashers.
May you Rest In Peace...
No one knew how old she was or when she was born. Link had insisted on not giving a date of death, in case she really was alive. Though everyone else didn't believe him, they decided it was better to go by Link's wishes. He knew her better then anyone else in the place and it was obviously important to him.
"Link?" Sonic asked cautiously.
Link raised his head up and saw Sonic. "Oh, hey man..." he said. "Is it breakfast time already?"
"Yeah, dude," Sonic said, taking a seat next to Link. "Look, man...today's the day we all go home. You're going to have to let her go...she's gone and you won't be able to come here everyday to see her..."
"I know, Sonic," Link was hardly paying attention.
"Come on...let's get some grub," Sonic tugged on Link's arm. Link pulled away and Sonic felt his ears droop. "Link...come on..."
"I'll be there in five minutes."
"No, Link," Sonic grabbed his arm again. "Not the 'five minutes' excuse again. This is the last time you, me, Pit and Red are all gonna see each other like this. Let's make it last."
"Alright, fine..." Link stood up. "Can I have just one minute to say good bye then?"
"..." Sonic was unsure if Link was serious or just wanted to make him walk away. "Alright...but I'll stand over here to make sure that you come back to the castle for some food..."
Link rolled his eyes at Sonic who pretended not to notice. Sonic walked a few feet away and stood under a nearby tree, watching the hero. Link turned back to the grave and cast his eyes down.
"Reenie...I'm going to have to leave you alone...but I just can't. I just can't shake the feeling you're still alive and out there...why haven't you come back? I swear, I would have protected you if I could...
"Everyone else believes you're dead, but I don't. I know you're alive. And one day, I'm going to find you...and make you tell me why you didn't return and your story...Reenie...I swear, I'll find you. So please...wait for me."
Link finished his piece and sighed unhappily. Sonic walked over and patted him on the arm. "You did all you could, Link...come on, let's go eat."
Wordlessly, Link let Sonic lead him away.
A few hours later...
Planes were arriving to take the smashers and many tourists back home to their worlds. Friends, allies and even enemies were exchanging final words, hugs and handshakes. Cheers and calls were everywhere.
"The tournament was great this year!"
"Yeah, awesome fights!"
"See you all in the next tournament!!"
"Hope you'll be stronger next time!"
"Hey, that's MY suitcase!"
The smashers were all headed in various directions. Ness and Lucas were heading over to Onett to meet with their friends. The Kongs were returning to DK Isle to their friends and family. Mario, Luigi, Peach, Bowser and Yoshi boarded the Mushroom Kingdom plane with one extra passenger: Ike. Peach and Ike had decided to get married in the Mushroom Kingdom, where they would eventually reign as king and queen.
Wario's destination was Diamond City. Toon Link was waiting near the ocean for Tetra and her crew to pick him up. Olimar was taking his rusty junkbucket, the Hocotate Ship, back home to Planet Hocotate. The Ice Climbers were heading home to their village, which was actually north of Onett. Captain Falcon had already taken his Falcon Flyer back to Mute City to prepare for the next F-ZERO grand prix. He urged everyone to watch TV and see him race on the big screen.
Marth was flying to Pherae in Elibe to visit Roy, his girlfriend and his family. Roy's father and the Marquess of Pherae, Eliwood, had taken to Marth like a second son and welcomed Marth into their home anytime. Marth was relieved to have his own memories back and he remembered that Lilina and Sheeda, though they looked strikingly alike, were NOT the same person.
The Starfox members and the Starwolf leader were using their own ways of getting home. Zelda and Pit were taking a private teleportation that allowed them to be transported up to Skyworld. Snake had decided to join Samus on her starship and assist her in bounty hunting.
Red and all the pokemon were returning home to Kanto. Sonic's destination was Station Square, where his friends lived and hung out in. Link and Ganondorf were the only ones going to Hyrule. The only two who remained behind with Master Hand and Crazy Hand were R.O.B and Mr. Game and Watch. The Hand siblings waved at the departing smashers, while the digital beings made beeping noises at everyone.
Link stared at the ground as his plane took off. He was finally leaving behind his bad memories, but his guilt still remained.
"Reenie..."
&-&-&-&
Wow, uber long chapter. o.o
Couple of explanations, for those of you who don't get some things:
Yes, I KNOW Lucas and Ness are from separate times and worlds. But the Nowhere Islands that Lucas lives in will seem kinda empty without his mother and brother. I decided to send him with Ness instead, and have the Mother 3/Earthbound crew be one big happy family. Sue me.
Donkey Kong and Diddy Kong don't actually TALK...but in DK64, they sorta did. But since all they do in the Smash games is make monkey noises, I decided to make it so they only understand each other...like how pokemon speak another language, but they all understand each other. Catch my drift?
R.O.B and Game and Watch...come on, does anyone actually know where they live?
Altea is gone. It says so in all my research done on Marth. And YES, SHEEDA AND LILINA LOOK LIKE TWINS. IT'S FREAKY.
There's a Tales of Symphonia cameo here. Can you guess what it is? Hint: it has to do with Wario.
I've been working on a bunch of betas for this story. Meaning, I'm working hard to really make the horror factor work here. I've also had a lot of help from a sick and twisted minded ninja friend of mine (NINJA, I KNOW YOU'RE READING THIS. Hi. :D) that's turning my own ideas even sicker and more horror-ific.
Revieeeeeeeeeew!!
-CeleBaby20
P.S: My birthday's in three days. Squee!