(Prologue: Lucas)
The night is dark. Potatoes are boiling over the fire, and I'm busy peeling a pile of carrots. The potatoes hiss, and I cover the dish, but a nearby cough catches me off-guard.
"Lucas."
Flint's shadow is in the doorway. I look up, surprised to be spoken to.
"Yes, Father?"
He's holding something up. It's a piece of paper, covered in an untidy scrawl. I thought I'd hidden it away, but apparently, I did not do a good enough job.
"What is this, Lucas?"
"It's from Ness," I say.
"Ness?" Father's voice goes deadly quiet, and I can hear the water bubbling in the nearby dish. "I thought we agreed to keep that name out of this house."
"I'm sorry."
"You told me you'd stopped talking to him. Did you lie?"
"Yes," I say, unable to meet his disappointed eyes. "He's my best friend, Father."
He steps back, surveying me. In my filthy apron, I look a state, like some pauper boy from the streets. Father turns his back, striding deliberately from the room. The pan overboils, scorching water flooding the surface.
"Claus did not make friends with such people. You disappoint me, Lucas."
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~~o00o~~
Chapter 4: Under Water
(Lucas)
~~o00o~~
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To say it's been an exciting return to school would be an understatement. A terrifying monster appeared on the train. Ness and I shared a dream. There are rumours of disappearances, and to top it all off, Ness got covered in oatmeal.
Unfortunately, I'm weighed down by the dull idea of Business Studies with the ever-swindling Wario as my next double lesson. When so much is going on, my first instinct is to run to the library and research, but not doing schoolwork is still very much punishable. And so, I walk with Red to the classroom.
It's uncomfortable between me and Red. We're both the quieter ones in our group, and it's hard to find much in common with him. I've always wondered if he looks down on me — his family lives on Onett's outskirts in a rather large country house. Besides, he's always put me off with his ability to be very honest with how he feels about certain people.
"Have you read Origin Of Species by Charles Darwin?" Red asks, perhaps forcing conversation to be polite.
"I haven't," I admit. Ness has mentioned it, though. It's supposed to be quite controversial.
"Well, I have," Red states. "Also, I've been revising Wario's principles, and I think I will pass this test."
"Good for you," I say, not seeing a connection between the topics. "I'm sure you'll do great."
It always becomes a sort of bragging session with Red. He loves talking about how much studying he's done, how much he's written for an essay, or all of the complicated mathematical formulas he understands. I don't even think he's intentionally showing off, I think he just doesn't know what else to say. But even so, I cannot say it doesn't tire me out a little bit. I'm just an average student, I perform moderately in class, so when Red speaks about getting top marks in all his assessments, I do begin to feel inadequate. In fairness, I do get straight As in art, though I don't believe I've ever painted anything great. Professor Shulk likes me, and I suspect he boosts my results a little. But at least it's something to show Father.
Business Studies, meanwhile, should be the key to getting out of this poverty, but it seems I'm simply not good enough at it. It's hard to remember all the facts and figures of Wario's various companies along with all of Wario's principles, especially when I disagree with most of them. Frankly, I think business is subjective, and different things work for different people… but what do I know? It's frustrating, more than anything, that earning money seems to be locked behind such a terrible class.
Because even if the syllabus isn't the problem, Professor Wario certainly is. I'm angry with him for sending a letter to Ness's house, for one. From the little I've seen of Ness's father, he strikes me as a forceful man, with a lot of big expectations, one who wouldn't be pleased with such a letter coming through his door. Our fathers are both quite strict with us, but in very different ways, I think. His father appears a lot more concerned with reputation, status, and business, and comes across a lot more direct with what he expects of Ness. My father, meanwhile, seems to expect me to get on with my life on my own, and live up to Claus's potential. He doesn't really say how, though. See, Ness's father actually talks to him, while mine would rather pretend I'm not there.
Ness's little sister is fun, though. She's very wild and far more masculine than I could ever be. She always beats us both in every sport, and she has an uncanny ability to use food to get Ness to do almost everything she wants. One time, when she was only six, she locked me and Ness in their bathroom, and she wouldn't let us out until we promised to play Snakes and Ladders with her.
I'm often at Ness's house, usually if something's happened on the street and I'm ashamed to go home, or if I cannot stand Father's silence any longer. It's a vicious cycle, but I like Ness's modern bungalow, especially its warmth in the winter. I'd ask to move in, but that would of course be improper — it's just so nice to not have to cook my own meals, and Ness's mother takes pity on me, I think. She cuts my hair, and she asks how I'm doing, and she gives me food, and...
It's like having Mother back.
I'm in a bit of a daze as I take myself into the lesson. Perhaps I'm getting a headache. Ness must've forgotten to warn me about the seating plan, which is another surprise. But I'm placed, luckily, away from Red and next to Mega Man, the boy Villager mentioned. I'd perhaps hoped Popo would be here, though, so I could have tried to speak to him, or perhaps his twin sister, Nana. Nana's another artist. Her talent is painting fruit, and the way she uses light and dark tones is quite remarkable. I want to learn how to paint like that — my only skill seems to be painting landscapes. I've asked Nana for advice in the past, and she always talks about working out where the light should be with calculations, which I'll admit, does fill me with light fear.
"Hullo," Mega Man says, interrupting my lengthy train of thought. "I'm Mega Man."
"I'm Lucas," I say, coming back down to earth. "Erm, do you know Villager?"
"Oh, yes." Mega Man smiles. "We're acquainted. He said he'd tell you to say hello."
"Well, uh, hello," I say, and Mega Man laughs. My cheeks grow warm — it's not often I make people laugh, but it's a nice feeling.
"ALL RIGHT!" Wario shouts, making everyone jump. He cackles. "Stay focused… we're gonna start with a test on last term's work..."
It's a long and dull test, reciting Wario's principles, all the way up to number sixty ("Rob from the rich and then rob from the poor as well!"), and the rest of the double lesson continues in a haze. I don't try to talk to Mega Man — for one, I have no clue how to start conversations, especially with strangers, and for another, he's probably of a higher class. Instead, I resign myself to listening to Wario, but I find myself unable to focus on his words, staring blankly at the pictures of him and his businesses around the classroom. It's nice and warm, here. And my head is really starting to throb... Perhaps if I just took a small nap? Wario wouldn't notice, would he? I'm so tired… perhaps if I just put my head down...
"LUCAS!"
Before I know it, I'm thrust awake, Wario leaning over me with a scowl.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"I-I—" I stammer, panicked. Why can't I stop making misbehaving? Defying authority?
"I'm disappointed," he spits. "You're a disgrace."
"I'm sorry."
"I will be writing home." Wario turns and walks to the front of the room again, leaving my heart pounding, leaving me shrouded in grim thoughts.
"Lucas?"
"What now?" I complain, before realising it's only Mega Man. "Sorry," I mumble, sounding small. "What is it?"
"Don't let him get to you, all right? He knows how to play with your head."
I'm caught by surprise. I'm not used to receiving kind words, especially not from a stranger, but it cheers me up a little.
"Thank you," I say underwhelmingly.
Eventually, the clocktower strikes two hours. I stare at my blank business plan and at Mega Man's scrawly sketches that he's begun. Another example of my laziness; I procrastinate, leaving big tasks until the last minute. Getting caught up in daydreams instead. I cannot even motivate myself to study during exam season — I just lie flat on my bed, when even Ness is working hard. I get lost in my thoughts and theories about the world. I have some great theories; I love to look up at the stars during the Wilderness Survival Week, especially with Ness, thinking about what is up there. I reckon the universe is huge. We know it's big, we just don't know how big, yet.
We're not taught much about astronomy in science, because we just don't know much about it. All we're taught are equations and what is inside the body. But I think there's more to science than beyond our wildest dreams. I think we'll discover it someday. I think we'll figure it all out, and I'd like to help. I want to be a scientist in the future, perhaps with music and art as part of my legacy. Ness says I have an analytical mind, which I like the sound of.
I look up again, seeing I'm the last one in the classroom. Cursing my daydreamer self, I pack fast and leave, meeting Ness, who's waiting outside.
"At last." Ness smiles. "Ready for History?"
"Yes." I smile back, but a memory comes back to me.
Claus wouldn't make friends with such people.
I shiver.
"Lucas? What is the matter?" Ness asks. I think the worry must've shown on my face.
"Father doesn't want me talking to you," I say. I feel awful as I see his face fall before my eyes.
But Ness pulls me into a hug. "That won't separate us. We're to be friends forever, all right?"
"Yes." I hug him back, reassured. "I won't listen to him."
We come apart. Ness looks up and down the corridor. "Where did everyone go?"
"To lessons, we're late." I prod him in the chest. "Thanks to you."
"Then let's run!"
When we finally reach the classroom, everyone is already sitting down.
"Sorry I'm late," I say, frantically tipping my cap as we enter. Professor Ryu's face is stern, an enhancement of his rugged demeanour. "I got held up in the bathroom."
"As did I," Ness says, stumbling in behind me. There's laughter, because of course, Ness managed to make it sound weird.
"Better late than never," Ryu says. "However, I'll be needing to see you after class, so please stay behind."
It's only fair, I suppose.
"As I was saying," Ryu says as we sit. "The History course for this term will focus on Ancient History, from the start of our world up to 0AD. It'll be assessed through a series of essays spanning the course. In order to write these essays, however… practice."
He starts writing on the chalkboard.
"How to write an academic essay," he says calmly. "Who will tell me what is to be done first?"
I put my hand up in a bid to get back into Ryu's good books.
"Lucas?"
"Uh, the introduction?"
"A nice try, but even before the introduction." He smiles. "Anyone else?"
Villager puts up his hand. I notice he's sitting next to Zelda, unsurprisingly. But Zelda has one of the best-looking boys in school, Link, on her other side, so I don't think Villager will be striking gold any time soon.
I'm not sure what is with all the fuss about girls, really. Or why Villager likes someone who will never, ever like him back. If, of course, he actually does like her… I muse. It could easily just be one of Toon Link's jokes.
"...Lucas?" Ryu says.
Oh no — did he ask me a question? I got caught up in daydreaming again. I think quickly. Before, he asked what comes first in an essay. I got it wrong. So, he asked Villager... I look at Villager, who looks quite pleased with himself. He looks as if he got it right. So then, what would Ryu ask next? Probably what is next in the essay, right? And that would be…
"Then is it the introduction?" I ask.
"Correct."
I breathe a sigh of relief, trying to bring my focus back to the lesson as Ryu continues to talk. But it's hard when Ness is sketching a picture of a snake, and it's actually quite good, but I'd add some scales there, and I'm not sure about that eye being there…
Yet again, I force myself back to attention.
"We are not certain where humans came from," Ryu is saying. "Mr Darwin recently released his book on evolution, which is of course, controversial, but it is believed by some. An essay topic I may give you is to assess pieces of evidence suggesting different ideas of how humans came to be. So, I'd strongly advise reading Darwin's work, Origin of Species." I notice Red looking pleased with himself.
I wonder vaguely if Ryu has the book in his large cabinet of magic and mythology. It's an impressive cabinet, standing at the back of the classroom, with carved birds embellishing the sides and an ornately clear glass door. There is a dusty crate on top that slightly ruins the effect, though.
Ryu continues, "Today, I have gathered some evidence that supports a different theory, the extra-terrestrial origin. Some believe humans originated from another world and that we have forgotten this other world over time. So, I have some samples of what are claimed to be pieces from a fallen astronomical vehicle. I'd like you to observe these samples, looking for evidence of them being from an extra-terrestrial source. Then, I have an account written by someone who claims to have seen vehicles of a similar nature fall to our planet. Toon Link, if you may hand these out?"
Toon Link nods, silently obeying for once. There is a general silence as we observe the sources.
"Oh," Ryu says, noticing this. "You may talk. Discuss your ideas with your partner for an alternative view to add to your essays. Yes," he chuckles, after a collective groan. "I'm afraid the first essays will be set soon after we have finished studying each theory." He gives a wry smile as the groans continue. "If it's consolation, I detested essays at your age, too. But you chose this subject, you just have to power through them for the interesting stuff, hm?"
"What do you reckon?" Ness mutters, poking our sample, which looks to be a large chunk of stone.
"That's not from an astronomical vehicle," I say scathingly. If only conspiracy theorists were more creative.
"Indeed, I don't know why a space vehicle would exist, or why it would've come here," Ness says, taking the words out of my mouth.
"What do you think it is, then?"
"Just some rock, I suppose." Ness shrugs. I pick it up, hitting it on the table. No response. "Quite an easy lesson, this."
But someone in front of us decides to turn around.
"Watch out on Friday, Lucas," the stranger says ominously. I feel Ness freeze up beside me.
"What do you mean?" I ask, suddenly nervous. "Who are you?"
"I'm Tony, but that's not important." The stranger checks to make sure he cannot be heard. "I overheard some talk. I shouldn't say much… they threatened me, told me to keep it wrapped or they'd ruin my dorm. Just keep watch, all right?" The mysterious Tony turns back around.
Ness gives me a worried glance. "I heard about that, too."
"Now you tell me?"
"We were having fun." Ness looks downcast. "I did not want to spoil it."
"It's okay," I say. "But what did you hear?"
"Well," he begins. "It was Olimar and Meta Knight."
I brace myself. This can only be bad.
"They said they're planning something this Friday, and that you won't know what hit you. They did not say what they were going to do…"
"Why is it always me?" I mutter.
"I'll make sure nothing happens to you," Ness promises, slinging an arm over my shoulder. "Nobody hurts my dearest Lucas!"
"Ness, I'm fine, I don't need a knight in shining armour—"
"Four eyes are better than two. I'm looking out for you, like it or not."
I give in.
"Fine," I say. There's no point arguing. He's so stubborn about things like this. But I suppose I look out for him, he looks out for me. Perhaps that's just how it is.
The clock chimes, and the lesson is over already.
"Just promise me one thing," I say.
"Hm?"
I smile. "We need to start Wario's business plan tonight."
"Seriously?"
"No. But we should visit the library…"
"Fancy hitting the baths first?" Toon Link appears out of nowhere, followed by a sheepish-looking Villager. I nod. It's a decent enough idea. "And how did it go with Zelda, Villager?" he adds innocently.
"Shut up." Villager folds his arms.
"All right," Toon Link says, holding up his hands in surrender. "Anyone seen Red?"
"I'm here," Red says from right behind him.
"Excellent. Let's make sure Popo doesn't see us going to the pool, and we should be all good to go—"
"And let's make sure Ness doesn't forget his towel or his change of clothes," I say, and he elbows me, remembering this morning.
We're interrupted, however, by Ryu.
"Ness, Lucas, might I have a word?"
"Wait for us!" Ness cries as Toon Link, Villager, and Red swiftly leave the room.
Ryu sits us behind his desk. His top hat has never really matched his sharp jawline and closely clipped hair, where it feels a soldier's helmet would fit better. Today, he looks more out of place than ever.
"This is going to sound rather unusual," he begins. Ness and I glance at each other. "But have you seen, or... felt, anything unearthly lately?"
Ness and I look at each other again, thinking back to the dream and the Face. I'd expected to be told off, not probed for information.
"Aside from the face on the train," Ryu adds hastily. "Anything else."
I shift, uneasy. Something's setting me off, giving me the creeps, and I'm not quite sure what it is. Perhaps it's the curious, hungry look in Ryu's eyes... I glance over at Ryu's bookcase, all those books of magic. Is that what Ryu's talking about? I'm unsure. I'm very unsure.
"Why are you asking, Professor?" I ask in my politest tone. He looks discomforted.
"Reasons you likely wouldn't believe... at least, unless it has happened already…?"
"I'm sorry, but nothing has happened," Ness says firmly, sensing my unease. "That's all there is to it."
"That's all right," Ryu says, and I'm surprised that he doesn't chide Ness for rudeness.
There is an uncomfortable pause.
"So, we'll be on our way now," Ness says pointedly, getting up. "Good day, Professor."
"Good day, Ness. Lucas."
Ness leaves swiftly, and I follow after him, sure to close the classroom door behind me. Of course, our friends did not wait for us. But I don't mind, there is a lot to think about now. I'm relieved Ness did not tell Ryu about the shared dream we'd had. I think our dreams should be private, perhaps, something for me and Ness to keep secret, like a sort of personal connection. It's a little queer, but still. I hold these things sacred.
"Why was he asking us those questions?" Ness murmurs.
"Perhaps because we saw the Face?" I say. "He could have been asking us to find out if his magical theories are true, or... something." My tone lacks conviction.
"I always thought he was nice," Ness mumbles.
"He still might be nice," I say. "He could just be curious."
Ness sighs. "Lucas, you're so naïve. You see the best in people, but often, they put on facades. Inside, most of them are cruel."
"I know." I stare at Ness, taken aback. "You don't need to tell me that."
Ness looks guilty, and it's contagious. I look away with shame.
"Let's just go to the pool," I say.
"But first," Ness says charismatically. "Clothes! Towels!"
One collection of towels and bathing suits later, we arrive at the baths. Toon Link, Villager, and Red must've undressed already, so the changing room is reassuringly empty. I think my headache is getting worse though; I feel a strange jolt when we enter the water. The suit Ness lends me is nice, it has red and yellow stripes, while the one he wears is yellow and blue.
The baths is one of my favourite places in the school. It's out of the way, located in a far-off wing of the Sport department. There is a beautiful glass roof that makes the orange sunset ripple and reflect in the water below, glowing like a gentle fire. The stone walls around the outside are decorated with seashells, making them look like mosaics. They're embedded with various ornate fireplaces, which manage to keep the water, and us, from freezing.
I glance at Ness, slightly self-conscious. Ness has somewhat thick arms compared to my extremely skinny ones. And his figure is nicer to look at — he's taller than me, and he's a soft, well-fed shape, unlike my bony, perpetually cold self. Ness must see the look on my face — I need to work on hiding my emotions — because he comes closer as we swim.
"Is something wrong?" he asks.
"Nothing important," I say, before quickly performing a strange dive that results in me being completely submerged. I come up again, my hair covering my eyes. My hair usually keeps itself up out of the way, but when it's wet, of course, it decides to blind me. I sweep it aside, but Ness pops out of the water and sweeps it back over my eyes again.
"Nice look," he says evilly, swimming off.
"Not so fast!" I cry, grinning, launching myself into a swim. He's fast, but nowhere near as fast as me. It doesn't take long for me to catch up to him and mess up his hair, but we're interrupted by a cough to the side.
"You two noticed us yet?" Villager smiles. "C'mon Lucas, let's get him!"
Villager and Toon Link come over to assist in the messing up of Ness's hair, and soon, it's a complete state, and we're laughing for what feels like hours, free from our troubles. This is why I save money; this is why I trade on the streets for the expensive school fees. This is why it's worth it not to have an easy life at home and a place at the local public school. Who cares about the Face, about whatever is happening on Friday, about detention tonight, about Father and rent?
I love my friends.
Toon Link, Villager, and Red eventually decide to get out of the baths, but Ness and I decide to stay just a little longer. It's somehow gotten dark already, it's winter, after all. The only light comes from the warm glow of the fireplaces and the beam of the moon through the skylight. There are no clouds tonight, just stars.
Ness looks across at me. We're both too exhausted from swimming and causing havoc to talk at this point, so we silently agree to just lie there, floating side by side on the water. It's perfectly still. There is nobody else; the room is silent, save for the gentle crackle of the warm fireplaces. I look up at the stars, trying to make out the constellations. Orion, the Big Dipper, Scorpius.
"How many can you name?" Ness whispers softly, almost as if he's reading my thoughts. The moon dazzles us, illuminating our pale forms.
"I think…" I whisper back. "A lot."
"Tell me them all." He smiles. "I want to know what they're called."
I blink, looking closely. "There's Orion. See, up there?" I point. "The three stars in a row, in the middle, that's Orion's Belt. And then, four corners around the belt, see?"
Ness nods slowly.
"And there." I point again. "That's Aquila, right in the middle of that square."
"They're remarkable names," Ness says.
"How about you?" I ask, tilting my head. "What can you see?"
"I can see…" I catch a glimpse of Ness's eyes focusing into the sky. "A snake."
"A snake?"
"I believe so."
"Where is it?"
"Do you see just left of — what was it — Orion?"
"Yes?"
"There's a sort of zigzag, and it ends in a diamond."
"Hm," I say, impressed. "What are you gonna call it?"
Ness frowns. "Call it?"
"It's your own constellation. You've got to name it."
"Well, how about Snake?"
"No, you goof." I laugh quietly. "It has to be a big, fancy-sounding word, like... hmm, Alpha Centauri, or something. But that already exists."
"Then... Amici Optimi?"
I'm impressed. "Is that Latin?"
"Mhm."
"What does it mean?"
"Mother taught me it," Ness explains. "It means best friends."
I sigh. "You're ridiculous."
"I don't care," he says, turning his head to grin at me. "It's what I'm calling it."
I sigh again. He's so sentimental. It's sweet though, in a delicate way. I reach out in the darkness, taking his hand. It's soft from all the swimming and it feels surprisingly nice in mine, like a funny sort of glove. We lie there in silence a little longer, at peace. Just us. Us, the moon, and the stars.
Damnit, I'm becoming just as sentimental as Ness.
Eventually, we get out of the baths. I'm shivering — it ended up getting quite cold — so upon seeing my fingers going blue, I made the wise decision to leave. We change quietly, before returning to the corridors of the school.
"That was nice." Ness nudges me, a lingering smile in his gaze. "We should do that more often."
"I feel at peace," I say, smiling, and I do. I feel like I could go to sleep right here and now. Even my headache feels a little better. I'd forgotten about it entirely during our time in the baths.
"We should find the others," Ness decides, and I sigh. I suppose he's right, but other people, they're so loud. I don't feel like dealing with Loud right now.
"Or we could sleep?" I suggest.
"Or check the library," Ness remembers, and I nod in agreement. He's right, I want to find out what this Face is as soon as possible. If we sleep now, nightmares are sure to follow.
So, we make our way there.
The library is a mystical place. A plethora of bookshelves stretch like mountainous peaks, reaching into the dark abyss above. The gas lamps hanging from the walls glow like torches in an enchanted forest. Everything's a lot prettier at night, I decide.
Ness grabs the first book he sees. I grab a book called Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures, and we read in silence. It's a puzzling text, full of many images of foul things that no doubt will make my nightmares significantly worse. Worst of all is a horrid drawing: 'Future Human', with yellowing fangs, mad, red eyes, grey skin, and wooden bars across its chest. I don't doubt that Future Human is cold. If that is, supposedly, the future of humanity, then I certainly don't want it.
My head throbs again. The soporific atmosphere slows my reading down until I'm hardly taking in the words on the page. They all blend into one.
A crash comes from behind me.
I look up. "Ness?"
We're not alone.
I turn hastily to Ness, but he's gone.
"Ness?" I call out, but there's no reply. There's only silence. I turn again to whatever seems to have arrived, and it's just like in the book, it's Future Human! I'm sure of it, and oh, Lord, it's horrible. That smell of rotting flesh, of dirt, of grime — I bundle myself back out of sheer repulsion.
"W-What do you want?" I stammer.
It stares me directly in the eyes.
"Placet Auxilium."
My heart pounds as I observe it. "What does that mean?" I ask, trying to stay on my feet. But it doesn't reply, it takes a step forward instead. I back away slowly, fear attacking me from every angle.
It reaches out a terrible arm.
"Placet Auxilium."
"I don't know—"
But of course. Of course, we'd go back to what the English language was built on. Everything reverses. Future Human, past words... it's speaking Latin.
I don't know Latin, I need Ness! But he's not here. What would Claus do? With his sharp tongue and his quick thinking? What would he do!? Panic rises, and I realise I'm trapped in the corner. The beast — Future Human — steps forward again, and I realise with a sickening crunch that it's here for me. Its arms reach out, because it wants me. It wants everything I am. It wants to take me — take my form! It's so hungry. I let out a childish whimper, diminishing in the corner.
There's a sudden shift to the side. Is that somebody? A saviour?
Professor Ryu.
"Lucas!" He hurries forward, holding out something I cannot see. "Stay still!" The creature turns sharply towards him. The sound of nails, knives tears through my ears, through my mind. Future Human lumbers towards Ryu, and I blink, and suddenly, it's gone. Ryu starts coming over to me, and—
"Lucas!"
I open my eyes.
"Lucas, what happened?" Ness comes down beside me. "I went away to get a book, and you're shaking. You're freezing!"
I look up. Everything is blurred. I'm so… dazed. My head is pounding. What happened? What was that dream? Was it a dream — but yes, yes, it must've been… such a creature could never exist...
"Wha…" tumbles out of my mouth. "What was — what happened… Ness…?" I sound weak. I sound lost. I am so helpless, where am I? I can see myself. I don't feel like myself. What the…?
Ness catches me as I fall.
"Ryu was standing over you." He speaks quickly. "He saw me and he left, Lucas. Did he hurt you? Did Ryu do something to you?!" The panic edges through his voice.
"I don't..." I flounder. "He saved me, there was a thing... Future Human... in the book—"
"Lucas—?"
I vaguely point at the book I was reading.
"Lucas, that's a recipe for plum pudding—"
I twist around, staring at it, not understanding. A list of ingredients stares back at me.
"N-Ness, I think I had a dream, a nightmare," I stutter, trying to make sense of everything. "It cannot have been anything else, I'm - I'm all right. Ryu must've seen me shaking, and he - and he must've woken me."
"Do you promise you're all right?" Ness pushes, still holding me steady. "You swear?"
"I promise," I say weakly, regaining my balance. "I was tired, everything was so peaceful. I drifted off."
"What was the nightmare?" Ness asks.
"I—"
The clock chimes.
"I'll tell you later... It's time for dinner."
And just as well. I think I need time to process whatever the hell that was.
Placet Auxilium.
.
.
.
.
.
The dining hall is headache-inducingly full, bursting with the incessant humming of people. It gives me slight peace to see Red, Toon Link, and Villager again, but then some annoyance when I see someone's taken our usual seats. It's Pit and Dark Pit, the unusual twins we met in English this morning. I point it out to Ness, and he frowns.
"Look at Red, why's he so angry?"
I look. Red is staring at the Pit twins as if they're evil. Red doesn't like change, not at all. I get where he comes from, change is always weird, but sometimes change can be for the better, I believe.
"Replaced us?" Ness says as we sit down.
"No, no—" Pit jumps.
"Of course not—" Dark Pit adds.
"We were just offering to sell some things," Pit clarifies.
"Sell some things?" Ness says. "What things?"
"Well," Dark Pit says, but Pit interrupts.
"We're selling a bunch of stuff because our father—"
"No, your father!"
"I thought he was your father—"
"But we're twins—"
"But we're not twins—"
"We're arch nemeses—"
"Counterparts, too—"
"Arch nemeses—"
"Whatever—"
"Anyway—"
"Back to the point—"
"You were the one who got off the point!"
"No, you!"
"No, you—"
"No, you're doing it now!"
Placet Auxilium.
Crimson eyes, boring into mine. A filthy mass of flesh, grime, and wood. My head throbs again. I look dizzily around at everyone at the table, barely watching the talk unfold.
"Anyway," Dark Pit says, "Our father is sick with something. We're not sure what it is, so we need money—"
"To pay for him to be cured—"
Oh.
I can relate to this. I remember when my father was ill a few years ago. I'd had to sell and trade into the dangerous hours of the night, just to get enough money for medicine. He healed in the end, but he did not even thank me. There were never any thanks for me. Only Porky, skulking around, stealing from my stall. Ness had helped me sometimes, when he was allowed out of the house. Father did not care whether I was in the house or not. He still scarcely talks to me, though he speaks a little bit more now, I suppose. Perhaps I'm doing something good.
"I'll buy this, and this, and this," Ness is saying, handing over various coins. I once asked him where his money came from, given I did not think his father was the sort to treat him.
"Mother, she slips me some money sometimes," he'd said. "She's the best."
And I'd been unable to tell him what had happened to my own mother. I envy him. I envy that he still has a family, but even so, I wouldn't swap places with him. His father is beastly. My father has ranted enough about how he treats him and the other miners. I want to free Ness and my father from him, someday.
Placet Auxilium.
A sudden image of Mother's body rotting in the fields, beaten down by the sun, flashes through my mind. I convulse. Thoughts of Future Human flood back into my head, its reaching arms, its hunger, its cold, empty eyes. I seize up entirely as it invades my thoughts, until suddenly, nothing anyone says reaches me anymore. I am surrounded by Future Human, troubled images, screaming thoughts.
Lucas?
Can you hear me?
Lucas, are you okay?
No. I'm not. I think I'm out of sorts. I feel like death. My head still hurts, and now my stomach is aching. My dinner is left unfinished.
I recover enough to retire with Ness to Headmaster Hand's office. It's time for our detention and that means figuring out how to get there, despite my delirium and weakness. My head shouldn't be splitting open, should it?
Ness leads the way. I'm silently nervous; I have no idea what to expect, but I'm sure it'll be a cruel and unusual punishment. Ness knocks on the great wooden door, and Headmaster Hand opens it.
"Ah, yes," he says. "Enter."
Ness hangs his head, walking in. I follow suit, removing my cap.
"Snowballing a professor," Headmaster Hand says, taking a seat. "A peculiar crime."
"Headmaster, what will our punishment be?" Ness asks.
"Oh. Oh yes." Headmaster Hand, to my surprise, smiles. "It's not too bad, don't fear. You only have to write to your parents, explaining what happened."
Not that bad? I'd rather have a beating! Then again, it's not like Father cares enough to read the letters I send. But poor Ness, with his father's pressure. Having two letters home will lead to beatings galore.
"We need to have a discussion, though," Headmaster Hand says sternly. "You need to repair this poor behaviour. My school has no place for students who are not performing to the best of their abilities, or for students who fail to follow simple instructions."
"Yes, Headmaster," Ness and I say in unison.
"My brother was a troublemaker," he says, his stern expression remaining. "It would do you very well not to become like him."
"Yes, Headmaster," we say again.
"When you have finished writing, show your letters to me, and if they're good enough, you're may leave."
"Okay."
My head throbs again, but I push the gruesome images away. I shakily write:
Father,
I got detention for throwing a snowball at a professor.
Yours sincerely, Lucas.
It's the most pathetic thing I've ever written, and I almost laugh at it, but with Future Human still on my mind and my tired eyes unable to focus on the words…
Placet Auxilium.
At some point, we're dismissed from the office, and Death seizes my mind. Suffering. The future of time, of life, of humanity. What does it mean? Perhaps my dream was trying to tell me something — something important — perhaps... I need to know...
But my head, it hurts badly... I cannot. A nice rest in bed... but where am I? What is happening?
I'm dizzy, so, so dizzy.
Is this a castle? I like castles.
Ness's worried visage appears beside me. Ness is a nice name. I want it. Ness is pretty. Ness is my best friend, my pretty best friend. Isn't that funny?
"Ness," I giggle, before tripping over my own feet.
I catch a glimpse of a figure, and then the darkness swallows me whole.