(Prologue: ?)
Disquiet lingers throughout our parade.
The tension is slowly building, winding like a coil of wire about to snap. We've been walking too long, without enough breaks, and it feels aimless. We're tired of seeing the same trees, the same leaves, and the same godforsaken thorn bushes, which we have to push through whilst wincing and complaining at the skies. Even worse, the ground has been steadily sloping upwards for nearly an hour. That's not a good sign if we're looking for a river.
Our walk to Onett will be about six days total, which will be an immense trial to get through with Elmore shooting me unpleasant glances every couple of minutes. Not only that, but the others are expecting me to guide them, I think, and knowing them, that means my head will be back on the chopping block in due course. I only hope my leadership survives long enough for us to reach the river; I've trawled the forest before, and my sense of direction is unmatched.
I don't trust anyone but me with this role.
"This is hopeless!" Elmore complains, loudly kicking at a pile of dead leaves. There are some nods and mutters amongst the others.
"It's not hopeless," I say. "As I said, the walk will be long. We just have to be patient."
"But we're nearly out of food," Pusher argues. "How do you expect us to survive?"
I grimace. He's right about that one. Caroline's baked goods have already been consumed, and all that remains is cold stew.
"We'll forage," I say hopefully. "It can't be too hard."
"Yeah," Caroline smiles, but it's a bit forced. "We'll make do, won't we, Tessie?"
"Oh, yeah," Tessie looks up. "Of course."
The interaction doesn't fill me with much hope. I find myself subconsciously wondering what type of wood would be best for starting a settlement. I'm almost settled on cedar before the debates begin once more.
"Reggie thinks we'll die of thirst," Reggie says. "We must find water before we arrive at Onett."
"There is a river," I remind him. "We're heading for it this very minute."
"Then where is it?"
"It's coming," I promise, growing increasingly frustrated. "Unless you have a genuine question, please try not to complain."
There is some muttering at that, and a spatter of grumbling, but nobody says anything further.
The wire tightens that little bit more.
I look up at the formidable trees. They seem infinite; the forest stretches from Tazmily to Onett, and then even up to Onett Boarding School. It was planted sometime around the turn of the millennium, back in the early times, because the bloodshed from Onetian and Tazmilian troops was too high. The forest was built to be an obstacle.
"What if the river is miles away?" Elmore moans, and the grumbling starts right back up again.
"Oh, cheer y'selves up!" Duster exclaims suddenly. Everyone falls quiet. "Steven is right, you all complain too much! What good's it doing us, hm? How does it help? We'll be stuck in 'ere a long time together, so let's be nice, m'kay?"
There is a stark pause. Everyone looks around at one another as if considering this new option. But then-
The wire snaps.
"I am not listening to an old codger like you!"
"Mother!" Ollie protests. "Be nice!"
"Don't tell me what to do!"
Elmore storms forward, her arms tightly folded. Ollie shoots Angie an exasperated glance, which the teenager returns. I notice Caroline giving Angie a very motherly look, and I wonder… but never mind that. We have to focus on other worries.
I duck under a low hanging branch, pushing through a thick, evergreen bush. The forest track that we've stumbled upon is hard to follow, probably used by deer at some point, and there is a lot of overgrowth covering the floor, along with a fair few fallen trees from the recent storm. That storm was nasty; I had to walk through it alone, without any cover from the driving rain, and I hope there aren't any more of them, or I'll probably be blamed and expelled from the group.
Roy seems to be regaining some strength, at least. He can walk without Duster and I helping him out. I don't understand what happened to him, though; I mean, I have theories, of course, but he doesn't seem to remember. From what I can tell, he was temporarily brainwashed, tricked, or forced into becoming a guard, but how? He spits on the ground whenever someone mentions Porky's name.
"Hello, Roy," I say. He looks up at me, surprised by my presence.
"Hello there," he manages. "Who are you?"
I sigh. Forget the idea of making progress. He's asked me this five times already.
"I'm Steven," I lie. If I told him my actual name - well, he'd definitely know who I am. My family in infamous, even in Tazmily.
"Yes. Steven," Roy says shakily. "Nice name."
"Thank you."
Behind me, Matt seems to be sobering up. He's still tipsy, but it must've been at least a day since he binge drank all that alcohol at Tessie's inn. I don't think he's coping very well; most members of our group are reluctant to talk to him, and he's reluctant to talk to them. He walks sullenly, not caring to strike up any conversations, but also not caring to make complaints.
Reggie seems to be a bit of a lone wolf as well; he's not talking to anybody either, just walking along by himself. I get the impression he's quite smart, but also highly reserved. If it came down to a situation where only a few of us would survive, I suspect he'd almost certainly be out for himself.
Caroline and Tessie have been the opposite. Their spirit seems to be the only thing keeping us together. There is always some laughter coming from where they're standing, a direct counterpoint to Pusher and Elmore's arguments that ring out all day. Ollie has taken to ignoring his parents, talking mostly with the other teenager, Angie.
"Y' think we'll all get to Onett okay?" Duster asks worriedly, coming back to walk by my side.
"I don't know," I admit. "I'm hoping we will. It's my responsibility to hope… I got everyone out of the carriages, after all. I owe it to you to bring us to safety."
"I left my home behind for that man," Duster murmurs. "You really think he's a bad 'un?"
"He's rotten to the core," I reply, shoving past another evergreen branch. "Being imprisoned by him for several months proved that to me."
"But why'd he imprison you, m'chap?"
"I found out what he was up to," I explain, and Duster gasps.
"Well?" He asks keenly. "What's Porky going to do?"
"In the simplest terms, take over the world," I explain. "If he succeeds, it'll be the end of everything."
"The end?" Duster laughs loudly. "I don't think so, m'fella! No pork man can overtake our world!"
"He can," I say, the hopelessness of it all seeping through my voice. "He's got money, power, and he never rests."
"But then," Duster looks worried. "How's he going to be stopped?"
I look up at the sun shining through the trees, at the lonely clouds drifting through the sky. The villagers talk amongst themselves, Elmore filing back into our ranks and reluctantly apologising to the others. Ollie and Angie exchange a small smile, their hands drifting a little closer together.
"I don't know what will stop him in the end. I don't know who will deliver the final blow. All I know is that this world is far too beautiful to be owned by a man like him."
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~~o00o~~
Chapter 24: Alone Aboard the Ark (Part 1)
(Lucas)
~~o00o~~
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They say the worst part of losing someone you love is the waiting.
When Mother died, the wait was short. We were brought the news, and that was as conclusive as it got. The ceremony was over within a week, we cried and laid flowers by her gravestone, and then we left it all behind when we moved to Onett.
When Claus disappeared, the wait never ended.
For the first month, I hardly got any sleep. I waited on the edge of my bed, hoping that Claus would burst through that door and wrap me in a hug. If I had the energy to cook, I'd make three portions, waiting in silence as his plate went cold. When that didn't work, I tried everything else; I watched out the window as the light faded from the skies, I searched the depths of the city when the clouds poured with rain, but it was to no avail.
I never stopped, though. Every time I saw a redhead, I looked twice, just in case, because one day it could have been him. Sometimes I caught myself wondering where to search next, since I never learnt to let go of hope. In the toughest situations, I asked myself what would Claus do?
It's funny how life repeats itself.
With my new resolve, I thought that I'd have Ness back by my side before the end of the day. I thought I'd simply leave my room, find Ness, and tell him that I'm not letting him distance himself under any circumstances. But when Toon Link hurries in, desperately clamouring for me to come to the medical ward, I know that it's not going to happen.
I suppose the universe never tires of making me wait.
"Ness!" I cry, running forward with a sob, all restraint gone because this is - this is my Ness, and someone's hurt him. He's in a bad way, the worst way, blood staining his shirt and bruises covering his beautiful face. Even looking at him feels visceral, and I want to hurl all over the floor. I grip his hand, shaking because it's suddenly all I can do.
"It was a Future Human," Ryu says darkly, stepping out from the shadows. "Ness was outside alone. It was-"
"W-Why didn't you stop it?"
"I… It was, we tried-"
"Why didn't you stop it?"
"We came as quickly as we could," Ryu says firmly. "If it weren't for your friend Toon Link, Ness would most likely be dead."
My vision swims. I whirl around to where Toon Link stands, hopping from foot to foot in agitation. He's battle-scarred, bruising surrounding his eyes and cuts covering his left arm. Under my piercing gaze, he covers his face.
"I'm sorry - I came outside as quickly as I could - I beat the Future Human with a lump of wood! It - it worked, but Ness, Ness…"
Ness. Even now, more injuries become apparent. I tear open his shirt, wildly checking for a pulse, signs of breathing, something to cling on to. I tug him close, trying my best not to sob with despair. I knew our separation was idiotic. I knew it!
"What did it do to him?"
"It hit him against a tree," Ryu says grimly, "Then he got crushed underneath it - we think he has broken a few ribs."
"A few ribs?! Is he going to be okay?"
"The nurse doesn't know," Toon Link says, shaking. "They won't say."
"But where's Doctor Mario?"
"He was recruited to deal with the virus in Onett," Ryu explains.
"Onett? Ness needs help!" I exclaim. Why doesn't anyone understand?
"Is he in some sort of coma?" Toon Link asks worriedly, shifting a little nearer to Ness's body.
"I would suppose so," Ryu says. "The damage is significant enough that it is likely…"
I hardly hear, looking at Ness's form once again. It hurts so much to see Ness like this, so broken, so damaged, by a damned Future Human of all things. I can't believe it. Why would he go outside alone? He's an idiot. He's such an idiot. And now, without Ness looking over my shoulder, how long until a Future Human finds me too?
A loud clap catches me off guard.
"All of you!" the nurse exclaims, hands on their hips. "I need space with my patient. You're going to have to leave!"
"I'm not going anywhere," I say coldly. "I'm staying with him, okay?"
"But-"
"No! No buts."
The nurse's eyebrows furrow with anger, but Ryu steps in.
"Lucas is right. He should stay. But first I'd like a private word with him…"
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I throw myself angrily into one of Ryu's office chairs. It's all wrong, all rotten, all unbelievably unfair. I could've been there - I should've watched over him, even if he didn't want me, even if he tried to push me away, because I know that he's an idiot! He's got himself damaged within three hours of being alone! Guilt brews in my stomach. I'm a terrible best friend.
"Ness was outside alone," Ryu says pragmatically. "Why was that?"
I glare at him, at his cold face, too practical to offer comfort or support.
"Why should I tell you?"
Ryu is unmoved. "I know you're angry with me, Lucas. I simply need the facts. They are imperative."
"Ness is hurt," I say stubbornly. "That is the only fact you need to know."
"Lucas," Ryu sighs, but his voice softens a little. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised."
"What's that supposed to mean?" My eyes flare, suddenly defensive.
"Worry does strange things," Ryu explains. "You're not an angry person, Lucas."
I sigh, trying to keep my breathing light. He's right. I'm not an angry person.
"What do you want to know, Professor?"
"Well," Ryu leans forwards, resting his elbows on the desk. "You and Ness are inseparable. I'm simply confused as to why he was alone."
"It was his decision," I say bitterly. "Ness decided that the person behind the Future Humans is trying to cause him harm. He thinks they've been sending the creatures after me to get revenge on him. He decided that from today, he was going to stay away from me to keep me safe."
"Is he usually this dense?" Ryu asks.
"Yes, Professor."
"…I see," Ryu says, taking a tiny note on a piece of paper. "Look, this is proof that you need to stick together, alright? You're both prime targets for these creatures, and maybe you'll be able to survive this ordeal if you watch out for one another. I'll tell him the same."
"Good luck with that."
"I'm sure I can push it through his impossibly thick skull."
"Hey!" I stand, seeing red. "Don't talk bad about Ness!"
"Sorry," Ryu says flatly, holding up his hands. "Now, here is my advice to you, Lucas. Try to stay in large crowds until he's awake. Your safety is my number one priority; I'm going to try and get you both out of the Wilderness Survival Week as well. Any questions?"
"Yes," I say, still standing. The anger is back, and it scares me a little. "Why are Ness and I the ones trying to solve this? You're the adults. You've got magic powers. Why do we keep getting hurt?"
There's a steady pause, and Ryu surveys me quite intensely.
"Because your hearts are too pure, Lucas. Because nobody asked you to do this, but you took it upon yourselves nonetheless. Now, go, look after Ness. Heaven knows he needs it."
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Upon my return to the medical room, Toon Link has gone, presumably to tell the others what's happened. There's some time now, without the invasivity of Ryu, for me to understand, to process… this.
It feels wrong. Ness is supposed to be the strong one, the one who beats up the bullies and hugs me when I'm down. I'm supposed to be the weak and vulnerable boy, the boy who gets injured - because heaven knows I've picked up enough injuries this term.
At least his face is peaceful. But his head - oh, his head… Fretting, I search the nearest cupboard for bandages. If the nurse will be neglectful, the least I can do is to treat him as best as possible; Red made us learn first aid in case of an emergency, which gives me a little bit of confidence. Once I'm done wrapping Ness's head, he looks like some kind of war veteran.
The image makes me want to cry. Suddenly, I want to shrivel up and cry until he comes back and tells me that it'll all be okay. But I can't; I need to be strong, guarding him in case a Future Human comes to finish the job. It's a good place to direct my anger; the Future Humans hurt Ness.
Nobody gets away with that.
"Ness…" I whisper, taking his hand in mine and gripping it tight. It's like an anchor, the warmth of it locking me into reality. As the clock ticks on the wall, I know it's time to do what I've been doing best my entire life.
It's time for me to wait.
...
(Toon Link)
…
All things considered, it's been a bit of a crazy morning.
Last night, I didn't get a second of sleep. Then, Ness revealed his incredibly stupid plan. That led to many injuries, a furious Lucas, and me having to save Ness's life by bonking a metal man with a plank of wood.
It's what I've come to expect at this point.
The afternoon's off to a great start as well. I'm hurtling through the hall, because I need to get help, and fast. Wario shoots me a furious look, but I flip him off, clattering up the dorm stairs with a newly acquired Pit in tow.
"Villager!" I exclaim, bursting into his room. He's pretty today, a coloured button-up shirt tucked into his shorts, but I haven't got time to acknowledge his beauty.
"Toon Link!" Red says pompously. "What business do you have?"
I frantically wave my arms. "Ness has been attacked!"
That sets them off. Red rushes to his feet, Villager following suit, and we all begin thundering towards the medical ward. My heart pounds; what if Ness has died by the time we get back? What if he's being murdered? But when we throw open the doors, the scene seems to have changed completely.
Ness is still lying in the hospital bed, bruises and cuts trailing his arms and face. His eyes are closed, his shirt torn in two where Lucas manically checked his heartbeat. But, his head has been neatly bandaged, gentle music is coming from who-knows-where, and even stranger than that, Lucas has started a painting.
"What's all this?" I ask stupidly.
"Art," Lucas replies. I observe his canvas, where several colourful blobs have taken shape. In the distance, a set of violins warble a mournful tune.
"Uh - what about Ness? Is he okay?"
"He'll be fine," Lucas says, far too easily. "He wouldn't leave me. This painting is a present for when he wakes up."
The statement unnerves me somehow. Even so, a present is good news. I long for the day when Lucas figures out how immensely gay he is, and I long for the day when Ness finally kisses his stupid face off.
"What happened to him, Toon Link?" Red asks worriedly, for once showing an emotion that isn't distaste.
"Well," I explain. "Remember that creature in the wardrobe? There are more of them, except they're bigger and angrier. This one hit him in the head and crushed his ribs. Ryu and I dealt with it, and we carried Ness in here."
"That's very heroic of you," Villager says, and a swarm of butterflies begin a dance party in my stomach.
The others move over to observe Ness's condition. In the distance, the violins slow to a halt, whilst Lucas has fallen surprisingly quiet. To be fair, he's always quiet, but right now… it's almost sinister. I'm not sure he's coping well.
"Need a hug?" I offer softly.
"No," Lucas says.
"That's a shame, because I do."
Lucas rolls his eyes, letting me give him a small hug that probably gets paint on my shirt. It's worth it, though, because he does look a little bit better afterwards.
"What was that about a creature?" Pit asks, once he's finished checking Ness's vital signs. "A creature in your wardrobe?"
"Erm." I gulp. I forgot that he doesn't know about them. "Okay, this is going to sound really crazy-"
"Ness and Lucas are magicians. My twin brother is dead. I don't think anything's going to sound crazy to me right now."
"Oh, right," I say awkwardly. "Well, I'm not actually sure what the hell they are, but they're like humans… with metal and wood on them."
"Someone's turning people into monsters," Lucas explains, without looking away from his painting. "The monsters are trying to attack us. One caught Ness and did..." He gulps, his resolve disappearing at once. "This."
He averts his eyes. Pit, meanwhile, looks horrified.
"Do you think that's why Dark Pit and I got that invitation to the party? As a lure? What if that's what Dark Pit has become?"
Lucas looks away very quickly. I have a sudden suspicion that that's exactly what's happened.
"We don't know that yet," Villager says softly. "Don't go thinking the worst."
"Yeah," Pit rubs his eyes, but he sounds unsure. "He's probably not become like… that. These things sound scary, though."
"They are." Lucas's voice tremors.
There's an uneasy pause.
"That's a lot of blood," Villager says quietly, looking down at Ness's head. "At least the nurse bandaged him up."
"I had to do that myself," Lucas grumbles, applying the paint a little more sharply than before. "God knows where the nurse is…"
"Right behind you, pet!"
Lucas jumps in alarm, causing brown paint to smear across the canvas. The nurse turns to us, wagging a stern finger. It would be comical if Ness wasn't horribly injured.
"Time to leave, poppets. I need to work on my patient."
"But Ness is our friend!" I protest.
"Does it look like I care?"
"Not really, that's part of the problem-"
"OUT!" They bellow, and like sheep, we're shepherded out of the door.
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It's a silent walk to our usual location of the Games Room. I have to be calm; I can't freak out again. That's happened a lot, lately. Everything has been really weird - magic, evil creatures, a gravestone with Ness and Lucas's names on… I shiver in spite of myself. This term has been crazy beyond my wildest dreams.
It doesn't help that my crush on Villager is going nuclear. I find myself staring at him sometimes, and it makes me feel like a creep, but he's incredibly nice to look at. Thinking about him is making my insomnia even worse, and I've been trying not to let on, but sometimes I only manage three or so hours of sleep per night. I often wonder how he feels on the subject, whether he's into guys as well as girls, but it's impossible to read him. He's an enigma.
I slump down on the couch, Villager on one side of me, Pit on the other. Red picks up the pool cue, beginning a solo round, a nervous habit that I've noticed in him lately. I'm too exhausted to comment, though; I yawn, my eyes watering all over the place. I want to sleep here and now, but I can't, not while Ness is so damaged. Not when Lucas needs support, and when Pit does as well. I have to be there for them… but I'm so tired…
"Sleepy, huh?" Villager laughs.
I whip to attention, realising that my head had been falling onto his shoulder. Dammit! Pit glances my way - there's a hint of curiosity in his eyes - dammit, dammit, dammit!
I wonder if Villager knows. I mean, I've not exactly been subtle with my comments and casual flirtatious attitude, but I do think he's a little oblivious, especially if he's still into Zelda. He claims he never liked her, but, well, to anyone who knew him, it was as clear as day. The jealousy still makes my head hurt, for goodness' sake.
"What do we do?" I ask, to break the silence more than anything.
"Wait," Villager replies. "We'll go back in an hour. In the meantime, you should probably get some rest."
"Rest? How am I supposed to get that?"
"You're injured," Villager says reproachfully, wiping a smear of blood from my arm. Goosebumps rise, and I curse them, hoping that he didn't see.
"Ness is injured," I counter. "I feel fine."
"Ness's injuries are out of our control," Red says sharply from across the room. "We mustn't worry."
"And so are mine, so-"
"Perhaps we should talk about something else," Red suggests, with such an air of finality that it shuts me up.
There's an uncomfortable pause.
"I saved someone's life," I murmur, just to see if Villager will roll his eyes.
"We know," Villager groans, rolling his eyes. Score one for me. "Good to see that your modesty is still intact."
I shrug. "Jealousy doesn't look good on you, Villager. Have you ever prevented a death?"
"Not that I know of," he says. "Unless you count my fishing."
"Your fishing," I repeat. "Please elaborate. At best, fish might prevent dry skin-"
"And brittle fingernails!" Villager exclaims. "My fish are rich in nutrients!"
"They're not life-saving, though. Hey, maybe you saved someone indirectly?" I suggest. "Like, you spoke to them for ten seconds, and that stopped them from falling into a quarry? The smallest actions have the smallest consequences."
"Oh yeah," Villager muses. "Lucas was going on about that a couple of days ago..."
I laugh, and Villager grins at me, which once again summons the butterflies. But I notice that Red seems to be oddly quiet, and I find myself back on edge.
"Hey, uh, Red." Villager frowns. "Why do you keep looking at Pit like that?"
"Huh?" Pit looks up. "Like what?"
"I was not looking at him!" Red sniffs, affronted.
"You were doing it just then," Villager says worriedly. "Is something up?"
"No," Red glares daggers at him. "Nothing is up."
"Are you sure?" Pit shifts nervously. "I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"
"How about you tell me?" Red demands.
The tension is palpable. Villager reaches out, putting a hand on Red's shoulder.
"What's going on, Red? This isn't like you."
"I told you already. Ask Pit."
"Did I - did I do something that I wasn't supposed to?" Pit looks back and forth between us, evidently panicking now. I try to reach out, but he jolts away.
"I don't think so," I say worriedly. "I'm not sure what Red is talking about."
"Oh!" Red exclaims. "Of course you're not sure what I'm talking about! Isn't it convenient that once again, you're siding against me-"
"What is your problem?" I demand.
"Haven't I made it clear? The problem is Pit!"
His voice echoes through the room.
"I - okay - I should go." Pit mutters, standing up suddenly. "I'm sorry."
"Wait - Pit!" I try to stop him, but it's too late. Looking at Villager's shocked face, I make a split-second decision.
Red's look of outrage can wait.
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I find Pit on the dorm stairs, his head in his hands.
"Hey," I try, awkwardly coming up beside him. I'm not great at this - the whole comforting-people-thing - but it's the least I can do if Red's going to be this rude.
"Hey," Pit says flatly. "Sorry about that."
I place a hand on his shoulder, but he flinches, so I remove it.
"You wanna come to my dorm? It's nice in there. Well, nice-ish," I amend, remembering Link's underwear all over the floor. "We can talk, though, if you like."
"But - is Red-"
"Don't worry about Red," I say firmly. "Come on."
Perhaps a little reluctantly, Pit follows me, but he sits down beside me on my bed. Thankfully, Link has gone elsewhere, forgoing his usual Sunday ritual of booze and bodybuilding.
"Now," I say. "What are you thinking?"
"That I knew it was going too well," Pit mutters, his head in his hands. "I knew everything was too perfect. I knew I couldn't be making friends that easily... I don't know what I did to make Red so angry."
"He hates change," I say, remembering something that Villager told me when our group first formed. "I guess you're a pretty big one."
"Sorry," Pit mumbles.
"What? Why are you sorry?"
He sighs. "You were all a happy little family before I showed up. I should've been a bit more thoughtful. I should have given myself more time, rather than being so miserable around you."
"Don't say that, Pit." I nearly sling a comforting arm around him, before remembering that he doesn't like physical contact. "It's okay for you to be sad about what's happened."
But he buries his head further into his hands. "I'm causing problems everywhere I go. I'm just upsetting everyone, Toon Link. It's never going to get better."
"Pit," I say sternly, trying to muster some of Lucas's blunt honesty. "You're being even more melodramatic than Ness. Trust me, that's not a situation you want to be in."
"But I'm nothing without Dark Pit!" Pit protests, shuddering. "Nothing, Toon Link, because we promised we'd do everything together! We swore it every night before we went to bed. I don't know what I'm supposed to do without him."
"Look, well…" I hesitate, trying to get this right. "You aren't nothing, Pit. The only people that are nothing are those that hold their failures tight. You've got us now-"
"Except Red, who hates me-"
"But, he doesn't! He didn't like me, Ness or Lucas at first. It took him months to let Villager have other friends. Which sounds a little controlling, to be fair… but I don't think he means it. Red clings to how things always were. He'll come around. I promise."
"…Thanks, Toon Link," Pit says weakly.
"But, yeah," I continue. "Maybe give Red a little bit of space for now. It's his problem to solve, not yours."
"Yeah… I will. Alright."
"You're much easier to console than Ness," I joke, but there's silence as Pit stares at the floor.
"...Do you think I'll ever get over what's happened?"
It's a difficult question.
"Maybe not," I say. "I don't think you can get over something like this. I'm sure it will get better, though."
"Yeah." He nods, awkwardly kicking his foot against the floor. "It's just so… otherworldly, I guess. Knowing that I'll never see him again. Ever."
I glance out of the window, unsure of what to say. There's a large oak tree outside, and it seems today that a horde of squirrels has taken residence in it. Pit follows my gaze, and his eyes flicker, grateful for a distraction.
"That's a lot of squirrels."
"Yeah, it is." Keen to hang onto a less emotional conversation thread, I walk over to the window to have a look, and Pit follows suit. Below the oak tree, Bowser is walking somewhere, checking behind him every so often. I glance at Pit, who shrugs.
All of a sudden, a squirrel drops an acorn. It rolls down the branch, bouncing off a couple of leaves, before hitting Bowser square on the head.
"HEY!" Bowser roars.
That's when all hell breaks loose.
Suddenly, a barrage of acorns starts raining down, like bombs from the heavens. Bowser yells as he's peppered by the artillery, the squirrels throwing down everything they can, each acorn perfectly timed to strike him on the head. He wildly waves his massive arms, but the squirrels are relentless - Pit catches my eye, and then we burst into manic laughter.
Serve him right! I think we've both had our fair share of canings and beatings from him; there hasn't been a day since arriving at this school that my body hasn't been sore. We collapse back down onto the bed, laughing spectacularly - and Pit's smiling so wide - Pit's smiling and laughing!
"Okay, that cheered me up," he grins.
"Agreed," I grin back. "He totally deserved it."
"Yeah. Bowser is the worst. He once shouted at me for using a semicolon because thought it was witchcraft."
"He's caned me thirty times this year," I say. "You can count the scars if you like, but they're in a rather private area."
"That's far too much information, but that reminds me…" He winks, and I already know what's coming. "You and Mr-No-Personality Villager, hm?"
"Really?" I groan, covering my reddening face. "Is it that obvious?"
"Oh. come on. You're not exactly subtle."
"I don't know what you mean."
"You're head-over-heels. Everyone knows it! Except him, naturally."
"But - but how? How did you find out?"
"Where to begin?" Pit laughs. "Well, there are all the comments you make, you almost falling asleep on his shoulder… and in the pool, you were totally perving on him."
"Noooo," I whine, my face even redder than it was before. "How is this possible? You've been in our group for two days, and you've already discovered one of my biggest secrets."
"I'm a genius," Pit says. "You shouldn't be surprised."
"And you're alright with, uh, homosexuality?"
"Yeah, totally," Pit shrugs. "Doesn't bother me."
"Thank goodness," I say, breathing a sigh of relief. "Not many people would be. But - hah - I suppose I need to be more subtle?"
"Hey, at least you're not as obvious as Ness and Lucas."
"Oh my God, those two…"
"I asked them last night," Pit informs me with a smirk. "Lucas told me they weren't together, meanwhile they were spooning each other and sharing a bed. Dark Pit and I..." his expression becomes a little distant. "Uh, Dark Pit and I had a bet on it. £5 to the winner."
"Villager and I have a bet on it too," I laugh. "If they get together in the next month, Villager has to swim the length of the lake."
"Oho," Pit says. "Another excuse to look at his body? How devious of you."
"Me?" I gasp. "I would never do anything of the sort!"
"But - seriously - you reckon they'll do it?" Pit looks at me inquisitively. "You think they'll figure it out?"
"Well," I ponder. "I think that Ness is definitely into Lucas. Ness can't take his eyes off him. Whether Lucas feels the same…" I snort a little bit. "I think Lucas would be far too naïve to even consider the possibility. He wouldn't know a crush if it hit him in the face wearing Ness's underwear."
"He's sweet though," Pit says. "Even if he's secretly a powerful magician."
"Oh, magic," I groan. "Don't even get me started on all that. Five stones, plus a magical time-stone, psychic this, psychic that, spells… I'm so glad I'm normal."
"I feel bad for them, though," Pit sighs. "It must be hard."
"They've got each other, though."
"Have you known them for long?" Pit asks.
"Well…" I think back, the quiet years returning to me. "We were good friends in primary school, us three and a girl called Inkling." I gulp, worrying again about where she could be. "But, yeah. I used to be really shy, shyer than even Lucas."
"No way," Pit scoffs. "No way were you ever shy. You are the king of comic relief."
"I was the shyest kid in school," I say, rubbing my arm. "I suppose I taught myself to be more confident before coming here."
"How did you manage that?"
"I went out on the street. I spoke to people, I learned a bunch of jokes… and the rest came naturally with growing up." I shrug. "It's weird, really."
"It's cool, though. Top marks for self-improvement."
"Though…" I try to work it out in my mind. I've never been able to articulate this before. "Sometimes it feels like, nowadays, I have two sides. One side is this confident, annoying side, and the other is that weak, overly-sensitive side from before."
Pit frowns. "I don't think you're annoying. You're funny. And there's nothing wrong with being weak."
"Well, I don't know." I pause, taking his words in. "I just worry that both sides are annoying and that nobody, well, genuinely likes me. When I'm loud, I'm too much, when I'm not, I'm nothing. You know?"
"What was it you said?" Pit grins. "The only people that are nothing are those that hold their failures tight?"
"Very clever." I prod him, and he jolts, alarmed. I realise my mistake too late. "Sorry - sorry-"
"It's okay," he says. "I never said. I just don't like physical contact."
"Howcome?"
"It's nothing bad, not like I've been abused or anything. It's just weird to me, I guess. I never really grew up with it."
"I'm way too affectionate," I admit.
"No such thing. For real though," Pit says, looking at me. "I don't think there's anything wrong with you. I think you're all good as you are."
"Yeah," I smile, trying to believe it. "I'm all good."
I have a problem. Often when people compliment me, I have great difficulty believing that what they say is true. It goes over my head, and I cancel out the compliment by concluding they don't know the full me, or they don't understand my flaws yet.
It's because I have bad self-esteem. I have quite a few secrets, as well. Some of them I've never told anyone. A couple of them took me a while to admit to myself. I'm constantly dissatisfied with the state that I am in; I didn't like myself when I was quiet, and I don't like myself now that I'm loud. It feels like I'm a con or a fake, but even that's become part of me.
I lean back, trying to appear more relaxed than I am.
"I think I've just, well, had bad experiences with both sides. I was, uh, bullied a lot, in primary school-"
"Ugh, bullies," Pit sticks out his tongue. "Wish we could send the squirrel brigade after them. They need a nice acorn shower."
I laugh. "The Squirrel Squadron, fighting for justice worldwide."
"All hail the Squirrel Fleet, defending the earth."
"Squirrels of the Sea, plundering treasure and capturing sharks."
"I'm just imagining them going into battle with tiny helmets, carrying little butter knives-"
I fall into a fit of laughter, and it takes me a very, very long time to settle down again.
When we're finally calm, we lean back against the wall. I have to wipe actual tears of mirth from my eyes, and Pit is the same, giggling like a child.
"I haven't laughed like that in days."
"Squirrels are powerful things," I grin.
"Yeah. Hey, anyway, random point, but what's your family like?"
I exhale sharply.
"My - my family?" My voice doesn't sound so casual anymore.
"Yeah, are they nice?"
My mind works fast, my heart beating faster in spite of itself.
"My mother and father are alright," I say carefully. "They've got a healthy marriage, and we're not poor or anything. My baby brother - Young Link - he's nearly four, and he's really sweet. How about yours?"
Crisis averted.
"They're nice, I guess," Pit shrugs. "There isn't much to say about them. They're normal, really. What does your father do for work?"
"He runs the butcher's stall in the market. Yours?"
"My father's an undersecretary in the Onett government."
"Wow." My eyes widen. "I didn't know you had so much status."
"He doesn't do much," Pit admits. "It's mostly paperwork for other people."
"Shame. He could improve this place a bit."
"If only… where were you born?" Pit asks.
Oh no.
"W-Where was I born?" I repeat. "U-Uh…"
"Toon Link?"
My eyes are getting wet. This is the worst-case scenario. I try to dry them, but Pit's noticed already.
His voice softens. "...Is family a bad topic?"
I nod slowly.
"You should've said." Pit averts his gaze. "It's okay if you don't want to talk about it."
I wipe my eyes. "No - I'm being silly - sorry-"
"Do you want to talk it through, perhaps? Dark Pit and I always did that."
A further lump of guilt settles in my throat. I want to be his friend, but I can't be Dark Pit's replacement.
"Okay," I manage. "Talking. Let's do it."
Pit looks at me expectantly.
"So. The thing is," I begin, rubbing my arm. Whilst Red's nervous habit is playing pool, and Villager's is looking away, mine is fidgeting as much as is feasibly possible. "I've never really told anyone this before-"
Pit's pupils dilate slightly. I immediately worry that I'm making him uncomfortable.
"My parents," I continue. "They're what I call the people that I live with. But… they aren't my, well, my real mother and father."
"Huh?" Pit frowns. "What do you mean by that?"
"Well, I mean," I blush, feeling stupid. And guilty. I bite my lip, forcing myself to get it over with. "I was found. They found me in the forest, in a basket, and they took me in."
Pit's expression is tender. "They-?"
The door suddenly bursts open, and Link stands there, looking as white as a sheet.
My stomach lurches. All at once, I'm terrified. How much did he hear?
But he steps forward, slowly closing the door behind him. This is odd - this isn't like him at all. He looks at me as if he's never seen me before.
"You were found?" Link asks. His voice is about ten octaves higher than usual.
"If there's going to be trouble," Pit begins, but I hold up my hand.
"What of it?"
"I'm not alone?" Words fly from his mouth. "You were found in the forest? Your parents aren't real?"
"My parents are - wait, what?"
We survey each other like enemy soldiers on a battlefield. Neither of us is quite sure what to say next, but neither of us wants to blink in case the other attacks.
"You were eavesdropping!" I accuse. "You're mocking me - this is a joke, isn't it?"
"It's not," Link says faintly, holding up his hands. "I'm not mocking you - I swear on Zelda's life. My parents found me in the forest, just like you."
I can hardly believe it. I stare at Link as if he's made of cheese, or as if he's announced that he's a pacifist. I always thought that Link had a perfect life, but I suppose nobody really does.
"Any other secrets you're planning on sharing?" Pit asks, trying to cut the tension.
"I'm twenty years old." Link opens his mouth like a goldfish. "I voluntarily got held up for four years because Zelda failed her exams."
"You - what?"
Link ignores Pit, moving around me as if I'm a deadly spider.
"I came here to get my things, Toon Link. I'm moving out."
It's the first time he's ever used my full name. I shudder, feeling something writhe in my stomach.
"The moment you finally display a shred of humanity, you're deciding to leave?"
"I'm going to live with Zelda," he explains vaguely. "Her roommate went missing, so there is a vacant space. Not a word to the professors, yeah?"
"Of course," I murmur. "Erm - good luck?"
"Cheers, mate," Link says, and then Pit and I have to sit in silence as Link packs up his things and exits the room. When he's gone, when his dirty underwear is no longer hiding the carpet, it feels weirdly empty. Link leaves after giving me one last searching look, and then he shuts the door behind him.
"Unusual," Pit comments.
"Yeah," I say, still a little shaken up.
"What were you saying?" he prompts, after an awkward pause.
"Ah, yes. Uh, I was saying…" I glance nervously at the door. "My parents were out on a picnic, then they found me in a basket in Little Forest. They took me home, where I suppose they chose to raise me."
"Thank goodness for that," Pit says. "Why didn't you tell anyone this before?"
"You're kidding me?" I almost laugh. "I don't want it known that I was abandoned in the forest, or that I wasn't wanted by my real parents. As if I need more reasons to be unpopular? Besides, it's frowned upon to be adopted. Perhaps that's why my parents never bothered with the legal side, maybe it was being kind, but…" I trail off.
"Toon Link," Pit says. "It's okay."
"…Left in the basket was a letter - I've, uh, I've got it, I'll get it out-"
Pit doesn't object. He watches patiently as I dig deep into one of my drawers, trying to find the little framed piece of paper. It's all I have left of whoever my real parents were; I read it often, far more often than I should. It's not exactly the nicest thing ever, but I bring it everywhere, hidden because it's an anchor, a reminder.
The frame is near the bottom, beneath an old stuffed toy and Young Link's attempt at drawing a cat. Not even Ness, Lucas or Villager know this about me, and they've known me since forever. I read over the words for what must be the hundredth time.
If you find him, you have a choice. You can take him, or you can kill him.
His name is Toon Link.
My stomach sinks with vulnerability. I look at Pit for approval, for recognition that I'm not crazily obsessed with this piece of paper. I need to know that I'm not mad for letting these words change the course of my life.
Then, to my surprise, he hugs me.
I cautiously wrap my arms around him, very much taken aback. "I thought you didn't like-?"
"I can make exceptions," he mumbles. "Toon Link. Toon Link."
"Sorry," I say.
"It's - It's alright. I promise. Your new parents chose you, okay? They could've left you there, but they took you in. They loved you enough to keep you safe, to take you before the sex traffickers or the murderers."
"I guess you're right." I smile weakly, having tried and failed to convince myself of the same for years. Perhaps with the approval of another, I can finally start to believe it. "Don't spread any of this around, though?"
"I'd never do that," Pit assures me.
"Sorry for being all... deep and dark," I say. "We were supposed to be talking about you, weren't we?"
"It's okay. You're important too."
"Thanks, Pit."
There's a slight pause, and then I know what has to be done.
"It's really empty in here," I say. "I can't believe he's finally gone."
"Yeah," Pit says. "It already smells less manly."
"I'll need to find another roommate," I say, looking up at him. "Fancy moving out of lovebird city?"
Pit's mouth hangs open a little bit, until he grins fully, his cheeks reddening with approval.
"That'd be awesome."
In perfect poetic timing, the clock chooses to chime for lunch. We stand up simultaneously, in a thoroughly good mood.
"This has been great." Pit smiles. "Thanks for being here, Toon Link."
"It's no worry," I assure him. "I'm glad you're feeling somewhat better now. And I'm glad that you suddenly know about half of my darkest secrets."
"You have even more?" Pit asks incredulously.
"Yeah. I'm sure you do too."
"Fair enough." He rubs his arm, eyeing the ground. The same nervous habit as me, I realise, and something about that makes me wonder if our friendship was meant to be.
After all, I was always the fifth wheel in our group.
The canteen is surprisingly busy, but perhaps that's to do with the delicious-looking turkey sandwiches. They always make an effort on Sundays, not because the school is particularly religious or anything, but because Headmaster Hand believes in spacing out good things.
More importantly, I'm hoping that Villager's talked with Red. Much as the guy annoys me, I still care about him, and I'm not about to be angry over a small dispute. I notice him a little bit ahead of us in the queue, but before I can say anything, Pit gives me a look.
"I'm not sure I should sit with you guys."
"You're not sitting on your own," I say.
"But Red-"
"Villager will have talked to him. Villager's awesome like that. He always does the right thing."
"Is that so?" Pit grins.
I roll my eyes. Maybe he's right. I am a little bit obvious.
We collect our sandwiches, following Red to our usual table, where Villager waits. Villager and I share a kind of silent look, like yes, I spoke to him. It's a promising sign.
"Hi," Pit says, sitting down. Red eyes him sharply, not making a sound. That's a lot less promising.
"Lovely day, isn't it?" I say bracingly, just before the sound of heavy rain fills the room.
"Absolutely delightful."
There's a tense silence.
"Look," Pit says, at last, looking across the table. "I know you don't like me being here, Red, but I promise I don't bite."
He looks away, his arms folded.
"Red…" Villager chides.
"Fine," he says reluctantly. "You can stay. But you'd better not hurt my friends, okay?"
"Of course," Pit grins, relief washing over his features. "I'd never."
"Then it is settled," Red declares, before going back to his turkey sandwiches. Villager and I share a relieved expression.
"Hey, besties!"
Our expressions quickly turn to dismay. As one problem is solved, a new one takes its place. Popo arrives with a grin, toppling himself down next to Villager.
"Didn't Nana ban you from the canteen?" Villager asks, sounding pained.
"Nope!" Popo laughs. "She's not as powerful as you think, my best buddies. But how are you all doing? Pit, have you stopped moping around yet?"
Pit gloomily averts his gaze. I glare across the table.
"Why are you here?"
"Because you're all my best friends!" He raises a spoon to hit me in the crotch again, but this time I'm ready, and I dodge.
"Can you please not try to maim us?" Villager protests. "Even better, could you leave?"
"Where are the lovebirds?" Popo asks, pretending not to have heard.
"Unwell," Red says, dodging another attack. "They are hospitalised."
"The medical ward?" Popo cries. "I shall visit them at once!"
"I wouldn't," Villager warns, giving me another look. Letting Popo loose on Lucas is about the worst possible idea at the moment.
"Well, I would," Popo beams. "Who's coming?"
Villager rolls his eyes. We have no choice in the matter.
"All of us," I say.
"Fabulous." Popo grins, flicking turkey onto my trousers. "Let's go! I wonder how they've been getting on?"
…
(Lucas)
…
I've been getting on okay, considering my best friend is currently unconscious and covered in blood. The others come back after lunchtime, and I gratefully take their offer of turkey sandwiches, ravenous after a long morning spent painting. Even though I'm a patient person, working on the same task for so long saps my energy like nothing else.
"What's all this?" Villager asks, pointing to a stack of papers by Ness's bed.
I show him. They're my statistics; a table of Ness's heartrate, measured every ten minutes or so. In the spirit of the scientific method, I'm plotting a graph, attempting to make sense of Ness's fluctuating values. My current hypothesis is that he'll be fine, but I'm not sure how much of that is a personal defence mechanism.
The nurse, meanwhile, has kept to themself, dealing with some of the other patients demanding bandages or hangover cures. Waiting in the medical ward means I pick up quite a bit of gossip; last night, there was a party amongst members of a lower year, in which someone tried to jump through the window, and someone else tried to eat broken glass. Now every time I chide myself for being stupid, I can take comfort in the fact that there are always bigger idiots at large in the world.
"Yo!" Popo exclaims - oh great, speaking of bigger idiots, what's he doing here? He whistles, looking down at Ness's corpse-like form. "You bang him too hard? Didn't think you were one for necrophilia."
"Sorry - what?!" I'm very taken aback. Toon Link stifles a laugh behind him.
"And what are all these blobs?" He rounds on my painting. I look to the others for help, feeling antsy.
"It's a gift for Ness," I explain. "It's supposed to be-"
"Hope he likes weird alien balls. Then again, you two are gay, right?"
"I - what?"
"Squirrel brigade?" Toon Link suggests, which for some reason makes Pit cackle like a hyena. That confirms it; the world has gone mad.
"Well, I hope he gets well soon," Popo says, giving Ness's inner thigh a hearty slap. "Would be such a shame if he died. I'd have to buy a suit for the funeral."
"You wouldn't be invited," Villager says, pulling him away. "Come on, you've visited him now, time to go-"
"Hey! I have rights!"
Thankfully, Toon Link takes over, and he shepherds the disgruntled Popo from the room. Villager, meanwhile, takes the opportunity to talk to me.
"How are you doing?"
"Alright," I say, because surprisingly, I am. It hasn't been too bad so far, not since the urge to cry faded and my worries began to decrease.
"That's the spirit!" Villager pats me on the shoulder.
Unfortunately, the nurse chooses that moment to storm over.
"Alright, you horrible lot, what are you doing here?"
"Visiting our friend," Toon Link retorts.
"I won't have it. Go on, get out. If I see you again, there will be trouble!"
To my dismay, the others are forced to obey.
All things considered, the rest of the afternoon passes in a blur. I paint, the blobs gradually taking shape into more humanoid figures, and every so often, I add a new measurement to my graph. At 3 p.m., Ness's heartrate levels out at around fifty-five bpm, which is quite low, but certainly survivable.
Several visitors make themselves acquainted with Ness' bedside. Rumours of his coma spread like wildfire through the school, and my constant refrain swiftly becomes a story of him falling down the stairs. Nana delivers a small gift, along with an alarmingly lengthy hug, but that's followed by a particularly unpleasant visit from Meta Knight and Olimar, who jeer nastily at Ness's body. Some others bring cards, and there are even a couple of presents, to my surprise. Toon Link and Villager visit plenty, sometimes alone, sometimes with others, and both, quite late into the evening, bringing along a neatly wrapped parcel each.
"Where did you get those?" I ask, mystified.
"Shulk," they say vaguely, before the Nurse kicks them back out of the room.
Surprisingly, Rosalina visits the most out of anyone, though I think she's more worried about me than Ness. She brings entire boxes of biscuits on several occasions, which I have to nibble through to be polite, smiling through gritted teeth when she asks about my mental state. It's to the extent that Ryu checking in with his impassive expression is a welcome break.
"How are things?" Ryu asks, as if he's asking about the weather.
"They're fine," I reply.
"Remember, keep together," Ryu says, like he hasn't told me that a thousand times already. "Has anything strange happened since we last spoke?"
"No, Professor."
He frowns. I'm not sure what he was expecting.
"Well, good day. Farewell."
The cards and the visits pile up throughout the remainder of the evening. Once the room goes dark, I eventually have to call it a day on the painting, and I'm drawn instead to reading over the Psychic books again. Ultimately, I find out nothing new; it's all rubbish like the Crazy Hand conspiracy, repeated over and over and over, and soon enough, it's late. I realise the entire day has vanished before me, and I've hardly had a single moment to pause and think. It's nearly 11 p.m., but I can't quite make out the hands on the clock anymore, so I'm not certain. I think the nurse has gone to bed, which just leaves me and my broken Ness.
But as if in a horror novel, the door to the ward swings open, and I turn and gasp in fear… but it's Headmaster Hand, of all people. I breathe a sigh of relief as he comes in, but what is he doing here at this time of night?
"Lucas," he says, looking regretfully at Ness. "I heard the news. I thought I'd come to check up on you."
"Thanks, Headmaster, but it's 11 p.m."
"I apologise for that." He nods with recognition. "I'd have come earlier, but I was bogged down by an influx of work, and some... issues, with my brother. Please excuse the pressures of capitalism. Now, I just had an alarming conversation with Ryu, in which he suggested that you and Ness miss the next week of school, and also the Wilderness Survival Week?"
"Oh?" I feign innocence.
"Lucas." He looks sternly upon me. "You, and Ness if he is able, will be attending all of your classes, and you will also be attending the Wilderness Survival Week. Is that clear?"
"What?" My eyes widen. "I need to stay and look after Ness!"
"He'll be okay," Headmaster Hand says flatly. "Nothing will happen if you leave him."
That's what you think, I think bitterly, but I keep my mouth shut. It's just an unfortunate hitch in the plan.
"Fine," I say, filled with a sudden burst of anger. "By the way, what are you doing about the disappearances?"
"Oh, not you too?" He sighs, wearily looking to the floor. "As I have told many, many people, I am looking into them. I'd send everyone home this instant if it weren't for the virus in Onett city."
"Are you writing home to the parents of the students that have disappeared?"
"Of course I am. It's important that-"
"No, you're not. I've been checking. If you had, it would've been in the newspaper."
Headmaster Hand groans, frustrated. I'm untying his arguments for laziness one by one, and it feels magnificent.
"Fine," he grumbles eventually. "We didn't tell the parents, okay? We can't."
"Why not?"
"Think of all the problems that would cause! Hysteria, left right and centre. Parents demanding their children be returned, pushing through the quarantine border. It would be suicide-"
"So you're giving up?" I stare, affronted. "You're going to allow people to disappear one by one until nobody is left?"
"Do not twist my words. I told you, Lucas, I am working on it-"
"But you're not. Nothing's changed-"
"Lucas!" Headmaster Hand snaps. "I am your superior. You should keep a civil tongue when talking to an adult!"
But I've had enough. I see red. The anger that's been building up all day is rising, the anger at the Future Humans, the anger at their creator, the anger at this awful situation. It reaches boiling point, and then it bursts out of me in a scream.
"Fuck you!"
Looking back, I wouldn't consider it my finest moment. Headmaster Hand falls back, astonished, and I continue, my fists clenched with fury.
"Fuck you, Headmaster! My best friend is hurt because you've done nothing! He's right there, lying in a fucking coma, because you're lazy!"
Headmaster Hand looks me over, an expression of utmost surprise on his face. I gaze at him in challenge, daring him to deny it.
"I don't know what to say," he says eventually. "No student has ever spoken to me like that before."
"Don't expel me," I whisper, suddenly changing tack.
"I won't," he says, but he looks unhappy. "I can understand why you're angry - it is righteous anger, Lucas. Your best friend is badly hurt, and for that, I apologise sincerely. But I promise you, I am doing all I can to fix this."
"Sorry," I whisper, staring at the floor.
"It's okay," he says, but I can't believe him. He looks down. "I... shouldn't be so hard on you. I swore to myself I would be better than Crazy Hand, more composed, but..." He sighs. "I'm sure you know the stories of my brother, Lucas. Blowing up that library, and all. He was an angry person. You and I are not. We should be better than this."
I listen, feeling a lump form in my throat.
"I digress," he says, looking weary again. "Now, Lucas, before I go, I think it's worth you knowing: they say people in a coma can hear you when you talk. I'm sure Ness has missed your voice dearly. Would you give him my well-wishings?"
"Yes. Thank you," I mumble.
"Very good. I shall see you soon," Headmaster Hand says. He hesitates, but he gives a curt nod before disappearing from the room.
I bury my head in my hands. It's not like me to be so rude. Mother raised me to never swear, especially in the presence of an adult. For goodness' sake - it's not Headmaster Hand's fault. I'm being stupid.
Slowly but surely, I'm losing hope. I've not been admitting it to myself, but I'm losing hope that Ness is ever going to wake. No matter what the graphs say, I know that he's slipping behind because I can feel it inside me. The warmth that surrounds him is fading.
"Ness?" I mumble gently, taking his hand back into mine.
There is no response. His palm is cool, worryingly lifeless.
"I miss you," I say.
Another silence.
I sigh, resolving to measure his heartrate. To my surprise, it's gone up, just a little.
My mind wanders. Late at night, alone in a dark, creepy medical room, the fear starts to trickle in. If I look closely, the shadows begin to move. It's as if the clock is turning way too fast, and I swear, that if I look out of the window, if I look away from Ness for only a moment, he will disappear.
Something shifts, and my gaze is torn towards the bedside.
"Ness? Are you - are you there? Did you just move?"
There is no reply. I'm going insane, I think bleakly.
"I'm here, Ness," I say. "Sorry I was gone for a bit."
Ness's heartrate is definitely getting faster. Invigorated, I keep speaking.
"You'll be okay, Ness." I press my hand against his. "I promise."
But there's still no reply. Then, the sadness hits all at once, and I sniffle, cursing my sensitivity. It hurts so much to feel my best friend's hand so limp, so empty - before I can stop it, a teardrop falls from my eye, splashing onto Ness's cheek.
"Ness," I sob, clenching his hand even tighter. I can't cry. I've held it back all day. I - I'm stronger than this. I desperately try to dry my eyes, but the onslaught doesn't stop. I squeeze his hand once more, before letting go and turning away in utter shame.
"I'm sorry that it hurt you," I mumble. "I'm sorry that I wasn't there. It broke you, Ness. I'm - you'll heal - you have to heal. I miss you so much."
If he were awake, he'd hold me tight. He'd tell me that everything was okay. My chest aches, longing for the warmth of his arms around my body.
It's too much.
"I-I'll be back soon, Ness," I stammer, hurrying away in utter misery. "Stay strong. I'm - I'll…"
I curl up in the corner.
"I'll keep waiting for you."
A/N
I got some big writer's block on this one, so I overcame it by changing things up, and suddenly writing from Toon Link's perspective. Better than Infinite Sad Lucas, I decided.
Meanwhile, I've wanted Link and Toon Link to find some common ground for a while, and finally, I got a decent chance to let it happen.
Notes:
Link was canonically found in a forest as a young baby.
The title of the chapter is from another album by The Leisure Society. The chapter pairs continue!
Revamping this chapter took twelve hours. This is a big, big fellow.
Reviews:
Guest: Ness is wake! I hope he's better now and will he and Lucas become friends again? Or will they still be fighting? I hope they see eye to eye soon D:
Thanks for your review! Sadly, this chapter didn't answer any of those questions, but I hope they do become non-distanced friends again soon :D
Thanks for reading, everyone!
~ReadyForTeddy