Prologue: ?
Morning dawns.
I don't remember falling asleep. I must've at some point though, because suddenly I find myself waking up, my back stiff, and my eyes heavy. We weren't graced with blankets, nor sheets, and instead we were made to sleep upon a mere bed of leaves. Ike's gone now, but a different, unfamiliar soldier is in his place, glaring at us in full armour.
Which is mildly intimidating.
"Good mornin' m'chaps," Duster says, stretching. "Where are we, again?"
"We got kidnapped," Elmore says, rolling her eyes.
"Ah, yes, tha' did happen..."
Ollie sits up next. The poor kid is starting to look significantly worn down, with his cheekbones distinctly sharpening, and his complexion a greyish tinge. Angie sits up next to him, not looking much better.
"I'm so tired. What on earth are we going to do?"
I look around at the others. Walking-Hazard Pusher is still asleep, snoring like an engine. Reggie is asleep as well, lying in the shadows, hands folded over his bare chest. Caroline is awake, but bruised from yesterday's assault.
"Escape," Tessie says vaguely, leaning against a nearby tree. "There has to be a way..."
Ike comes over, dismissing the surly-looking guard from his place. We didn't get much more out of him last night, minus a few sarcastic comments, but he looks content, awake and ready for the morning. I have to admire the skill of these people - the ability to be so fast on their feet, ready for any attack. Many other soldiers are packing their saddle bags, unclipping the horses, which seem to be reluctant to get moving today.
"Can we eat yet?" I ask, feeling my stomach rumble.
"Rations are distributed at twelve," Ike says, and everyone groans.
"C'mon," Roy sighs. "You loved your Sunday roasts, Ike."
"I must follow protocol." Ike draws his spear. "Come. I'm supposed to take you to the horses. But, first, Steven."
"Yes?" I say.
"I believe I know you. Now that it's day, I recognise your face."
I gulp.
"I'm sure I know him too," Roy says. "But I don't know why. I don't know anyone named Steven."
"That's 'cause it's not his actual name," Duster says.
"It's a pseudonym," I admit, and Roy frowns.
"What's your real name, then?"
"That's a secret."
"But why?"
I sigh. "If I tell you my name, a lot of people here will know who I am. I'd rather not have that."
"Are you a criminal, or something?"
"No," I say. "But my brother is." I gulp. "He's the most famous criminal in Onett."
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~~o00o~~
Chapter 34: Lightning
(Lucas)
~~o00o~~
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"Dammit!" Ness exclaims suddenly, nearly deafening the entire corridor. "I've still got the book, The Mystery Of Magic. I forgot to hand it back to Ryu."
"Well done," I say, rolling my eyes. "We'll be waiting in this queue a while, so you've got time to put it upstairs."
"Alright."
He speeds off to our dorm, and I sigh. I'm not sure what's taking us so long to go into the theatre - maybe they're doing some last-minute rehearsing? Anything could happen in this play. And who knows what Toon Link and Villager have planned? I just hope Villager's part in it is consensual, considering Toon Link's tendencies for accidental peer pressure.
"Hey, Lucas!" Nana appears, interrupting my thoughts. She's in a good mood, it seems. "How did you find that art lesson?"
"Erm," I say awkwardly. "Nice, I guess?"
"Excellent. Are you doing anything for the play?"
"Unfortunately not," I say, diminishing a little. "Just watching."
"Fair enough!" She seems very keen to keep talking, animatedly putting her hands together. "I'd considered doing some paintings for the scenery, perhaps of a nice fruit bowl, but it was too much effort."
"Ah, right," I say, wishing I was better at one-to-one conversations. "That does sound like a lot of work."
"Popo has a role, though…"
"Oh, really? What's he going to be doing?"
"He wouldn't tell me," Nana says, shrugging. "But he's awfully excited. I haven't seen him this excited since he got drunk at Bayo's party."
"I hope it goes okay," I mumble. "He causes a lot of chaos..."
"LUCAS!" someone bellows, shattering our conversation immediately. It's Ness, practically tumbling down the stairs, frantically waving something in the air.
"Hello?" I say, bewildered.
"Lucas - I've-" He screeches to a halt, noticing Nana. "Oh, hi there."
"Hi, Ness," Nana says, her lips pursed.
"Can you go away?" Ness impatiently waves her off, and she looks quite offended.
"If you insist. See you later, Lucas."
"See you," I begin, but Ness grabs at my arm.
"Lucas, I've found it. Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures - it was in our room!"
"What!?" I exclaim. "Right there - on the shelf?"
"Yeah! It was with all the others!"
"Who's the author?"
"Some Italian name, no idea. But we can look inside, we can find out how the Future Humans work, we can do everything-"
"Some Italian name?" I frown. "It must be a pseudonym. But - seriously - it was right there? This whole time?"
"Well, I'm not sure." He looks worried suddenly, scratching his head. "You first saw it in the library, right? So maybe someone moved it? But who?"
"Maybe Wario?" I suggest. Everything is suddenly vexing again. "He does love a game…"
"But - but never mind that - when can we read it?" Ness asks, looking like he's going to explode if I don't say now.
"Later," I say, and his face falls.
"But Lucas-"
"Look, we're going in," I say, as Shulk finally opens the door to the theatre. "Come on. It's Robin Hood time."
Disgruntled, Ness shoves the book in his pocket as we enter, but his face lights up as soon as he sees the scenery. The theatre is lavishly decorated, velvety red draperies surrounding a thick wooden stage in the centre, gold and silver ornaments glittering from the highest rafters. Candles intermittently twinkle across the walls, illuminating the room in a gentle yellow, and a painted background of false foliage completes the set. Someone is playing traditional medieval music on the harpsichord, which is accentuated by the continual crashes of the storm from outside. The scene feels altogether magical.
"This is so fancy," Ness marvels, looking around in surprise. "They must have spent a lot of money on this."
He's right. The usual rows of wooden seats have been replaced by circular dining tables, adorned with lacy red tablecloths. Silver cutlery covers them, matching the golden-plated chairs around the outside. They look like some sort of elite banquet, one that only the highest kings would have access to.
"I've never felt this rich," I say, sitting down in awe. Above me, fake greenery twists, spiralling around a post. "Headmaster Hand must've gone all out. Look - he seems pretty happy."
"He does," Ness says, looking over to where Headmaster Hand stands. We end up near the front of the room, and Red accompanies us, arriving sharply from his Latin class. I notice the curtain shifting behind him, and Toon Link pops his head out, fully costumed up. He notices us, giving an unsubtle wink and a grin, and I laugh, waving.
Ness shouts something at him, and Toon Link cackles before disappearing again. The other students are slower to enter, the ambient chatter gently increasing as they filter through the doorways with hopeful expressions. It appears that a couple of them missed the memo, dressed up in needlessly formal attire, whilst others rush backstage, excitedly carrying wooden bows. Most of the professors look pretty hassled by the chaos, one I don't recognise has to split up a fight between two first-year boys, and another tries to organise his shouting and shoving class in vain. Down at the public school, those kids would be caned and made to sit away from everyone else, but that's not how things operate here, because this school is good. Things are pleasant. I'm lucky, and I know it.
I find myself smiling as I look round at it all, smiling because suddenly, it feels like everything's going to be okay again. Wario's stuck in his underground chamber, we haven't seen a Future Human in days, and even the Face doesn't seem to be causing us any trouble. Safety is returning in droves. Everything's going to go back to normal again.
But that doesn't mean I'm free of problems.
When I watch Ness's face glow and glitter in the candlelight, it's hard to push away the thoughts that come to me. Romantic thoughts. Romance is troubling; Father would never want a homosexual son, and I would never want to disappoint him. Claus was about as straight as it got, at the young age of seven, he'd proudly proclaim that he had a new 'girlfriend' at least once a week. Girlfriends at that age count for nothing more than simple puppy love, of course, but it was clear even then that Claus would've grown up to become a bit of a ladykiller, and Father was proud of that. In fact, it's with wavering certainty that I believe Father expects me to be dating, which could be a way to find favour in his eyes... and the momentary hope that gives me fills me with disgust. I still crave his affection. Even after all he's put me through.
But I suppose it doesn't matter anyway, because as I sweep my gaze around the slowly filling tables, I keep reaching the same conclusion. The girls, some have nice hair, or nice assets, or whatever else I'm supposed to like about them, but I just don't see it. I don't see myself living out a life with one of them. I can't.
Deeply troubled, I shift in place. This shouldn't be a big deal, but it's a bit late for a sexual awakening. Maybe it's just a phase, a coming of age, or a late bout of puberty that hasn't hit yet. Maybe I'll find girls attractive later on in life, or something equally improbable. I'm painfully aware that I'm following Ness's exact footsteps through his own self-discovery, and I find it hard to deny that I do not see exactly where this is going, and I find it impossible to deny that I am very, very afraid.
Because homosexuality is a no-no.
That's the way it is in our society. It's been built up for the straight men, the homosexuals locked away, or forced to hide in the dark and lie. It's outwritten in law, and I've always been a stickler for the rules, never wanting to stray from the track. Even more pressingly, if that's the way I lean, then it isn't even a question of which guy I'm head-over-heels for, because it's Ness. He's my hero, without any touch of irony. He's got that smile, that look that makes me grin like an idiot, forgetting all the horrible things that I've been through. Which isn't like me - romance isn't like me. I try to think it through rationally, but every thought seems to lead me to the same place.
It's him. It can only be him.
"It's starting," he whispers, and I'm snapped out of my reverie, my head spinning with this revelation. It appears that Mega Man must have joined our table at some point, because he's chatting animatedly with an uncomfortable-looking Red. That's yet another issue, I realise, because I know something's going on with him. I know something's happened, something that I missed. I feel like I should do something to help, but it's impossible when he's become an enigma. Yet another thing out of my control, I think bitterly.
"Greetings!" Headmaster Hand smiles, spreading his arms in enthusiastic introduction. "The last of you arriving, take a seat, take a seat... It's so good to see you all today! It's a pleasure to have some bright school spirit after these dark, dark times, and-"
Crash!
"And," he says, rolling his eyes. "Even this storm shall not take away from what is sure to be a fantastic performance. The theatre team have been working impossibly hard to bring you this production, with Professor Chrom giving up so much of his time for rehearsals and preparation. During the interval, a luxury dinner will be served to you all, specially prepared by our chefs. But, without any further ado, please put your hands together for... Robin Hood!"
Applause breaks out, and I join it, cheering noisily as the curtain falls. A background is revealed, an abstract scene of a river, and I notice Shulk looking particularly pleased with himself in a nearby seat. Then, coming in from the side: Robin Hood! Played by-
Oh my goodness.
Played by Popo.
"-And what a day!" he exclaims, striding onto centre stage as the applause dies down. A bow is slung over his shoulder, a quiver of wooden arrows at his side. "A good heist. That sheriff had no idea what was coming, I tell you!"
"No idea, my arse." Toon Link walks on beside him, all dressed up in his Little John attire. He looks confident in the role, carrying some sort of sack over his shoulder. "He is no fool. He shall be coming for you, sire, garnering the best men in the land. You would do well to escape his clutches after wronging him so deeply-"
"Ha! His clutches?" Popo scoffs. "Little John by name, little faith by nature. What could a man like him do to me? I laugh in the face of danger! I am the greatest shot in all of Sherwood!"
"Even the greatest shot is no match for twenty armed guards. Did you not see his quarters? The blades overflowed like wine! He is a man of cunning, Robin."
"And so am I, John, of greater measure. I will evade him like the night. I will slip between his fingertips like mercury, dissolving into the forests. I will elude him, haunting his night-time musings. None shall catch me, not while our work is yet to be completed."
"He will raise taxes," warns Little John.
"And he will be all the poorer for it. Whilst he is rich in greed, we are rich in spirit, nay? See - here approaches a poor man. Let us complete our work."
From the side of the stage, a navy-blue haired boy emerges, dressed in a shepherd's robes. He's followed by, to my surprise, an actual sheep. Ness smiles at the scene.
"It is your day of fortune," Robin declares, procuring a bag that is tied around the opening. "Spend these coins well, young man, for we have gone to great lengths to obtain them."
"But sire?" The shepherd takes the bag as if it is an infant. "What do I owe you for this kindness? I have no earthly possessions - save for this sheep! I cannot gift him unto you, for he is all I have."
"Mehhh," the sheep agrees.
"You owe me nowt, good shepherd," Robin says, turning to face the audience. "For I am Robin Hood! I heist from the rich, gifting to the poor. I am the most wanted criminal in all of Nottingham, but the most loved deity in the servant's hollows. I am the terror on the lips of the wealthy, the hope on the tongues of the low..."
The harpsichord begins to play, ringing out over the stage. To my surprise, Popo then begins to sing, a jovial ditty celebrating everything that Robin Hood stands for. His voice has a surprisingly earthy timbre, but he carries himself well, moving enthusiastically across the stage as he croons his tune. Nana watches from a nearby table, something glowing in her eyes - is that pride? Exasperation? It is hard to tell, but when the song ends, she claps louder than anyone. Popo bows. Who knew he had a calling?
The scene changes, and Ness slings a happy arm over my shoulders as it does. The river is replaced by some sort of dungeon, and an apt clap of thunder marks the entry of another character. He's dressed in a tight Stetson, with dark, shadowy trousers, a red and black striped shirt. He looks rather like Porky, which may well be deliberate.
"...Foolish merchants, foolish men..." he grumbles as he sits himself down. Under his hat, I think I recognise the actor; ironically named Robin, a boy in the year above. "They think they can cross me? None can cross me! I am the Sheriff of Nottingham!" He picks up a piece of parchment. "But this decree... it shall come to pass. I will have power restored. All is not lost..."
"Sire?" An advisor enters. "You have a visitor. He requests an audience with your noble presence."
"Very well," the Sheriff says, and the shepherd from earlier comes in. He's followed by his sheep, who looks utterly bewildered.
"Your Sheriffship." The Shepherd bows. "It is true, it is as you expected. The ploy was successful, he fell for the trick..." He withdraws the pouch of gold, handing it over. "He takes from the rich, sire. He gifts to the poor. It is as you feared."
"Socialism!" the Sheriff exclaims. "A blight on fair Nottingham." He tips the coins from their bag, and they jangle on his desk. "Fear not, I will not allow this. The taxes are rising... yes, I shall gather my best men, they shall encircle him. The net will close around that man, and he shall be hung on display... Robin Hood shall be no more!"
"Will you pay me for my work?" the Shepherd asks, looking hopefully at the coins, but the Sheriff laughs.
"Pay you? Did I not make myself clear? You may have done me a service, but you remain a peasant - I do not pay, I do not indebt myself to your lowness. Begone from my presence - your mutton besmirches my floors!"
"Mehhh," the sheep protests.
The Shepherd hangs his head, leaving, and Ness laughs. I smile a little, moving closer so that our shoulders are touching. He's surprisingly warm, surprisingly comfortable... he often is, I think.
The play continues with a scene of the merry men, and a scene of King John - both are engaging, and Toon Link acts surprisingly well, giving his lines with perfect comedic timing. But the scene is stolen by Popo, whose swagger and presence is magnified infinitely on stage, mixed with his perfect cockiness and bravado. It's no wonder that he got the role.
"-Maid Marian!" he's exclaiming, as a beautiful woman (according to society, at least - I don't know about these things) makes her way onto the stage. Bayonetta whoops from the audience, and of course, it's Samus, who gives Bayonetta a subtle wink.
"Dear me, Robin," she says, quirking an eyebrow. "Haven't you got yourself into quite the fix? Your temperament was always barren in measure."
"It is not my fault that the Sheriff connives so, dear Marian-"
"And yet, it was you who chose to elicit his connivity. I have a duty, children to care for-"
"Children." Robin spits on the floor. "Balls of noise and excrement."
"And love," Marian says pointedly. "Perhaps there is much to be learnt from them? 'Specially for a rogue like yourself."
"I am not a rogue."
"You are," Little John guffaws.
"Whatever the case." Marian sweeps her long hair over her shoulder. "I have duties. Do not bring war to our town, for that would be most unwise - our fathers would not be impressed. Farewell."
She sweeps off, and Robin grumbles something into his palms. The scene changes, the backgrounds seamlessly swept into one. Lightning strikes outside, and Red gives a cry of exclamation as it happens - a lot of people turn to look.
"You okay?" I ask.
His face is stiff. Just like it was before, but-
Crash.
He relaxes. "I'm alright, thank you," he says. My suspicions heighten.
"Dear me," Marian says, back on stage. She hurries around, scattering pots and pans in a makeshift kitchen. "Dear me, dear me, that foolish man..." she shakes her head, shoving some sprigs of herbs into a large clay pot. "No dinner for him! If he had any more ego..."
"Maid Marian?" It's the Sheriff. I boo along with everyone else as he sweeps forward, tying her wrists with a thick coil of rope. "Your services are required, and you would do well to obey. I shall take you to the tower, for you shall be great leverage, I think. Great leverage against Robin Hood!"
"No!" Marian exclaims. "Let me go!" But it does no good, she's taken away, and the scenes swirl again. Robin Hood and his merry men complete a heist, Friar Tuck speaks about the wonders of religion, and Little John delivers a remarkably moving monologue on the strife of stolen women. Ness shuffles a little nearer to me as the performance advances, and I gladly let him, seeing as everyone's too distracted by the play to call us homosexuals.
The scene returns to Marian, who's been locked in a mighty tower. She lies in a bed made of straw, arms folded across her chest. Samus is extremely tall, so it looks a little ridiculous, but perhaps the decision was made for comic effect. I daren't question Professor Chrom's interpretive pretentiousness.
"Woe is me!" she wails, a little too melodramatically. "This prison - this fortress - it is dullard and bleak, built by the bones of men gone yonder! How should I live, bound by these sour conditions?"
There is no reply. She sits up, miserably untrussing her hair. The harpsichord starts up again, and Maid Marian sighs, staring off into middle distance, beginning to warble a dry-sounding ballad.
I've never been particularly into singing. I struggle to hold a single note, and the only member of our group who can remotely carry a tune is Villager. Ness chooses to turn away from Samus's heavily vibratoed lament, and I smile at him, enjoying the way he smiles back. Feeling a little more daring than usual, I boldly shift up next to him, in the slight hope that he may put his arms around me. He does just that, and a sort of guilty pleasure tingles through my veins.
"The pages of angels... narrating the downfalls... the kings and the queens are all that we've ever known..."
"Poetic," I whisper, and Ness giggles. He's warm. Mega Man raises his eyes as he looks at us, but he holds his tongue, not wanting to interrupt the performance.
"If love is so beautiful... if love conquers all... the sound of the heart will leave us alone..."
The sound of the heart? What's that supposed to mean? My mind feels hazy, just trying to comprehend it. Love songs are dumb.
"Criminals entwined... his hands by my side... defied every reason to see him again..."
"Go on, queen!" Bayonetta yells, earning some glares from the professors. I chuckle.
"Foregone the night... caught in the spire... Robin Hood, why are you calling my name?"
Okay, fine. Maybe this song is nice. Ness seems to be enjoying it, because he's swaying a little in time to the music, and I can feel it against my back. The lyrics are incredibly trite, but I can't bring myself to hate them, which is a sign of just how pretentious I am. Perhaps it's Samus's voice, soft and gentle, rolling over me like a blanket. It almost reminds me of when Mother would sing me to sleep... that must be it. I lean my head against Ness's shoulder.
"I don't want to hurt... maybe I'll never understand... every excuse to fall in love..."
Well, who would want to hurt? That's stupid.
"I know I can turn... when I fall into sand... I tumble back, and it's enough..."
Enough for what? I close my eyes, not really caring at this point.
"Let rest overcome... let the shadows into you... in golden slumbers do I dream...
Ness clings onto me a little tighter.
"Our love was not won... I take darkness into view... I count down the days, and then I sleep."
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Thud.
My eyes open sharply at the noise.
I'm somewhere else. I've landed... somewhere. Quickly alert, my ears prick fox-like for danger, and Ness grips my hand by my side.
We're standing in a room. But we're moving. Swaying. Swaying… come on, Lucas, come on... candles flicker on the rocking wooden walls, and I tip to the left, letting free an alarmed squeak. I collide with a crate, and Ness stumbles like a drunkard, as I try to piece together where we-
"Ship!" I exclaim, the thought coming all at once. "This is a ship!"
As if by magic, the crashing of waves and the howling of the winds amplify outside, causing barrels to tumble rapidly across the floor. I grab onto a panel - it tears away - Ness appears back by my side, though he trips on some netting, sprawling to the ground. I yelp, reaching for him, but then the ship lurches, and we're tumbling to the left.
"What do we do?" Ness cries out, as I smash my knees on the deck.
"Grin and bear it!" I exclaim, neither grinning nor bearing it. "Hold on tight!"
"What if we capsize!?"
"I don't know! Why are you wearing your cap?"
"No idea!" He catapults it off.
"We need to find the captain!" I decide, throwing open a door that I'm not sure always existed. Ness hurries after me, and we hurtle into what looks to be a cabin. But it's different, the floor becomes still, the room filling with light. Out of the windows, yellow, fluffy clouds drift by, topped with a variety of desserts.
"What's happening now?" Ness worries, screeching to a halt by a captain's wheel. "Where are we?"
"I'm not sure," I say, staring at a giant anchor that rests in the corner of the room. I approach it, feeling the metal, cold beneath my fingertips. "We're dreaming, right? But this makes no sense..."
"It's delicious..." Ness looks outside, dreamily watching a floating apple pie. "I'm hungry..."
"As should be expected," comes a voice, soft and delicate.
I whirl around. My heart skips a beat.
No. No. It can't be.
It can't be.
Mother.
"It's so lovely to see you, Lucas." She smiles, her arms outstretched. "It's been ever so long, hasn't it?"
Words fail me. I've dreamt about her before, but not like this. Not in a way that feels so real. My heart pounds as I look at her hands, so tender, so fleshy, so human. It's that face - the face I can hardly recall, but the presence I instinctively know. The fragrant aroma of sunflower oil. The warm and comforting smile. The way she looks at me.
The way she loves me.
I can't move. I'm frozen. She's there, and I'm frozen.
"Lucas?" Ness says quietly. He comes near, and I feel an arm around my shoulder. "Lucas, what's wrong?"
"N-Ness," I stammer. "Ness-"
"Lucas, come." Hinawa advances, smiling like it's my birthday. "Come and rest your head. It's okay."
"Lucas…" Ness hesitates, putting the pieces together. "Lucas, is this... her?"
I nod into my hands, not sure what the hell I can say. It's all wrong. She's gone. She can't be here.
"Lucas, come on," Hinawa says kindly, reaching out her hand. "You must be so tired. I have so much to tell you."
I look up, shaking.
"B-But you're dead."
"Dead?" She laughs warmly, her skin shimmering as she does. "How awfully crude. I am simply beyond the earth, that is all. But so are you, Lucas, for you are dreaming."
"So you're just my imagination?" I say shakily, almost hopefully. "You're not real?"
"Not... exactly." She frowns, putting a finger to her lips. She's dressed in a swirling red sundress, her dark hair flowing like a river behind her. "I believe this place has a name, Lucas. Something to do with... the realm of your mind. Your memories. I think they call it Magicant."
"Magicant?" I stand, my vision swimming. "My mind? My memories?"
"You are a magician," Hinawa says softly. Her voice sounds like a lullaby, the way it always used to. "You are the most powerful psychic to have ever lived. This place is yours. You have created this place without even knowing it."
"So that means..." I let out a faint noise. "You mean I can come here whenever? You're saying I can speak to - to-?"
"No, Lucas, I'm afraid not. I'm afraid this is the only time I'll be allowed to see you."
"But... why?" My voice sounds much more pathetic than I'd hoped it would.
"Because this is a unique circumstance," she says, lowering her voice as if speaking to a child. "This is a matter of life and the deaths of many, Lucas. I have come to deliver a message. I'm here to warn you of what is coming tonight."
"...Tonight?" My eyes are swimming. I quickly turn away, hating the idea that she'd see me weak. Hating the idea of crying in her presence.
"Erm - sorry to interrupt," Ness says, putting a hand to his neck. "If you're delivering a message to Lucas, and if only he can come to this place… what am I doing here?"
"A good question, my dear. But this won't do!" Hinawa's expression brightens. "What manners have I taught you, Lucas? Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Uhm, I, I..." I stumble back, completely vacant. I look between them, the mother I lost, the friend that I gained. I can't do this. I can't do this. Something is rising - something hot and angry and sad.
It snaps.
I let out a sob. It's too much. It's been too long - I can't be here - not after all the shame, all the agony, all the tears - I turn, bolting for the door. But it's gone. Gone.
"Lucas - come - it's okay," Hinawa soothes, coming nearer. "Come on, give me a hug-"
"It's not!" My voice comes out a high pitched wail. "How can you just - how can you just turn up, and say it's all okay?"
"Lucas, listen to me," she commands. "You have been so, so courageous. I know all you have been through. I know all the hurt you carry. I am your mother, Lucas."
But I slide down the wall, balling myself up on the floor. "No, you're not!" I exclaim, and then I can't form any more words, because suddenly the tears are flowing, hot, thick, and fast. "You're not," I say again, burying my face in my knees. "You're not."
"Lucas…" she whispers, when I don't say anything else. I feel a warm hand on my shoulder, and the scent of the sunflower oil wafts past again. "It's me, it's really me."
"I think it's her, Lucas," Ness says quietly, but I know. I know it is. Sickness courses through me. Anger. Pain. Hurt.
"Lucas, come on," she says soothingly. She moves closer, smiling. "My boy, my son. I'm here!"
"Maybe I don't want you to be here!"
My shout echoes through the cabin, and the words die on her lips.
"I don't!" I sob. "I don't! This is - it's sudden, and, and maybe I don't want to be reminded of everything I've - I've lost, and maybe, maybe this, this is all wrong, maybe, even though I never got to say goodbye, that's the end! That was the end. Because you're gone now, and that is that!"
Arms swoop in to hold me. Thankfully, they're Ness's.
"Lucas...?" Hinawa moves back slightly. "Lucas, please. This message is important."
"Is it?" I ask, shaking. "Is it as fucking important as this? That you're back? Is it more important than saying sorry? For leaving me alone for nine fucking years?"
"It is, Lucas. I am sorry, I am so, so, sorry. You have been so brave-"
"I know! You don't need to patronise me anymore. I don't need you to tell me that I'm brave, because I've grown up. I've gotten used to relying on myself for these things."
Noiselessly, Ness stands by my side, slipping his hand into mine. Hinawa comes forward a little, her eyes trained on the floor.
"I need to tell you the message, Lucas. Regardless of what you think of me, it is important."
"Is it really?" I shake. "Or will it be the kind of bullshit cryptic message these premonitions have given me in the past?"
But she ignores me, always calm. "Tonight, you will be faced with an impossible choice. Tonight, you will have to be braver than you have ever been. Tonight, you both will be left with nothing. You must count up the little details. The storm. Remember the storm, Lucas."
Tonight? I quake in place as Ness holds me. That's so soon.
"What's the choice?" Ness asks.
"I'm sorry," she says. "I do not know myself. The talk of the dead is vague, mere snippets. Hollow words."
"Is it to do with Wario?" he presses, his grip on me tightening. "The Future Humans?"
"Again, I do not know." She wrings her hands. "I am sorry."
"That's not helpful." I press my lips together, my gaze fixed on one spot on the floor. "That's not helpful in the slightest."
"I know." Hinawa walks over to the captain's wheel, leaning heavily over it. "I am sorry, my son. I... will leave now, if that is what you desire."
"Goodbye," I say, not even looking in her direction.
"It has been nice, Lucas. I am sorry that..." She averts her eyes, trailing off. "I'm sorry that I couldn't have been a better mother. I wanted to watch you grow up. I wanted that so very badly."
I do not speak.
"What happened to me was a tragedy, Lucas. Please don't let the same tragedy happen to you. For you will always be my boy, whether you hate me or not."
"..."
"Farewell, Lucas. It has been an honour." Her image begins to dissolve. "Be brave for me, okay? Be strong, and keep your friends close, because you are so incredibly full of love-"
"Wait!" I cry.
She pauses, turning.
I stand. If I don't face it now, I'll never have closure. Taking a nervous stance, I look to Ness for support, which he gladly offers with a squeeze of the hand. This seems to be a unique opportunity.
"Mother." I breathe. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" She frowns, her image rippling. "But why?"
"I'm..." I stare down at the floor, forcing the words up like bricks through my throat. "I'm sorry about Claus."
"Lucas." Hinawa extends a hand, looking stern. "I might've known you'd say a silly thing like that. Claus chose his fate. It was his choice to come looking."
"But I could have stopped him. I could have gone with him - I could have kept him safe from the streets." All the bitter thoughts, all the trauma, everything that's burnt inside for years is rising, searing my insides. "I could have searched harder, I could have found him, I could have been less of a crybaby... I could have been a better brother, funnier, nicer, cleverer. Father doesn't love me anymore, and - and... it's all my fault, Mother, it's - it's all my fault!"
Wordlessly, Mother steps forwards, and as the tears pour down my face again, she wraps me in her arms - and - and it's a feeling I've not felt, for so long, and I weep, I weep like a child. I'm six years old, and Claus has accidentally knocked me on the head, or I've slipped over on the grass, or I've had a bad nightmare, and I'm crying, sobbing, being told that everything's going to be okay. Even Ness is brought into it, and it's warm, and it's surreal, and it by no means removes my problems entirely, but...
It helps.
.
.
.
.
.
Minutes later, the hug breaks apart.
"Mother, this is Ness," I say weakly. "Ness, this is... my mother."
"Hey," Ness says awkwardly, and I almost have to laugh.
"Ness, is it?" She puts on her stern face. "I trust you've been caring for my son well, hm?"
"I try my best." Ness quakes under her intimidating gaze.
But Mother ruffles his hair. "Ah, don't worry, I know. I know. You've been through a lot, haven't you?"
"A bit," he says quietly, but then he points to me. "Not compared to Lucas."
"Ness." Mother puts on her stern face again. "What you have been through is just as important, understood?"
"Yes." Ness bites his lip. "Understood, ma'am."
"And none of the ma'am business, hm? You can call me Hinawa."
"Yes - Hinawa."
"Ah, Ness. Lucas." She smiles. "Such a legendary pair you will come to be. Together, you will achieve things that you never thought possible. Ness, I couldn't think of a better person for my son to be around - Lucas, you're very lucky, understand? He's got a pure and immaculate heart, nearly bigger than your own."
"Thank you." My voice sounds tiny.
"But for now, much work must be done," she says, putting an arm around us both. "There are many people to be saved, children. We cannot stay much longer - see how Magicant fades?"
She's right. The wooden panels of the cabin are slowly dissolving into mist, the desserts outside evaporating into nothing. I hang my head. I suppose I'd been expecting this.
"Am I ever going to see you again?" I ask, trying to be brave for her sake.
"I'm afraid that is unlikely," she says quietly. "It has been wonderful though, my son." She places a gentle hand on my cheek. "Lucas, don't forget my message. But more importantly, do not forget one thing. Even if you remember nothing else of me, remember that I love you, and I that am so, so proud of everything you've done."
"I won't forget." I look down, resisting the urge to run forwards and grab her, to cling until she can't ever leave. It hurts. It burns. A bittersweet sting courses through me. "I love you too, Mother. I always will."
Her smile is the last thing I see when everything fades to black.
.
.
.
.
.
I jolt awake in Ness's arms. He's already there, warm, pulling me close, comforting me in his hold. His expression says it all; yes, we shared that dream, and yes.
It was real.
"It holds no fear now, but did it when you knew...? The hour to leave was nearing, the hour to leave me too..."
Popo is singing again. The theatre is quiet, focused in silent concentration, but I want to scream, to fill it with noise. The words keep tumbling over themselves in my head, rolling into one.
'Tonight, you will have to make an impossible choice.'
'Claus chose his fate.'
'A pure and immaculate heart.'
'I love you, Lucas.'
There are no words I can say.
…
She's proud of me.
I should probably feel good about that. The words should lift my fears. So why don't they? And closure - I have closure, something that others like Pit could never have. Why aren't I happy?
Maybe it's because I'd gotten over it. Maybe she's an old wound that shouldn't have been reopened. Because now, I'm thinking about it again - Porky killed her with his bare hands. She died without anyone around her, without anyone to say goodbye.
It hits me what her visit might've meant, not just for me, but for herself. Confirmation that her last living son remembers her - confirmation that he still loves her. But was that even her? Magicant - built by my mind - so was she just an echo, built from my memories?
Maybe I'll never know.
All these thoughts, all these questions… I sit up, agitated, and Ness takes my hand.
"You okay?"
"Yeah." My voice sounds strange and distant. "I think so."
Popo finishes his song, and the audience bursts into raucous applause. It's too loud, too tinny, and my head aches with the remains of sleep. My eyes are heavy, sore.
"What do you think all that about an impossible choice was?" Ness asks me.
"I don't know." I shift in my seat, worried.
"And - did she say something was going to happen tonight?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Ness takes my hand. "Then we need to make sure to stick together."
"Definitely," I say. On stage, the scenery is swirling again, morphing back into the Sheriff's dungeon.
"And the choice - we'll choose it together," Ness adds. "And we'll remember the storm as well, whatever all that was about."
"It's still happening," I say, as a clap of thunder sounds from outside.
"And we'll be left with nothing," Ness reminds me.
"Lovely."
"Well, I think that's nonsense, because so long as we have each other, we don't need anything else."
"Agreed." Only slightly reassured, I squeeze his hand. "We've got this."
"And - and if you want to talk about, you know, your mother, or anything... I'm here."
"I know." I try to smile. "Thank you."
"No problem."
The exchange falls a little flat, and there is a kind of awkward silence that grows between us. It feels wrong to continue leaning against him, so I'm resigned to sitting rigidly in place, craving a distraction, craving anything that can make this sick feeling disappear.
"A competition must be held," grumbles the Sheriff, poring over his documents again. "Dear advisor, send an invitation across the land. I shall hold a contest to find the greatest archer in Sherwood Forest! There is no way that Robin Hood can refuse."
"But sire," the advisor says, "What shall be the prize for this competition?"
"My beautiful daughters, of course!" The Sheriff stands. "Girls? May I speak to you?"
A collective gasp rises as the daughters appear, and when I catch a glimpse of their faces, I can hardly believe my eyes.
I wanted a distraction. Here it is.
"Of course, Father," Toon Link squeaks, dressed from head to toe in a revealing pink dress. A bushy blonde wig explodes from his head, matched by red lipstick, eyeshadow, glitter... and by his side, Villager, a blue skirt, bows and frills, dappled cheeks.
My mouth hangs open. I'm not sure whether to clap, or die from embarrassment. What the hell are they thinking?
But to my astonishment, shouts and cheers break out - some people wolf whistle, and Toon Link bats his enormous eyelashes at the crowd. Villager looks as if he's trying very hard not to faint, and Toon Link grabs his hand with a grin.
"Where would you send us, Father?" he asks innocently. The Sheriff stands, folding his arms.
"You shall be married at last!" he declares. "You will find yourselves good men!"
"Good men?"
"Yes!" the Sheriff exclaims, exiting the stage. "Good men."
"Men," Toon Link repeats with a dramatic scoff. "Do you want to find a man, Villette?"
"No," Villager says shrilly. His impression of a girl's voice is awful, and I can't help but laugh, despite everything. "I don't, Toonette. I don't think I do in the slightest..."
At that moment, the opening arpeggios of the harpsichord start ringing out, and I feel my eyes widening. Villager steps forwards, looking incredibly nervous - his hands are shaking, and he's breathing hard. The crowd drink him in, though, and as the chords begin to play, he opens his mouth and, as if this could get any weirder, he bursts into song.
"I'm a lost young maiden, the prettiest in the land... I may be on my own, but I don't need no man."
There's laughter, but it's not unpleasant. Villager smiles a little, his face an obvious red. It feels like I've entered an incredibly strange dream. Toon Link steps forward, looking a lot more confident.
"I'm a pretty daughter, my lips are full and red. I will not serve to thee, for no man shall lay my head."
His voice is awful, but it's somehow brilliant. Only Toon Link would have the nerve to do something this audacious. I look to Ness, who's grinning like a maniac.
"A contest firing arrows, a prize just to be won. Father wants to lose me, but my life has just begun."
Villager's voice is much better, strengthening as it grows with conviction. Professor Chrom claps with delight. Is this madness what they'd been planning?
"I'm a tender lady, I lie in fields of green. I don't need no king, and I won't be no queen."
Toon Link strikes a pose, and several people cry out. Even the professors are laughing - even Sebastian Tute has to appreciate this level of musical satire.
"For we are girls of riches, the richest in the land. Our father wants to sell us, part of his cunning plan."
It's genius, I think to myself, as the crowd whoops and applauds. Countering the rumours by embracing them, doing what is quite frankly the gayest thing that won't get them arrested - by both ridiculing the idea, and ridiculing themselves at the same time, suddenly they've made it… funny?
"Our beauty is of honour, our love is of the gods." They join hands, raising them in the air, and the audience yells in assent. "We may just be young maidens, but to men we say piss off!"
They spread their arms in finale, and the crowd bursts into applause. I join in, Ness grabbing my hand and pulling me near again. It's the pinnacle of what's been the weirdest day ever, utter madness, devoid of any common sense. Toon Link and Villager bow, before sashaying from the stage, laughing and bumping against each other, on the top of the world. It takes a long time for everyone to calm down, and when Headmaster Hand eventually walks out again, beaming, we all have to be shushed and made to sit back in their seats. Because, wow. Wow. I don't think I'll ever see anything like that again. I'm not even sure if I want to.
"That's the end of Act One!" Headmaster Hand says, laughing. "You will now have the opportunity to indulge in some fine dining in the interval. Now, I've heard some information from Ryu, which means I am going to have to leave you all... but do carry on! Enjoy the food, enjoy yourselves!"
He sweeps from the room, and I wonder momentarily where on earth he could be heading, but that's not important right now. Ness is beaming, and I give him a bamboozled smile.
"We should do that together sometime," Ness says, and I blush furiously. Fun though it seems to dress as a girl, I could never be that confident. All the confidence in the world must have been reserved for Villager and Toon Link, because whilst it's not strictly illegal, it's insanely risky. They can only just pass it off as comedy.
The kitchen staff appear from doors around the theatre, silver platters balanced masterfully in their hands. Mountains of food are laid down on our tables, prime cuts of beef, tender chicken that falls from the bone, and a myriad of mouth-watering meats that I don't even recognise. A towering stack of bread and butter arrives next, with vast dishes of vegetables, sunset-orange carrots piled upon piping hot cauliflowers and Brussels sprouts. Then there are swathes of roast potatoes, crisp and buttery, and - oh my. Omelettes. Golden, fluffy, buttery omelettes.
I load them all onto my plate. Comfort eating is a habit that I try not to pursue, but I decide that I need a lot of comforting right now.
"Lucas," Ness moans, looking across the dishes. "This is the impossible choice right here, what do I choose?"
"Have a bit of everything?"
"Mmm…" Ness reaches out as if in a trance. "I think that might be a very good idea."
I bite into an omelette - oh wow, it's good. I haven't had one this good, since-
Oh. Now I'm thinking about her again.
"Hey, erm, is there space here?" It's the shepherd from earlier, accompanied by his sheep and a friend.
"Yemth," Ness says, through a mouthful of bread. "Sitth Wherevther-"
"...Thanks. I'm Hop, by the way. This is Victor, and Wooloo-"
"Mehhh!"
"You might want to watch out," Mega Man warns them.
"Why's that?" Hop frowns.
Mega Man lowers his voice, pointing to a plate of meat. "I think that's lamb."
"Meehhhhhhhhhhhh!"
"Ah!" Hop covers Wooloo's eyes. He looks boyish, fifteen at most. "Oh dear, I don't get how people can eat meat..."
"It'th delithious," Ness says through a mouthful of chicken.
"Sorry," I sigh. "Ignore him."
"Y'er performanth wath good," Ness expresses, still chewing. "Good acthting. I likthe the shtheep-"
"Thanks!" Hop chirps, handing Wooloo a piece of cauliflower. It disappears in one bite. "Sadly, Wooloo isn't mine... Headmaster Hand got a local farmer to let me borrow his sheep for the play. I managed to train him pretty quickly! We've got sheep and a load of other animals back home, so I've had practice. This one was pretty easy to work with... you're a good boy, aren't you Wooloo?"
"Mehhhh," Wooloo complains.
"Shame I'll have to give him back, but oh well." Hop pats him on the head. "I'll always be able to pop down to his field at the weekend, it's not too far from here."
"Hey, can someone pass the omelettes?" Hop's friend asks, and I bite my lip, having devoured the massive stack on my plate.
"Sorry, they're all gone," Ness says, with an incriminating smirk at me.
"What are your plans for later?" Red asks us suddenly, disrupting the flow of the conversation completely.
"Erm," I say, "Not much."
"A great shame," Red sniffs.
"Why - do you have something planned?"
"No. It's too stormy outside." His point is accentuated by a crash of thunder.
"It's been going all day, that storm," Hop mumbles, helping himself to some bread. "Wooloo doesn't like it, he keeps rolling up in a ball, or trying to run away..."
"It's weird," Hop's friend says. "Storms don't usually last this long."
Remember the storm.
"Yeah." I shiver. "It's kind of scary."
"Vic, stop worrying," Hop consoles. "It's just a storm. Not like anything weird could come of it."
The dramatic irony is interrupted by the arrival of Nana, but to my surprise, she's carrying a large Victoria cake. Popo follows behind her, and I nudge Ness, who glances over, and groans. "Oh, great."
"Hey, Lucas," Nana says, waving. "Oh - and everyone else, too. I, erm, made a cake? I figured I might as well since I've been learning how to bake, but I can't eat it all myself... Fancy a piece, Lucas?"
"Oh, uh, yeah!" I flounder. "Sure! Thanks."
"Anyone got a knife?" Nana asks.
"I do." Popo grins, pulling one out.
"Erm." My eyes widen. "Why do you have-"
"No matter!"
A large slice of cake is cut and placed down in front of me. It looks delicious, covered with jam and buttercream, dusted with icing sugar. Ness looks affronted, clearly hoping that he'd be offered some as well. I make a mental note to give him some of mine.
Nana continues to slice up the cake, and Popo grandly spreads his arms. "So, how was Act One? I thought it went well."
"It was great," I answer honestly. "The audience really liked it."
"That's amazing!" Popo practically jumps in his seat. "I really enjoyed being Robin Hood… I want do something like that in the future, you know, as a job!"
"Really?" I smile, pleased. "I'm glad you've found your passion."
"Yeah," Ness enthuses, though it may be out of social obligation. "You did great."
"A lot of violence featured," Nana notes. "But, anyway... erm, Lucas."
"Yeah?" I take a forkful of the cake. It's good, sweet and light.
"Well..." She averts her gaze, putting her fingers together. "This might seem a bit odd, but there's something I've been meaning to ask."
"Oh, what is it?" The cake is delicious, actually, and I find myself eating more.
Nana blushes. "Oh, it's actually quite embarrassing-"
"Oh, uh." I hesitate. Embarrassing? How am I meant to respond to that? At a loss, I look to Ness, who shrugs. "Erm, you don't have to say anything you don't want to."
"No - no, I really should," she flusters, and Popo stifles a laugh, earning himself a hit on the shoulder. "See, the thing is, Lucas, you're really cool, you're - you're funny..."
"Thank you," I say, wondering where on earth this could be headed.
"And I wanted to ask... if you'd like to be my boyfriend?"
…
I wasn't expecting that.
"Erm." I blink once. "Sorry, what?"
"Do you want to be my boyfriend?" She takes a deep breath. "It's - it's alright if you don't want to, that'd be totally okay, it's just, you're amazing, you're artsy, you're funny, you're social, you're..." Her cheeks turn pink. "You're sort of... everything I've ever wanted...?"
"I'm - erm." I rub my arm, feeling wholly flattered, but wholly embarrassed. "I don't... yeah. I don't think I feel that way about you. Sorry."
"O-Oh." Her face collapses from childish hope to devastation in moments. Her gaze lingers on me for a second, before she steps back, quickly blinking. "Yeah. Of course. Quite silly of me - sorry - I suppose - I-I should've expected… um. I'm sorry for bothering you. I should go."
"Sorry," I say again. I hang my head, feeling guilty, though I'm not entirely sure why. "It's... I - I don't... I thought we were just friends," I finish lamely.
"I get it," she says miserably. "I'll see you around, I suppose."
Just like that, with a stifled sob, she stands up, taking the cake, and she disappears to the other side of the theatre. Popo follows silently behind, without so much as a look.
I turn to Ness, feeling pale. "What was all that?"
"I told you," he says, though there's a funny glint in his eye. "I knew she was into you."
"I feel bad." It might just be the omelettes, but I'm starting to feel nauseous again. If only I found girls to be attractive.
"It's alright." Ness pats me on the back. "You shouldn't have to be her boyfriend if you don't feel the same way as her. It would've been worse if you'd accepted."
"So… I did the right thing?"
"Yeah, you bet you did."
"But, she… likes me?" I shudder in place. "That's weird to think about."
"Well, yeah, but who wouldn't?" Ness grins, slinging an arm around my shoulder. "Like she said, you're artsy, you're funny..."
"And social, apparently." I pull a face. "News to me."
Ness laughs. "Okay, yeah, maybe she was off the mark with that one."
"Do you think she baked that cake just for me?" I ask worriedly, giving Ness my slice, not really feeling like eating any more. "It looked like a lot of effort."
"Perhaps. It's sweet of her, though. And it's a good cake," he adds, shoving a forkful in his mouth. "I give it a ten out of ten."
We're interrupted by another arrival. Toon Link swaggers over, grinning, now dressed in normal attire. Mega Man cheers as Villager appears behind him, looking altogether sheepish. The last smudges of eyeshadow are still visible on his face.
"And there they are!" Ness chortles. "I might've known you'd try something like that. Toon Link in drag! Rolls off the tongue."
"Shut it," Toon Link laughs, sitting down. "I can't believe it went so well. For a moment there, I thought we were going to prison."
"I can't believe he made me dress as a girl," Villager says faintly. "I can't believe him."
"Worth it, though?"
"...I think so?"
Toon Link collapses into laughter, and Hop watches in awe. "It was… surprising. Hah!"
"Mehhh!" Wooloo agrees, eating another carrot. I smile.
"Ahh, Villager," Toon Link chuckles. "I made a fabulous woman, don't you think?"
"Sure you did," Villager snorts. "Believe that if you want."
"Ye of little faith. Ah, but you're such a great singer! I had no idea you could sing!"
"I'm wasn't that good," Villager says, blushing. "I was out of key-"
"What are you on about? You nailed all those high notes!"
"...Spur of the moment?" Villager suggests, and Toon Link grins, knocking against him.
"The best things are unexpected."
"Ah, yes, like death and bereavements. My favourites."
"You know what I mean," Toon Link laughs, but suddenly he's looking a little nervous. "Erm, Villager?"
"Yeah?"
"Speaking of unexpected things... so, like, you know how we just dressed up as girls? In front of the whole school? To prove that we're not gay?"
"The most logical sequence of all time," Villager chortles.
"Yeah, well..." Toon Link rubs his arm. "I've been meaning to say so for a while, but I sort of am gay. A little bit. I don't know. And I just wanted to... tell you that."
There's a pause, and Villager opens his mouth. But then he's closing it and grinning again, as if nothing ever happened. "That's alright with me."
"Are you sure? Because, you know, it's sort of illegal, and-"
"Trust me." Villager interrupts, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's cool."
"...How cool?" Toon Link asks.
"Really cool," Villager says, and then he's shifting closer, something inexplicable in his gaze. I can almost hear hearts beating, blood rushing, faces reddening. Toon Link's mouth is frozen with surprise, and Villager puts a tentative hand to his.
"Do you want to?" Toon Link's voice is impossibly quiet.
"Of course I do," Villager whispers.
The tension is palpable. Toon Link leans forward, closing his eyes, but then Villager moves back, looking at the floor. "But I can't."
Toon Link freezes. His hand shakes a little, and he opens his mouth.
"You... can't?"
"I can't. I'm..." Villager runs a hand through his hair, looking anywhere but at Toon Link's crestfallen expression. "I want to. I really want to."
"You do?" Toon Link's voice is high.
"Yeah." He sighs. "But I don't want to lead you on. With what everyone's been saying, all the teasing, and given it's illegal... I'm not sure I could do something like that in secret. And, I'm not even sure how I feel on the subject, y'know? I've got no idea, Toon Link. No idea what I'm into. So, I can't. Not yet, anyway."
"Not yet?" Toon Link says hopefully. "Does that mean there's a chance?"
"Yes." Villager looks up. "Yes, I suppose there is."
"I'll take it!" Toon Link's expression is surprisingly cheerful, for someone who's just been rejected.
"But you'll have to wait," Villager measures. "So, don't, don't get your hopes up or anything, yeah?"
"'Course," Toon Link laughs. "Oh, man, it feels good to get that out there. I hope this doesn't make everything weird between us?"
"Of course it doesn't." Villager grins, evidently relieved by Toon Link's reaction. "It only has to make things weird if you say it does."
"Ah - well, that's good then, I suppose? We carry on as normal?"
"Yeah," Villager agrees. "Normal."
Toon Link reaches for the salad, and then they're talking as if nothing happened. Ness and I exchange a glance - I suppose bittersweet promises are better than a flat-out rejection. It's better luck than Nana had. Truth be told, I'd expected Villager to say yes, but I'm sort of glad he didn't. I'm glad he's putting himself first.
I eye our other table members, who are mostly acting as if no crimes have been committed. Mega Man is grinning a little, but he seems more interested in his dinner. Hop and Victor are feeding the sheep again, and Red is staring straight ahead.
Ah.
I frown at the sight. I have to wonder if he doesn't approve… but, he'd said, he definitely said that he hoped they'd get together, hadn't he? Although, I suppose it's still awkward between him and Villager. They weren't speaking for a couple of days, so of course it's not all going to go back to normal.
"So, Villager," Mega Man says slyly. "First time getting asked out, and it's by this absolute clown. How does that feel?"
Villager blushes. "Mega Man, please-"
"Agh!" Toon Link exclaims. "Since when were you here? And you two!" He points wildly at Hop and Victor. "Erase the last few minutes from your minds!"
"Hey, mate." Victor nudges Hop with a grin. "We should go find Gloria. Maybe you could ask her out."
Hop flushes, mumbling something unintelligible. No doubt Gloria is some girl in his year - I miss those days, the times when romance didn't mean so much, and it was all just kind of silly. But for now, I remain torn over Ness. Of course. Because growing up is so, so fun.
"He's right, though. We should go," Hop says, standing. "Gloria will be wondering where we are… and she'll want to congratulate Wooloo, too."
"See ya." Ness waves.
They leave, Wooloo following obediently behind, and Toon Link leans back. "Where's Pit at, then? Thought he'd love to see these curves in action."
"Student isolation still," Ness explains. "Also, please shut up about your curves."
"Student isolation?" Toon Link asks, frowning. "That only lasts until the end of lessons. Trust me, I'd know."
"Weird. But also..." Ness grins, taking my hand. "Lucas got asked out by Nana, and he said no."
"Wow, Lucas the ladykiller!" Toon Link laughs. "Poor Nana, though."
"I still feel guilty," I mumble, biting my lip.
"Ah, don't worry," Toon Link waves. "It's alright. She'll get over it."
"But that's not all," I continue. "Erm, sorry to break the joyous occasion, but we've got... news."
"Oh, great." Toon Link rolls his eyes. "Let me guess, a cryptic riddle that tells us that we're doomed? Another omen of untimely demise?"
"You're not far off," I say, but I glance towards Mega Man. We don't want him to overhear any of this and freak out. Villager catches my gesture, and he bites his lip.
"Uh, Mega Man, sorry to be rude, but can you go-"
"Oh, sure." He quickly gets up and leaves.
I lean forward. "So, we found the book - Magical Monsters and Mythical Creatures. The original copy. It was on our bookshelf."
"Really?" Toon Link raises his eyebrows. "It was there the whole time?"
"We don't know. But that's not all," I say nervously. "Ness and I had a dream, where." I gulp. "A woman told us that tonight is going to be extremely dangerous, that we'll have to make an impossible decision, and that we'll have to be braver than we've ever been before."
"Joyous," Toon Link says.
"Shut it." Villager hits him, but his voice takes a worried tone. "Tonight?"
"Yeah." I tremble slightly, and I can almost feel the atmosphere lowering. Shivers trail up my spine. Toon Link's expression falls away.
"That's… worrying. Tonight - tonight, that's so soon, isn't it?"
"Too soon," Ness says glumly.
"We'll stick by you," Villager promises. "We'll stay as a group, whatever happens."
"Definitely," Toon Link agrees.
"Yeah," Red confirms.
"And we'll keep an eye out for anything," Villager says. "We'll count up every detail..." But he falls short of the old Count it Up speech, looking over my shoulder. I turn, seeing the worried figure of Headmaster Hand.
"Good evening, boys. I'm sorry to interrupt your night, but I'm afraid that something rather serious has happened. You may want to come with me."
.
.
.
.
.
We follow Headmaster Hand out to the corridor, where he stops, looking uncharacteristically tense. I feel Ness slipping his hand into mine, and I gladly accept it, my heart beginning to pound.
"What's happening?" I ask worriedly, taking the lead for once.
"It's your friend Pit," Headmaster Hand says, and my stomach sinks. "He's gone missing."
"Missing?" I echo hoarsely. "What do you mean?"
"He was in student isolation," Toon Link says, but Headmaster Hand shakes his head. The worst thoughts start to race through my mind. But before Headmaster Hand can say any more, Ryu pushes through the door.
"What's happening out here?"
"Ah, Ryu," Headmaster Hand says. "It's about… the concerns we had earlier."
"Oh." Ryu's face falls. "Is he-"
"You'll see."
We follow Headmaster Hand upstairs, past the student isolation chamber, and into the dorm halls. We enter Pit's room, and I tremor, my fear mounting. Toon Link's face is pasty, Villager looks like he's going to be sick, and Red continues to stare blankly at the wall. The gas lamps flicker, and the thunderstorm seems to be louder than ever.
"During the play," Headmaster Hand begins, coming to a stop. "I discovered that Pit hasn't been seen since I spoke to him, following the incident with Diddy Kong. I decided to conduct a search, as Professor Ryu knows. But this disappearance doesn't seem to be like the others. Look."
He points to a piece of paper on Pit's bed. I unfurl it, and I read:
~~o00o~~
Your brother is alive. Come to the room where you saw him last. I await you.
~~o00o~~
"Fuck," Toon Link says under his breath. My blood runs cold, barely comprehending the words.
"You think he's followed the instruction? He's gone down into the passages?"
"Quite possibly." Headmaster Hand grimaces. "Wario must've left this note to lure Pit away."
"Then - we need to go down there!" Toon Link exclaims. "We need to go and help him, quick!"
"Absolutely not!" Headmaster Hand looks horrified. "You are students, unqualified for this situation. I can't let you put yourselves in danger like that. I am going to assemble a team of staff members, and we will go down there as soon as possible."
"But he could be being converted! He could be being hurt this very second!"
"I forbid it," Headmaster Hand says, moving broadly across the room. "Come, Ryu, let us assemble a team-"
But Ryu stands still. "Headmaster, Pit is their friend. And, they are very capable - you know of Ness and Lucas's powers."
"They're children!" Headmaster Hand argues. "You can't possibly expect them to go down there - think of the insurance costs? The danger to their lives?"
"They're all sixteen or older," Ryu says. "They're practically adults. I believe it should be their choice."
"Ryu - that's - that's - they don't understand the risk-"
"We've been down there a lot," Ness says. "We know what we're getting ourselves into."
"But... but..." Headmaster Hand sighs, turning and going to the windowsill. "Fine. Okay. If you are sure, one hundred percent certain, then we shall go. We shall go into this place."
Ryu takes a step forward. "I'll come as well."
"Good - very good. You will have to show me the way. I don't know the route."
"The quickest way is down the chimney outside," I say. "Ness and I found it in the forest. It leads directly into the room. It would give Wario a nasty surprise."
"Okay." Headmaster Hand shakes, turning back to us. "Lucas, Ness... please lead the way."
.
.
.
.
.
We waste no time in going outside, where buckets or rain pour onto our heads, and pretty soon, we're trudging through the towering forest. Ness falls back to join me as we walk.
"This is probably what your mother warned us of, then."
"Yeah." I shudder, cold water dripping down my neck. "It must be."
There's a beat of silence, before Ness whispers, "We could turn back. Not face it at all."
"Ness..." I fall short. I'm tempted to say yes, to run away and curl up under the covers. But I know, for Pit's life, that this is important. He could be being converted down there. "We can't. We need to rescue him."
"I knew you'd say that." Ness looks down, pushing past a branch. "What do you think we'll find down there? In the room?"
"Future Humans," I say immediately. "We can PK fire them, I suppose."
"Yeah… ah, Lucas, can I admit something?"
"What is it?" I hope there's not going to be a third romantic confession today. I'd rather save that for when we're not going to our deaths.
"Lucas..." He lowers his voice. "I'm really scared."
"So am I," I pull him near, although it's partially out of relief.
"We were just - just enjoying the play, and now we're out here, and now we're going to have to make an impossible decision, and, and I was hoping that 'tonight' meant later, but, but now..." he trails off, burying his face into his mittens.
"I know, Ness," I say quietly. "I know,"
He sniffles. "If we don't make it out of this… I love you."
"I love you too." A warm feeling spreads through my chest. That's the fourth time he's said that, not that I've been keeping count. "We'll make it out of this. I promise."
"You'd better keep that promise."
"You bet I will."
We continue to walk. The forest is horrible at night, and I find myself twitching at even the slightest of noises, trembling at the memory of The Face, looming in the darkness. The trees stretch out like claws from the ground, leafless and barren... but the trees around the chimney were evergreen, which means we're not in the right place.
Crash!
The thunder is much louder out here. I huddle closer to Ness, who holds my hand tighter than he's ever held it before. I notice Villager and Toon Link's hands are interlocked as well, which brings me momentary happiness, until Mother's words run through my head for the thousandth time.
Impossible choice.
My head throbs. How did I get here?
Three weeks ago, I was just a normal boy. A normal boy with worries and troubles like any other. I was into art, into music, nothing special, because magic didn't exist in my world. Never would I have dreamt of doing a thing like this, because I was a coward. And to think that this morning I'd thought this was all over, that Wario had already lost - but now he's taken someone I care about, and suddenly he's winning again.
Everything is unfolding into a nightmare.
Unfortunately, Villager notices a clearing, and so we start to walk over to where I can almost sense the chimney looming. Ryu and Headmaster take the front and back of our parade as we move as a silent unit, not daring to speak over the rain.
Is it wicked to be so afraid? Afraid of doing what I know is the right thing? Is it terrible of me to hope that we might turn back? But Pit. Our friend. Our friend could be hurt, or dead, and here I am, being selfish as always, longing for the fun to be continuing - well, that's not going to happen, because that simply doesn't happen to me. I don't get to have fun.
Deeply distressed, I look up, and we've arrived.
The chimney hisses, jutting up like a blister out of the ground. Strange metal parts dangle from bricks, hissing with steam, and Toon Link opens the panel, revealing a yawning hole in the centre. Down there is hell, and I know that for certain. Down there is terror. Doubt comes as I survey - we should've brought more people with us...
"Once we slide down there, there isn't any way back up," Headmaster Hand says, coming to a halt. "This is the last chance for hesitation. If anyone is uncertain, say so now."
Am I uncertain? But I waver for the last time, and determination comes rushing in. Because, despite the fear, being good is what I have always strived to do.
"Who'll go down first?" Villager asks determinedly.
"I will," Headmaster Hand declares, stepping forward. "Once I'm down, follow me at once. We'll wait at the bottom for everyone to land, and then we'll take it from there." He steps forwards, but then he pauses, turning back to face us. "But first, Professor Ryu."
"Yes?" Ryu says. He looks nervous.
"...You were right, you know. About my brother. About magic."
"Good," Ryu says. "I often am right about these things."
"Crazy Hand chose his path. He chose to use magic for evil." Headmaster Hand sighs, but his expression remains strong. "Just because I have magical powers doesn't mean that I'm like him. Thank you for... teaching me that. And if it all goes to blows down there? So what. We're doing the right thing. That's more important."
"Thank you, Headmaster," Ryu says, and Headmaster Hand smiles.
"Lucas, I believe you were the one who taught me that valuable lesson. About doing the right thing. Thank you, too."
"I don't remember that," I say, bemused.
"It happened when you told me to fuck off in the hospital ward," he says. He gives a wry smile. "But let us not waste time! Let's do this."
"Let's do this," Ryu agrees.
With that, Headmaster Hand moves forward. He eases himself into the chimney like it's a slide, and he slips away, vanishing into the darkness, before landing with a thunk.
Toon Link steps forwards next, and Villager helps him scramble into the hole. There's a rushing noise as he disappears, and then Villager follows, giving a last fleeting glance at the sky before he does. Muffled noises come from the bottom as Red enters next, tumbling away. Terror leaps as more and more people disappear. It's coming. Whatever is down there, it's coming.
"See you down there," Ryu says gravely, and without another word, he descends, his intimidating form vanishing into the gloom.
We're alone.
...
"It's time," Ness says quietly. "It's actually time."
"I know." I pull him into a crushing hug. If it all goes wrong down there, I want something good to remember. Something to hold onto.
I bury my face into his chest.
"We can still turn back if you want." Ness runs a gloved hand through my hair. "Let the others deal with it. They'd understand if we chose to."
"We can't," I say. "They're our friends."
"Quite right." Ness smiles, holding out his hand. "We've got this, Lucas."
"We've got this," I agree.
And so, we clamber onto the chimney. Ness slides down with ease, and then all at once, it's my turn. I look at the sky, the moon, the stars. The rain, the thunder and the lightning. Then, without another thought, I step into the darkness.
It's not a difficult descent. Though the bricks feel snug against my hips, it's probably worse for the others. But as the darkness slowly swallows me, the fear lashes again, water pouring down from above, my hair in my face. I'm not sure how far down the bottom is, but I sure as hell can't turn back. I try once again to prepare myself for what will be down there, I try once again not to be the weak, crybaby Lucas that I'm known for. Now is the time for me to be brave, like Mother always told me I could be.
It's time for me to be like Claus.
Suddenly, the friction disappears, and there's a rush - my body moves in freefall - and there's a mighty crunch as I land.
This is it.
.
.
.
.
.
As I pick myself up from the floor, the first thing to hit me is the smell. It's rancid, like rotting flesh, and I double over, my eyes watering.
The next thing I register is the room itself. It's large, musty, tables and chairs littered about the floor, and what looks to be machinery illuminated in the limited light. Cobwebs and shaky wooden beams hold up the roof, and as I step forward out of the fireplace, I inhale a whole mouthful of dust that makes me splutter.
"Is everyone down?" Headmaster Hand asks. I can just about see his silhouette, framed against the back wall.
There's general assent.
"Where's Wario?" Ness asks, but I've noticed something else. Another shadow, bound to a wooden post.
"Pit!" I exclaim.
But my elation is short-lived. His head sharply turns, and he stares at us in abject horror.
"I-It's a trap!"
…
…
…
…
"Yes," says Headmaster Hand, a malicious grin taking form on his face. "I'm rather afraid it is."
...
...
...
...
A/N
heh
hehe
TOLD YOU you wouldn't want to miss this chapter! I am very sorry for leaving you with the meanest cliffhanger of all time. But not only that, they found the book, there was more romance drama than an episode of Friends, there were cameos from all sorts of characters... what's not to love? Also, this chapter is immense, but I fear the next one will be even bigger…
Post Renovation notes: SO, this chapter used to have a talent show instead of a play, believe it or not. As such, I've spent about a week reshuffling and rewriting things, writing two songs, making wild edits... all for the sake of getting this up to scratch.
Notes:
Hop is a rival from Pokémon Sword & Shield. Though Wooloo was a normal sheep for this fic, I thought it'd be fun to bring him in. His friend Victor (Masaru) is the protagonist of the games, and Gloria is Victor's sister.
Samus and Robin also got brief cameos, thanks to a request and an inside joke.
I wrote both songs, and all of the lines in this version of Robin Hood.
Meanwhile, Hinawa, Lucas's mother, such a bittersweet appearance for her. I referenced a couple of her in-game quotes (I nearly deleted this entire section in the renovations, but I decided I could somehow make it work)
Reviews (Feel free to skip this section, as it's gonna be longggg)
DrugsRUs: 'I love this fanfic, but my only problem is the wait between chapter... sad.'
I'll take this as a compliment, I like to think I'm fairly quick though hah, writing these chapters takes timeeeee ;-;
Puph_17: (this review was left on the AO3 upload of the fic, also it was really long so if you wanna read it for some reason, head on over there)
Thank you Puph for the positive feedback! And the constructive criticism is much appreciated too, describing appearances is something I'm working on in my early chapter overhaul..
Speaking of which, that early chapter overhaul is going to have a couple of focal points. For one, more description, but also Ness's self-discovery is going to be changed a little, and there are going to be more hints added in about what's gone on in Lucas's past.
Sunbored: (this is one of many reviews they left, aaaa thanks so much) Good job dude I never had a sleep schedule anyways, so thanks for letting me read this super early in the morning lol
Thank you! And also thank you for hitting me up on discord! By the way, to everyone else, Sunbored is starting their own fic - check it out, it's pretty cool!
SmashBrosOdyssey, thank you for the reviews as well! I responded to them in the smash prose discord, so I won't repeat myself. Just know that I appreciate the support :))
Alright, sorry for boring you to death with all those reviews. With all that rambling out of the way, thank you so much for reading and for the support, I'll catch you next time where, well, things are gonna get interesting. I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve…
~ReadyForTeddy