Prologue: Headmaster Hand

The next major development comes on Saturday evening after we've rejoined the Tazmily-bound river. Our parade comes to a screeching halt, and I crane my neck to see what's going on.

"A waterfall," Ike informs us eventually, having been told by his superiors. "And a twenty-foot cliff."

"A waterfall?" Tessie frowns. "Here? In the middle of the forest?"

"Yes," Ike replies, pacing about like an uptight penguin. "Very much here. And, according to our map, there's a bigger one a mile on."

"Can't we go around it?" Roy protests. "Isn't the Twoson railway line somewhere nearby?"

"The Brigade has elected to construct a ladder instead," Ike says. "I mustn't dispute their decisions."

"A ladder?" Ollie says. "But how will the horses get over?"

"The brigade will also construct a stairway."

"A stairway? Then, surely the ladder is arbitrary!"

"Arbitrary or not, it is the Brigade's choice," Ike says, giving Ollie a firm glare. "You are a prisoner, and you would do well to remember that before complaining."

Ollie falls short, and I raise my eyebrows. If I'm being honest, I'm growing to resent Ike's behaviour. He has an irritating habit of amplifying every issue, and his unwavering loyalty to the Brigade is problematic. I don't want to dislike him, I really don't, but being around somebody so blind to reason is grating to me, especially when it gets in the way of my plans. It's not even his fault, either. From what I gather, his family made him like this, conditioning him to be their perfect government-fearing servant.

"And what about us?" Elmore asks. "Do you expect us just to stand here?"

"You will all be required to help," says a burly guard who I don't recognise. "You can make yourselves useful by carrying stones."

I groan. "It's night. Nobody wants to carry stones at night."

But Ike turns, shield bared. "Once again, you are prisoners. You will do as the Brigade says."

And so, grumbling, I dismount my horse, looking up at the waterfall. It's a pitiful thing, barely a stream of water trickling over a ledge. It looks climbable, even. Nonetheless, I'm pushed and prodded towards a pile of boulders, which look as if they came out of nowhere.

"Can't we go around?" Ollie asks someone who looks like a leader. "There's a railway to the right, isn't there? The ground must level out there."

"Ollie!" Ike hisses. "What did I just say about-"

"Actually, the kid has a point," the leader interrupts, and with a shock, I recognise his voice. Captain Strong, chief of the Onett Police Force. What on earth is he doing here?

"But he's a prisoner," Ike says. "He could be lying."

"Prisoner or not, he's right," Captain Strong says, waving the idea away with his hand. "Men! Back on horses. We shall go around the waterfall!"

There's a considerable cheer, not least from Pusher, who actually whoops at the idea of not doing manual labour. Us prisoners are driven back to our horses by a disconsolate Ike, and soon, our parade is setting off again.

"See, Ike?" Elmore snipes. "My son knows best."

Ollie looks up, surprised. Behind him, Caroline appears pleased.

"The Brigade-" Ike begins, but Pusher shushes him with a laugh, leaving him red-faced and angry.

We head to the right, and sure enough, the ground levels out near a set of railway tracks. Ike disappears into the crowd of horses, muttering under his breath, no doubt preparing a clever comeback. I, meanwhile, decide to check how everyone's doing.

"We're alright," Caroline and Tessie say when I ask. "It's nice, this. Travelling by horse - why didn't we think of that?"

"Well, we didn't have any horses," I reason. "How about you, Reggie?"

"I'm fine," Reggie grumbles.

The unresolved tension hangs thickly in the air.

"And Duster!" I say hastily. "How about you?"

"Bad, m'chap," Duster says regretfully, his body juddering with his horse's steps. "I'm hungry, thirsty, and I'm not ready to die."

"Ollie and I are trying to think of a plan," Angie says. "That's been keeping us going. You could help us, Duster."

"Ah, I'm not clever 'nough for that," Duster sighs. "Thanks though, m'chaps. We'll be 'kay with you two in charge."

"And I'm doing terribly, thanks for asking," Pusher barks, appearing out of nowhere on his horse. "I want to go home."

"Well, we're going back to Tazmily," I say, rolling my eyes out of sight. "We're just going the long way around. With the army that will destroy it."

"I must collect my wealth first," Pusher says, and several soldiers look over, very interested in this idea.

Soon, we reach the river again, the timid waterfall now behind us. Someone announces that we'll go a little further before turning in for the night, and I groan, but I don't complain. The guard I share my horse with usually threatens to impale me when I complain. He doesn't speak much other than that, even though I occasionally try to start conversations, just to have someone to talk to. I think he should be grateful, really; Duster fires an almost constant stream of questions at his guard, and Elmore, well. That doesn't need saying.

I've been getting on well with my horse, at least. In my head, I've christened him Chestnut, and he's a very good boy. He's obedient and very calm, something that is left desired by most of my colleagues. He's a lot nicer than the horse I was sharing with Ike, never complaining, always steady. Chestnut doesn't mind when I almost fall asleep on his back, owing to nightmares from the previous night. He doesn't try to buck me off at any opportunity. He listens when I talk about my problems.

...My best friend is a horse. That's probably kind of sad.

On the plus side, our detour has brought us to a surprisingly pleasant area. At least, it was nice when we arrived, and now we're trampling it with a thousand horses. But there are still crocuses lining our side of the bank, their exotic purple hues lit by the moonlight. The stars are out as well, I notice, and I look up at them, yawning. Just as I'm about to drift off, we come to a stop.

"Is that it?" I ask my guard. When we were told 'a little further', I was expecting it to be more than fifty metres. My guard merely shrugs.

Captain Strong's voice echoes ahead of us, and I peer into the darkness. To my surprise, I can make out what looks to be a pair of teenage boys lying on the grass. Then, with a thrill of excitement, I recognise exactly who they are.

Hope incarnate.

Ness and Lucas are here.

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~~o00o~~

Chapter 39: My Mind Erases; I Fall Into You

(Ness)

~~o00o~~

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Ever since I was born, my Father has been a burden.

He's controlling, manipulative, and abusive in a loud way. He's not subtle, like the kind of people who twist your words and make you blame yourself. Instead, he's scary, preying on childhood fears to get his way.

When I was younger, I'd often compare him to a monster. There were two sides to him: The side that wanted the best for me, and the side that beat the living shit out of me when I messed up. It's all too easy, now that I'm away from him, to proclaim that I'll defy him, that I'll cut him out of my life. I know he's in the wrong, even, and that knowledge should be empowering. Yet, as our arrival in Onett City looms closer, his furious presence feels unavoidable.

I'm still scared of him. Why am I still scared of him?

I shouldn't be worrying about this. Lucas thinks I'm asleep right now, but my mind chose to run headlong into this issue like the masochistic bundle of cells it tends to be. My father's not powerful, but then he is, because he still provides money, tuition fees, and a roof to live under. Like it or not, I'm dependent on him - I am guilty of that a lot, I think. I'm dependent on Lucas for emotional support, and my Father for financial support. Often, it feels like I'm just propped up by the arms of others, and it's not a nice feeling.

That's not all, either. Now we have to worry about Claus, who's suddenly here. Claus, who speaks like a child, is apparently Lucas's twin brother, and also The Face, somehow. He seems perfectly nice, but he's difficult to talk to, and, honestly, I have a worrying feeling about him. Not that I think he's evil, I just think he'll be an inconvenience, or will slow us down. He can't walk fast, and he certainly won't be any good in a crisis. With Porky working fast, do we have enough time to spare for him?

But he's Lucas's brother, I remind myself. If Tracy went missing, I'd do all I could to bring her to safety. And Claus has been through so much - hell, I can't even begin to consider how goddamn tragic his story is. Not that he seems to understand that. He speaks more as though it's all just facts, just a series of events that happened on a Tuesday morning. He describes it as if it were a trip to the market.

It's deeply unnerving.

And it's yet another horrifying crime to add to Porky's long list. For someone to end up like that, sub-human... it gives me chills. The fact that he escaped is miraculous, and perhaps a testament to the strength of Lucas's family. But then, that assumes this isn't a trick, and as we've found out throughout this adventure, Porky likes to play tricks. Even if Lucas says it's really him, and even though I trust his instincts above my own, I've learnt not to take anything for granted. I'm not certain yet.

Something makes contact with my back, and my eyes jolt open. But it's only Lucas.

"Hey," I murmur, forcing a smile. But his face is serious.

"Are you okay?"

I rub my cheek. "Uh, define okay."

"I thought I'd check whether you were asleep," Lucas says. "But I came over, and I felt this aura... you're thinking about things, aren't you?"

"Perhaps."

"What's up?"

I shift. "Am I allowed to say that I don't wanna talk about it?"

"Of course, but I am your boyfriend, and there's nobody around for miles. Bottling it up won't help." Lucas puts an arm over my shoulder as he sits down next to me. "Tell me what's wrong, Ness."

I sigh. "Fine. I'm just worrying about Claus."

"Ah, yeah, sorry." He averts his eyes. "I thought you might be. Because you hardly know him? And it's kinda weird? I get if it's kinda weird for you."

"Weirder for you," I reason.

"Potentially."

I lean back against his shoulder. "It's just… well, he seems so inhuman. Childish."

"Yep," Lucas says flatly.

"And whatever Porky did, it's so messed up, Lucas."

"I know."

"He - Claus - honestly, makes me a little nervous."

"Yeah." Lucas slowly nods. "Yeah, I think I get that, too. He unnerves me. It seems so... wrong, you know?"

"Exactly."

"But now it's sunk in…" He puts a hand to his head. "I'm glad, I think."

I hug him. "I'm glad that you're glad."

There's a tender pause.

"Oh, look at this," Lucas says suddenly. He picks up a large slab of stone from the floor. "Interesting, we don't usually get slate in this part of the world."

"It's a rock," I say, rolling my eyes. "Since when were you such a keen geologist?"

He turns it over. "Since geology carried hidden messages, perhaps."

I peer a little closer. There, on the stone, is what looks like writing:

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You are out of time.

Wake up, Ness.

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"...Interesting," Lucas says. Tension rises within me at once, and I hastily scan the forest. In the dark, it's hard to make anything out.

"Who left this here?" I say worriedly. "I didn't hear anyone."

"It could be anybody," Lucas says. "Does that mean someone knows we're here?"

"What?" I look up at him, frantic. "But how?"

"It doesn't matter - quick!" He stands at once. "We need to leave, fast. What are we even doing? We were supposed to find Toon Link and Villager!"

"But you said we could wait for them to find us, and-"

"But they haven't!" Lucas practically hops with tension, tugging me to my feet. "Ness, it's nighttime! They've had all day to find us!"

I take the slate in my shaking hands, reading the words again and again. Out of Time. It's written in plain white chalk, in very neat handwriting. Wake up, Ness. Struck by a sudden burst of fear, I launch the slate towards a nearby tree, where it splinters with a mighty crash.

"Ness!" Lucas exclaims.

I dust off my hands. "Out of sight, out of mind."

"What the - but that was so reckless!"

"Moving somewhere else won't do us any good," I reason. "If someone knows where we are, they'll be smart enough to follow. We just need to watch out, and try not to die."

"But-"

"Forget the slate was ever here. We can find Toon Link and Villager in the morning, okay?"

"But that dream," Lucas says, dropping his voice. "Tonight, beyond imagining..."

"Maybe that was about Claus?" I suggest, but Lucas looks unconvinced.

"I feel like there's something else. I think there's more. I know there's more."

"Maybe, but, look, about Claus..." I drop my voice down as well. "What do we do when we get to Onett? He can't come with us to New Pork City, can he?"

"He can't stay at my house either," Lucas says, as if he'd been expecting this question. "We might not have much choice."

"But your Father liked him, I thought?"

"My Father isn't very good at looking after people," Lucas says, a little bit of hurt slipping into his voice. "I don't think Claus would be safe there."

"But he'd be safer than in New Pork City, right?" I raise my eyebrows. "The Future Humans are dangerous. They probably even recognise him. He was kept prisoner there for ages - you can't just make him go back."

"Ness, my father wouldn't even feed him," Lucas says bleakly. "You have to understand, after Mother died, Father became a mess. He couldn't look after himself, let alone two young children. That's why I went out on the streets, and that's why Claus ran away to avenge her. It was too damn miserable for him. If there's anywhere he'd hate going, it's back home."

"But at least he'd be okay," I press. "The Future Humans would slaughter him in New Pork City. It wouldn't be safe, especially for someone who - for someone like that. He wouldn't know what to do, he'd be slow, he'd be vulnerable, he'd be sad-"

"I know, Ness, but if I leave him in Onett, things might happen to him. If he comes with us, I'll know where he is, I'll be able to protect him, and he's clever, I promise-"

"Lucas, he'd slow us down, we'd be busy feeding him while Onett gets invaded and the Future Humans get stronger. He needs help, we can't just drag him into battle. I'm sorry, but you're being selfish, Lucas. You just don't want him to go away again, and I get that, but he can't come with us. It would just - it wouldn't work. It'd just be insane."

Lucas studies me for a moment, his jaw tight, and for a moment, I worry that he's going to hit me. But then, he sighs, looking miserably at the ground. "I don't want to argue about this, Ness. We'll talk about it later, okay? Maybe you're right. I'm - I'm just going to go and check on him for now. You get some sleep. You need it." Without waiting for a reply, he jogs off, and as he goes, I bite my lip.

Something throbs in my head. I'm exhausted, my eyes ever so heavy, but my thoughts are so, so loud, and I can hardly think through them. There's too much to worry about: I've upset Lucas, Toon Link and Villager are still missing, and someone might be watching me... Is it even safe to sleep anymore? I peer between the trees in desperation, but there's nothing there, just the chilly fog descending on the night and the distant rustle of branches.

Lying on the grass, I cover my face with my hands. The usual horrible thoughts fly through my mind. Will Lucas ever forgive me? Have I disappointed him, just like my father? What if he and Claus run away and leave me here forever?

I try my best not to cry. That'd just be the peak of this, crying over it. Like a needy, helpless child. I've become so dependent on Lucas that even one slight, one little disagreement, has me feeling like this. Lucas didn't even raise his voice or say anything mean, and yet, here I am. All throughout this adventure, I've been leaning on him for validation and agreement, I've been counting on him to see me through. But perhaps I need to do something for myself for once in my life. Perhaps that would help.

I close my eyes, willing it all to go away.

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What feels like a while later, I pull myself up from the ground, groaning like an old man. Nothing seems to have appeared in the night, but nothing includes Lucas, who isn't anywhere to be seen. It's still dark, but there's moonlight at least, and the pressing fog from before appears to have lifted.

Something about my lack of sleep mixed with the eerie silence is dizzying, so much so that I sway when I stand. But I steel myself; I should check on Lucas and apologise, then get a proper night of sleep. Making big improvements starts by doing small things, after all. That's what Mother used to say, whenever Father promised he'd change.

I stumble under the leafy canopy, gripping the nearest trunk to keep my balance. Claus doesn't appear to be where we left him, but it's quite possible that he's moved or he's talking with Lucas somewhere. I move further into the forest, trying to keep to the light, but to my dismay, I can't make anyone out.

"Lucas?" I call nervously.

There's no reply.

"Lucas?!" I call, slightly louder.

He's left you, Buttercup calls back, so I tell the disembodied voice in my head to shut up, and I sigh, considering my options.

Lucas has disappeared somewhere. Okay. That means he's either on an adventure, being murdered, or he hates me. I could stay here and wait, but if he's been kidnapped, then it's my responsibility to help him. Closing my eyes, I try to mentally probe for any psychic vibes like Lucas does, but again, I can't make anything out.

Fear starts to prickle at me, so I head back toward the river, where the darkness feels less immense. With the trees looming behind me and the churning currents at my feet, I feel like I'm on the edge of something enormous. But, still, there is no Lucas. No Claus. In fact, the silence continues, aside from the river's roar and the distant wind. Not an animal stirs, not even a mouse.

"Lucas!" I call out again, starting to feel a little bit desperate. "Lucas, c'mon, I'm sorry! Don't be angry - come out, I miss you!"

There's a rustle. I move forward, invigorated, but the figure who steps out of the forest is tall, cloaked. I barely have time to cry out before they're thrusting a hand forward, and I'm tumbling back against the grass.

"Ness," comes a man's voice, haughty and superior. "Welcome to your Palace."

"My - My what?" I attempt to get back to my feet, and to my surprise, the figure doesn't stop me.

"Follow," he says, sweeping rapidly back into the forest.

"Wait!" I cry, hurrying after him, panic filling me at once. "Who are you? What have you done with Lucas?"

But he doesn't answer, and, suddenly, when I try to grab him, I feel my legs moving of their own accord. I'm forced to follow the hem of his cloak, unable to slow down, unable to speed up, unable to even speak. This man isn't Porky, I remind myself, but he must be a magician of some sort - Creation? Elemental? Diplomatics? He stops in front of some sort of structure, unfreezing me with a broad sweep of his hand. I feel my jaw unlocking, and I gasp for breath.

"Where the hell are we? What do you want?"

The man doesn't reply, instead, he waves away the darkness as if it were ink, revealing the structure before me. To my surprise, it appears to be a giant bed, complete with enormous, fluffy pillows, several blankets, and a red teddy bear.

"Where's Lucas?" I try again, but the man shushes me, sweeping his arms over the blankets. They rise in an ominous spiral, before swooping down and wrapping around my arms.

"Bedtime, Ness," the man hisses, and I cry out as the blankets tug me from the ground, seemingly hauling me toward the bed. I try to kick and struggle, but the figure freezes me with a reverberant clap, and I'm forced into silence again, my heart pounding, my mind desperately screaming for Lucas. I'm lifted above the bed, and then, in an instant, the blankets release me, and I tumble, panting.

"What do you want?" I ask, shaking. "Why am I here?"

"Goodnight, Ness," the man sneers, and the darkness begins to close in again. I desperately swim for consciousness, but I feel it slipping away, into the murky water, down the rabbit hole, plummetting into the void, nothing, and then everything at once.

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Wham.

I open my eyes, and I'm immediately blinded by the sun.

"Agh!" I exclaim, shielding my eyes. "What the - hey! Let me go back!"

There's no reply. I breathe deeply, turning away from the sun, trying to take in the scene. It's an impressive view, I've landed in some kind of garden, but on either side of me, two mountainous slopes run parallel to a winding river. All throughout the valley, little houses jut out from grassy slopes like molehills or giant toadstools. Behind me, there's a vibrant castle, lit by several multicoloured crystals shaped like jam tarts.

Ah. Down the rabbit hole. Ha ha, very funny.

"This isn't real!" I exclaim, shouting at the sky. "None of this is real! Let me wake up, whoever you are!"

"That's a rather bleak outlook," comes a voice. I whirl around to see a cheerful-looking mole, its head sticking out from a door in the ground.

"You're not real either!" I say, pointing. "Let me out! Give Lucas back to me!"

"Last I checked, I was real," says the mole, popping up with a mound of dirt on his head. "Whatever is you rantin' and ravin' about? I ain't seen people like you 'round here since '75!"

"Since 1875?"

"Ah... since 75 AD. Oh, jeepers, has time moved that quickly? Anyway, anyway! You must be new, right?"

"I'm not supposed to be here," I say. "Some blankets carried me into a bed, and then I woke up here. I'm dreaming, I guess." Trapped in a dream again, great. "Where even is this? What's it supposed to be?"

"'Tis your Palace, young hominid! Pretty, innit? You must have a good heart. Many of my kind chose to live here."

"My Palace," I repeat. My head is aching, and I'm not even awake. "How do I leave? I want to find my friend."

"Ah, now that is the great mystery of things!" The mole leaps up, tapping his nose. "But first, introductions! The name's Monty. Yourself, fella?"

"Ness," I say, trying to ignore the fact that this is a literal talking mole.

"Ness! Yes, that would make sense..." He nods, and the dirt on his head falls into a pile. "Leaving is hard, m'chap. Many of us are stuck in our ways, we do not want to leave... some call this place Layers, the Infinite Maze, the Fallen Kingdom..."

"Well, I do want to leave, so can you tell me how?" I ask, beginning to get quite annoyed.

"I do not know, my friend!" The mole gives a hearty laugh. "This place decides these things for you. Us passengers have Things to resolve, and you must as well. Except, this place was built around you! Your resolutions must be massive, sincerely."

"My resolutions?" I wrack my brains. "What do you mean?"

"Anyone who ends up here has something to overcome. Trauma, perhaps. An emotional struggle! Character development in a colourful valley. And, say, isn't it lovely? The most beautiful things happen in the most beautiful of places, that's what I believe."

"So, if you're stuck here, what have you got to overcome?" I ask.

Monty laughs. "Ah, an argument with my wife, hominid! But I'm right, and she's wrong, so I've been here for 1800 years. See, me and my kind, we set up a bit of habitat. It serves us well."

"But how can I have come here?" I ask. "Who was that figure?"

"Oh, you saw the Man!" Monty gets all excited at this, jumping like a rabbit. "My, my, now that is rare. Legends say that he built our world, or he controls it somehow. You see, these valley walls are all we have. In '97, there was a great exhibition to the top, and when we looked over the edge, we saw that there was nothing more than empty space."

A female voice comes from below me, "Monty, come on, let's just forgive each other and go back to normal!"

"The wife," Monty says, paling. "Well, it's been fine to meet you, hominid. I must scarper - good luck with your unresolved business!" With a comical pop, he dives back into his home, shutting the door beside him.

I'm left agape. This place, it's clearly insane. Did I take some drugs or something, is that what's going on? Am I still lying in the forest, high on shrooms? Vexed, I decide to keep heading up the winding track, ascending the steepening precipice of the valley. I wonder faintly what happens if I die in this place, and I decide that maybe I shouldn't try that out.

The castle is the largest of a small cluster of buildings, and I effortlessly weave around boulders and toadstools to reach it. Should I be freaking out? Probably, but everything feels so real, from the little details of birds and blades of grass to all the vibrant smells, sounds and colours. One way or another, I know I shouldn't be here, I know I'm dreaming - I don't know how much time is passing in the real world, but every second is valuable against Porky. And plus, I need to talk to Lucas! I need to apologise before it's too late.

I reach the castle, effortlessly crossing the drawbridge and pushing open the jam-covered door. I'm met by a red-carpeted room, surrounded by purple banners, golden thrones, beams, arches, and all sorts of engraved sculptures and pillars. There's a giant mosaic in the centre depicting some kind of figure, perhaps the cloaked man from earlier.

The room smells homely, like baked bread and honey. Nobody else appears to be here, but judging by what the mole said, whoever owns this place is probably living underground.

But this theory is proven wrong by the arrival of a woman dressed in royal robes. She stops upon seeing me, her stiff collar creasing in surprise.

"You! Boy! What business do you have here? State your name, rank, and intention!"

"I'm Ness, " I say, floundering slightly. "My rank is... student, and I'm here to find my friend."

"Oh. Ness." She looks displeased by this revelation. "Yes, the Man said you'd be coming... I am the Shadow Queen, ruler of Rogueport. Now, please leave my castle."

"Is this Rogueport?" I ask, looking back out at the valley. "It doesn't look like a port."

"No, it is not!" The Shadow Queen looks incensed by the idea. "MY palace is beautiful, full of towering corpses and bones! Not..." She runs her finger along one of the doorframes, licking it. "...Apricot jam."

"I thought this was my Palace?"

"You are no more important than I," The Shadow Queen snarls. "We are all here to resolve things, no matter what the Man says."

"I'm not supposed to be here," I explain, shrinking back under her fierce gaze. "I'm asleep, you see. This isn't real. Some guy tied me up with blankets and made me fall asleep, I think he should be put on a list somewhere."

But the Shadow Queen laughs. "None of this is real? Ha! You are more childish than I expected... Do you not like it? You do not like the Valley?"

"I need to get home," I say. "How do I resolve whatever I need to resolve?"

"But whyever would you do that?" At once, the Shadow Queen claps her hands, and darkness falls. "Here, I am Queen, I am ruler. So long as I remain here, none can imprison me or take my riches away. Yet, I have prepared my palace for your arrival! Are you not even grateful, boy? After all that's been done for you?"

I wince, reminded inexplicably of Father. "I'm very grateful, thank you, but I have work to do. In my world, a man is killing all my friends. I have to go and stop him."

"That's not good enough!" The Shadow Queen advances, her voice getting louder. "That's no excuse, Ness! You're a failure, a selfish failure! You're a waste of space, you've done nothing right, you will suffer eternally, in the fire, the flames, and the-"

"Maybe later!" I exclaim, seeing enormous thunderclouds forming around her. "Goodbye!"

There's a mighty crash as I run, slamming the portcullis shut behind me, emerging back into the vibrant sun of the Valley. Inside the castle, the Shadow Queen roars and rages, but it seems she can't reach me, and she eventually slinks back toward where she came from.

I take a deep breath, kind of proud of myself.

My next aim, I decide, should be to get out of here. Usually, whenever I'm dreaming of food, I'll wake up just as I'm about to eat it. Or, if something surprising happens, I'll wake up in a cold sweat. Looking at the river surging through the Valley, I smile.

I meander down to the bank. The river is not unlike the one in the real world, the one Lucas and I camped out by. It rushes fast, but doesn't appear too deep. I remove my shoes and socks, but just as I'm about to jump, something grabs me by the shoulder.

"Ness."

I let out a cry of alarm. It's the hooded man from before - the Man - and he doesn't sound happy.

"Do not be afraid. I am here to guide you."

"You trapped me in a dream!" I exclaim. "Tough luck, I've been trapped in a dream before, and I escaped!"

"You have trapped yourself," the Man says blandly. "You have much to resolve, Ness... So, so, much."

"Where's Lucas?" I ask for the millionth time, but the Man laughs, patting me on the shoulder.

"He's safe. He isn't needed. Do not try to escape," he says as I take a step toward the river. "It will do you no good."

"Oh yeah?" Closing my eyes, I jump. I half expect to wake up at once, but instead, there's a mighty splash, and I'm soaked through with muddy water.

"You are foolish," the Man observes. "I will see you again, Ness. Good luck."

He begins to fade, and I cry out, but it's too late. His cloaked silhouette dissolves like sugar in water, and I'm left sitting in the river, feeling like an idiot.

I don't understand what I'm supposed to do. I've been told to reach resolutions, to solve my problems, but I don't know what problems I have to solve! And what good is this valley for all that? The only people I've met have been crazy talking moles and a psychopathic queen. Forget Alice in Wonderland, this is Ness in Absolutely Fucking Terrible Valley Which He Hates.

Not the best acronym, but still. I'm pissed off.

"Ness?" It's Monty again, looking down at my soaked form. "Dear me, come inside. You aren't doing well, hominid! Take my hand, er, paw. Arm? Either way, come on, or you'll catch a cold!"

Bedraggled, I pull myself from the river. Monty starts clapping when I do, but he quickly diminishes under my exhausted gaze, scurrying toward his hole.

"I can't fit in there," I say, looking warily at the narrow entrance. I discovered I was claustrophobic last summer when I got stuck behind my shed. That event kickstarted one of my many unsuccessful diets.

"No matter!" Monty abruptly claps his hands, and suddenly, the world begins to grow - or rather, I begin to shrink. Trees become mountainous, the insects become snack-sized, and the blades of grass become bigger blades of grass as I descend, stopping only when I'm shorter than Monty himself. This is how it must feel to be Lucas.

"Follow me," Monty says, leading me into the hole. Seeing no alternative, I follow.

Upon entering, the smell of rotten vegetation reaches me at once, and I almost double over. The passageway is lined with enormous clumps of moss, writhing with the kinds of insects that make my hair stand on end. Monty extends his tongue and licks up a particularly juicy fly.

The passage slopes down as we advance, me plugging my nose and Monty skipping merrily downwards. The passage seems almost manmade, I realise, too ordered and straight to have been made by wild creatures. Perhaps others have been shrunk as well? Monty leads me past what looks like a pantry of minibeasts: centipedes with their legs still wiggling, flies piled high on a boulder, and woodlice cleaved neatly in two. Other moles poke their heads out as we pass, some sniffing me with suspicion, but Monty waves a limb and they slink reluctantly back into their chambers.

"The Hospital ward!" Monty says, coming to a stop. I peer into a window, seeing an orange-tinted mole lying in bed, looking to be in considerable pain.

"Is he alright?" I ask, concerned.

"Ah... the latest victim." Monty looks down. "I heard that you met her yourself, the Shadow Queen... She has been here as long as we, so the legends go. She lives in the Jam Palace and has reigned terror on our species for as long as she has lived. You see, she has cursed us. Nobody can leave, so long as she's in control, even if we reach our resolutions. She says we are to be her subjects... and what's more, anyone who goes near her castle receives this... ailment."

I look back inside the Hospital Ward. At once, the patient springs to life, jerking madly on his bed. His orange fur flies from his head, and he grows, claws curling, eyebrows twitching, eyes shut tight with agony. A nurse-like mole touches him on the paw, and he stops, falling flat on the bed.

"Don't worry yourself, he'll be okay," Monty says, beginning to walk again. "We believe it is a spell of ageing. We have lost many great heroes to the Shadow Queen's works."

"But she can't leave her palace?" I ask.

"Either she can't, or she doesn't want to." Monty turns right into a room, nodding at another mole that walks past. "She has remained there since the dawn of time, they say. Many come and go, but she must be stubborn, or unwilling to overcome her obstacle."

"You could overcome your obstacle, and be free from her."

"But the curse!" Monty laments. "And what's more, why should I try? Why would I overcome my obstacle when my life is this good?"

"You said the Shadow Queen oppresses your species."

"Ah, but that's meaningless, we've lived here for two-thousand years." Monty waves a paw. "She hasn't killed me yet. Tell me this, hominid. If avoiding your problems was this easy, wouldn't you do it too?"

"Doesn't two-thousand years down a hole get boring?" I ask, thoroughly confused. "Also, your problem is your wife, right? Don't you miss her?"

"Every day... Now, onto the matter at hand..." Monty stops, reaching what looks like a needlework machine, the sort they use in Onett's stitcheries. "You'll like this bit, child."

Monty claps his paws. The machine springs to life, thread flying up in all directions, needles working wildly like clockwork. Before my eyes, they stitch and sew and tie, forming what looks to be a pair of shorts. Monty stops the machine, pulling the result from it and handing it over.

"Legend has it that great Artur came here once," Monty tells me. "It was long before my time, long before even the Shadow Queen, they say. He was a magician, like you, and he created this machine, a gift for showing him the way out."

"Who showed him the way out, you moles?"

"So they say!" Monty chirrups. "We can help you, too, if you do us a favour. What do you think of the garment?"

"It's incredible," I say, taking the shorts and examining them. Not a stitch is out of place. "Thank you, these will be much better."

Monty turns away, and I discard my river-soaked trousers. The new shorts are soft like silk but sturdy like nylon, and even better, they're bright purple.

"Marvellous!" Monty proclaims, taking me in. "Now, onto the matter of your resolution. But, first, I only ask one thing in return..."

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Kill the Shadow Queen. Of course, the moles want me to overthrow the magical Shadow Queen, the same one who's apparently aged up half of the mole population, cursed this entire valley, and has a room full of corpses on her home planet. Fun.

"Good luck!" Monty chirps, handing me a big stick. "You're a magician, aren't you? it should be easy!"

"I'm still tiny," I note, and Monty claps his hands again. Immediately, my middle begins to stretch and my legs begin to grow, and I feel myself getting bigger again. It's weird, after being small, but at least the flies aren't the size of cockroaches anymore.

"She might be nice to you," Monty says hopefully. "Say, maybe she just hates moles?"

"She threatened to murder me and burn my corpse."

"That could be a compliment where she comes from!"

I sigh. "Look, I'll go and do it. You're right, I can probably just PK Fire her or something. But what happens if I die here?"

"No idea," Monty says cheerfully. "We think everyone's immortal unless they're killed in battle."

"You're filling me with confidence. Alright, I'm going. See you soon, I guess."

Monty gives a jolly nod, and I reluctantly move toward the castle. I'm not sure if this is insane or not, but Monty's insights may be the only way out of here, and frankly, this feels like what I'm supposed to do. Perhaps overthrowing the Shadow Queen will be my resolution? Maybe it's not resolving myself, but resolving the world around me? The moles are stuck here, cursed by the Shadow Queen. If I free them, perhaps I can free myself too?

This time, when I step into the castle, the Shadow Queen is already there. Her eyes practically bulge when she sees me in the doorway. But I'm not scared.

"PK Fire!" I bellow.

Nothing happens. Shit, maybe I'm a little scared now.

"You!" The Shadow Queen screams, making a lunge for my face. "How dare you show yourself in my palace?"

I run into the castle, ignoring her insane yells. The stick falls out of my hand, and I look frantically around for anything else. I don't really want to kill her, but I remind myself that this place probably isn't real.

"Come back!" The Shadow Queen yells, and I swear I hear explosions behind me. I throw myself through a door, praying she didn't see where I went. Perhaps my best bet is an ambush...

The room is bizarre, appearing almost like another hospital ward. There are paintings on the wall; the orange mole from before, a small yellow flower, and with a jolt, I recognise my family. It feels symbolic, somehow, my Father's imposing figure behind young me in my cap.

"NESS!" The Shadow Queen bellows, bursting through the door. "Prepare to die!"

"Not today!" I grab the painting, bashing her in the head with it.

"HEY!"

I duck past her, and she gives chase, charging behind me. I half expect lasers of death to fly from her eyes, but they don't, and I outstrip her into a room full of jam.

"No escape now, Ness!" She slams the door shut behind her, and with a jolt, I notice it sealing with jam. "You have no right being here! You have tarnished my soils, disappointed the Man, and you have failed, again and again!"

"Yeah? Well, at least I'm not ugly! PK FREEZE!"

Nothing happens. I duck the Shadow Queen's mad arm as she cries out, surging forward. I expect to be blasted to smithereens, but the Shadow Queen crashes into a jam-coated wall instead.

"Nice try!" I exclaim. I think I'm beginning to understand, now. "So, what's your resolution? How did you get here?"

"It doesn't matter!" She falls from the wall with a shwuck, turning on me. "You have failed! You have corrupted this place! You have ruined it all!" She runs headlong at me again, like some kind of minotaur, but I sidestep out of the way.

"Is that all you can do, yell? Why haven't you gone home? Did you lose a battle? Do you take claim over this land in a futile attempt to wield what little power you have left, because in reality, you're the one who failed in your homeland, and you cannot come to terms with that?"

"Silence!" The Shadow Queen screams, and I almost laugh, growing in confidence.

"Because I see it now, Shadow Queen! You can't even use magic! The moles were wrong, you're not scary. You're just an angry, evil little parasite. You were defeated, weren't you? Someone stood up to you, but you couldn't accept that. That's why you're here."

"This is your fault - your fault!" The Shadow Queen spits. "All of this is because of you... Everything is built around you, don't you see it? I couldn't leave. I wasn't allowed; I had to wait for you! All because of your silly resolutions! The Man made this world... the Man did this... the Man did this to us all!"

But I thrust my hands forward, staring her down. This is what I must do; I feel it inside me. "Shadow Queen, I renounce you. I banish you in the name of Lucas of Tazmily, the Pentriage of Magicians, the Lost Time Stone, and Byleth of Ages." With a mighty thrust, I yell, "Begone!"

I'm not sure where the words come from, but they cause the Shadow Queen to wail, falling to the floor. She shakes, and then suddenly, inexplicably, she fades.

She's accepted her defeat.

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"She couldn't use her magic?" Monty says, staring me down. "But what about the curse? The aging?"

"The Shadow Queen said this place is built around me," I say, pacing. "I thought she was the resolution, she reminded me of my Father, you see. I thought if I stood up to her, it would mark some personal development... or something."

"It is your Palace," Monty says sadly. "The ways of the Man are mysterious. I don't know why you've been put here, why this place was built... It is a tricky one, I'll tell you that."

"I need to get back home. My friend is waiting, we argued, I need to make things right. That's what I need to resolve! But I'm stuck here, for some reason."

"Perhaps, if everything's here for a reason, it all means something," Monty says. wisely "Maybe you're supposed to figure it out?"

"But why?" I groan, putting a hand to my head. "Who is the Man, anyway?"

"Nobody knows."

I sigh, sitting on a nearby rock. The Valley echoes all around me, the river, the sound of workers, of wind. The Shadow Queen was a perfect representation of my Father, I'm sure of it, I'm sure that was what it was supposed to mean. That standing up to him is easy, because he doesn't have any real power over me. But what had she said? All because of my silly resolutions?

Resolutions. More than one.

But why? Who could've trapped me here, and for what, so I can fix everything? Maybe I need to consider what I already know. Because this place isn't a prison, it's more like a sanctuary. The Valley, the river, the jam-coloured castle... It's a nice place. The place of my dreams, even. So the point of this can't be to escape, it must be to fix what is broken and learn from it.

So, if I'm sleeping, it has to be my mind. I have to have invented all of this, the moles, the Shadow Queen, and everything else. And there's only one more thing left to fix: the moles themselves.

It's time to go home.

I turn to Monty. "You can leave now," I say. "The Shadow Queen couldn't use her magic, and neither could I. There was never any curse."

"But I've been here for so long..." Monty sighs. "This is a community. I like it here."

"Really? Name one other mole."

"I... that's beside the point. It's been too long. 2000 years! My wife will be furious with me."

"There's nothing else here," I say. "The Shadow Queen was right, this place was built for my arrival. Everything means something, you, the Valley, everything. But nothing else is coming. I'm here now, and soon, I'll be out of here. It's time to go."

"Oh, hominid..." Monty sighs. "You are wise. Your world must be lucky to have you, you and your friend. If there truly is no curse, and if I've served my purpose, then I suppose you're right. Missy Mole!"

"Yes, Monty?" Another mole pops out of the hole. She looks almost hopeful.

Monty takes her paw. "Missy Mole, I am truly and deeply sorry. I have been unkind, cruel, and shameful. What I did to you was awful and sinful, and I will never forgive myself. I'll never eat the last caterpillar in the pantry again."

"At last," Missy Mole sighs. "Apology accepted, Monty."

I step back as the pair begin to glow, their radiant light filling the valley. They rise, spinning like a whirlpool, and I wave, Monty waving back. Christ, I'm almost getting emotional, but then, there's a flash of light and they're gone.

I close my eyes, expecting it to be my turn, but nothing happens. The wind blows. The mole hole is quiet. The river gurgles behind me.

"Well?" I demand. "I freed the moles. What now? There's nothing else here."

But the silence is deafening. The Man doesn't speak, and neither does anyone else. Maybe this was all a trick? Maybe there were never any resolutions, just this, and I've been trapped here forever. I'll never see Lucas again, never get to see Porky fall, or see Tracy grow up.

I don't understand it. I've resolved everything wrong with this place. I've fixed it all. What else can I do? But perhaps that's the wrong question. Maybe it's not about fixing everything around me, maybe it's about fixing myself. And if it's about fixing myself, then it's not about doing things, it's about emotions. My brain is trying to right itself. But what kind of mind can create a whole world?

A psychic one.

Or, part of one. Which is like saying my brain has an independent conscience, and it's trying to sort me out. Which is mental. Probably some big disorder, because that's stupid.

But it makes sense, and with renewed intent, I start moving up the valley. There has to be something else here, a clue as to what I'm supposed to resolve. The paintings in the castle, my family, the flower, and the orange mole... if the Shadow Queen represented my Father, if that was one resolution, then maybe that was represented by a painting. But the flower, the orange mole? It feels like it should be obvious. The orange mole was cursed, made to grow old by... The Man, probably. But that's it! It's just like-

Something tugs on my shoulder. My heart skips a beat.

"Hello!" A kid with orange hair beams up at me. "My name's Claus, who are you?"

It's him.

I feel myself falling short. There he is, striped shirt and all, untouched. No metal is on his face, and his hair is wild, but it's a controlled wildness, not the kind that's been left to grow. He looks so hopeful, so happy, and suddenly, I can barely breathe.

"My name's Ness," I choke. "What are you doing here?"

Claus shrugs, looking around. "Got lost. Have you seen my little brother? He's called Lucas. I'm looking for him!"

"I - I haven't..." I vaguely shake my head. "I thought you were twins, though?"

"Well, mummy says I was born first." Claus grins toothily, jumping up and down. He's clearly a very energetic child.

"That's - That's impressive!" I say. I've never been good with kids. "But why are you looking for Lucas out here?"

"I'm... not sure." Claus frowns. "I was playing in the woods. Maybe he's somewhere else!"

"Maybe," I say.

"You know, you're old!" Claus says, looking up at me. "But mummy says I'll be old like you, one day. Soon, I'll be even older than my father!"

"Really?" I ask, nodding like you're supposed to when a kid is spouting nonsense. "You're quite tall for your age, to be fair."

"Not as tall as you…" Claus looks up at my height in wonder. "One day, I'm gonna be a math-math-emat-ician!" He has to sound the word out. "Mummy says if I work really hard and study really well, I can be one, like in the big universities!"

Images of Claus, destroyed and empty, shoot through my mind.

"Y-Yeah," I choke, trying to smile. "Yeah, you do that. You'll be amazing."

"I will! I'm gonna be the best one ever!"

"I-I'm sure you will, Claus. I'm certain of it."

But Claus looks up, his innocent eyes shining with confusion. "Why do you sound so sad, mister? Don't you think I can do it?"

"Yeah - I'm sure!" My hands shake. "It's just - hayfever... all this pollen..."

"Oh!" Claus chirps. "Well, I hope it gets better soon!"

"I-I hope so - I hope so too."

Claus pauses briefly before perking up again. "Well, I'm gonna go find Lucas!" All of a sudden, he hugs me, and I have no choice but to hug him back. This isn't fair. He's so small. He's so innocent. He has no idea what's coming.

"Don't get lost," I say weakly. "Don't do anything silly."

"Aw, but that's no fun!" Claus pouts, letting go of me and turning away.

"And be extra nice to Lucas," I say, even though I know it won't make any difference. It's just a dream, I remind myself. It feels so horribly real.

"I will!" Claus flashes me a last smile, running off into the woods. "Goodbye!"

"Stay safe!" I call in desperation, but I'm not sure if he hears.

The Valley starts to ripple around me. The trees shake, leaves torn from their branches. The river rages, water splashing like a boiling kettle. The mole hole collapses. The castle falls with a mighty roar. I sob, and then I'm gone.

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I wake up in the giant bed, clutching onto a sodden pillow. He was just a kid. Claus was just a little kid. With dreams. Hopes. A future. All stolen. All gone.

That's why Lucas got angry. Because it hurts so badly, it burns inside. He knew Claus. Claus was his hero. His rock. But now, he's empty.

It must be killing him.

"Two resolutions," says the Man, looming all too close to my ear. "I'd congratulate you, but you don't look in a state to receive praise."

"Go away," I mumble.

"But I have a present for you." He pushes something cold into my hands, and I sit up, my eyes swimming. It's that piece of slate.

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You are out of time.

Wake up, Ness.

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"I'm still sleeping," I murmur. "It was a dream within a dream."

"Clever, right?" The Man says softly. "Have you figured out who I am yet?"

Three paintings. My family. The orange mole. A small, yellow flower.

"Buttercup," I mumble. "You're me. My dark side."

"The negative thoughts that you gave form," Buttercup says, unveiling his hood. With a sickening lurch, I recognise his face; the same one that tormented me in my coma. That awful creature, the one who I thought I'd defeated. "You're getting stronger, Ness," he says. "I'm getting weaker."

"What do you mean by that?" I demand, repulsed.

He takes my hand, pulling me out of the bed and onto the forest floor. "You've learnt to resist me," he sighs. "I hold no power, not really. I am you, after all."

"But you created all this," I protest. "You must have some power."

"The burden of a psychic," Buttercup says. "You reached your emotional capacity. It was getting quite cramped in that brain of yours. I had to do some housekeeping."

I almost want to laugh again. But then I remember Claus's face, smiling up at me, and I suddenly want to cry. "I feel worse, Buttercup. Your housekeeping didn't do much good."

"Didn't it?" Buttercup raises a shadowy eyebrow. "You've proven yourself; you're stronger. You beat that Shadow Queen easily. You're better, too. You freed the moles."

"Aren't you supposed to be bullying me?" I mumble.

"Not anymore. Too much is at stake to still be hearing voices in your head. Minds are in danger, technology is taking over... And you said it yourself. I'm a parasite. But I'm also part of you, Ness."

"So?"

"So, it's time to wake up. I was never real, not really, but perhaps I made things easier for you. Maybe separating all of your negative thoughts into another conscience made you feel better somehow."

"Wait, you're leaving?" I say, stricken.

"Dissolving," Buttercup corrects. "I've had my fun. I'll still be there, but you won't hear from me. Things aren't going to get better, but I'm not going to make them get worse."

"Seriously?" I complain. "I thought people were supposed to fight their dark sides to the death or something. That's what happens in all the books."

"Ha. We can still do that if you want. I suppose you were too good, Ness, to be fighting me. In the end, that may be the death of you."

"Please don't give me any more ominous warnings," I complain. "They'll come true."

"Oh? Then you probably won't want to know that everyone you love is going to die, and Porky is going to win."

"What?!"

"Only joking," Buttercup says, smirking. "Anyway, I think we're done here. Are you ready to wake up?"

"Yeah," I say, even though my head is beginning to sting. "Goodbye, I guess, Buttercup. Thanks for being a dick."

"Goodbye," Buttercup says gravely, and everything fades to black.

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I open my eyes. I'm lying face-down in the grass, birds chirping in the distance. Hastily, I sit up, narrowly avoiding the nearby shards of slate.

I'm back. I'm actually back.

I take a deep breath.

"Lucas!" I shout, running into the forest like a small child. "Lucas, I'm so sorry!"

"Ness!" comes a voice, and I have never been happier to see him running towards me with that stupid confused look on his face. I pull him into my arms, kissing him on the nose, and he lets out a squeak.

"I'm sorry," I whisper into his hair. "I get it now. Claus, we need to help him. To give him hope. To give him the childhood he lost."

"It's okay," Lucas mumbles. "You're right, I was being selfish, it'll be too difficult to have him with us. But we'll work something out, okay?"

"Okay," I agree, kissing him again. "Sorry again for being insensitive. I'm gonna say a lot of dumb things, y'know? You're probably gonna have to put up with that."

We pull apart, and Lucas looks up at me. "I can put up with that. I can love that."

I sniffle. "I love you."

"I love you too," Lucas says back. It's the first time we've said it as a couple, and I almost well up.

"I missed you," I say. "I missed you so much."

"Missed me?" Lucas laughs. "It's only been five minutes, Ness."

"But I had this dream, it was a dream in a dream, Buttercup kidnapped me and forced me to undergo character development, and there were talking moles, and an evil queen, and Claus as a kid, and a big Valley, and a magical sewing machine, and - and, not you."

Lucas sighs. "You sentimental goof."

But I frown as we pull apart again. Something still feels wrong. Something's missing, itching at the back of my mind.

The slate.

I run to the shards, suddenly stricken. The writing is neat, chalk-like. But who wrote it? Who could've known? Minds are in danger... Suddenly, I feel like I'm being watched.

"Where's Claus?" Lucas asks suddenly.

"What?" I look sharply over to where he was laying before. His spot is empty. "He was right here!"

But Lucas looks a little closer at the grass. "It's… odd. It's as if he was never here. None of the grass is bent, but…"

"But… he was there."

"What did that slate say?" Lucas asks tremulously. "Something about waking up?"

"You are out of time, Wake up Ness," I recall. "It didn't make much sense."

"Then, someone must be here," Lucas says worriedly. "Someone's watching us."

"Wait, oh my God." I slap a hand to my forehead. "I'm such an idiot. Nobody's watching us!"

Lucas looks at me curiously.

"We're asleep. I'm still asleep!" I say. "That's why Claus isn't here, because we're sharing a dream! Goddammit, this has all been another layer. That's why the slate is there."

"Wait, are you sure?"

"Yeah, I had to resolve all these things in the Valley, but I guess Buttercup wanted me to resolve our falling out, which I've done now! So, hopefully, we can wake up?"

"But how do we do that?" Lucas asks.

"Well, I always wake up whenever I'm about to do something nice," I say.

"Such as?"

Turning, I grip him by the waist. In a brief moment, his eyes widen and his cheeks pinken, and then I pull him into a kiss.

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I wake.

Again. For real, this time.

I sit up on the dew-soaked grass. No shards of slate surround me. I can make out Claus's silhouette in the distance, moving raggedly up and down.

Suddenly, a streak of blonde hurtles toward me, and he tumbles into my arms. "Only we could dream up a whole argument," he whispers, and I laugh.

"We're the biggest goofs of all time."

"We are," he says, leaning his head against my chest.

"Definitely," I agree, bundling him to the floor. He laughs, turning me over, getting me all covered in grass, but I don't mind.

"Ah, shit," Lucas says, looking over my shoulder.

I turn. Watching us from the other side of the river are about five hundred armoured knights on horseback.

"Can't catch a break around here," Lucas sighs. "Come on, Ness. It's time to run!"

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~ReadyForTeddy