A/N: Thanks to Sashie, Pure-White-Angel22, quertyuiop1671, SnowTornado and Red for reviewing chapter 15. I also want to thank in particular (LOL) DreamingInferno (alstromeria) for actually re reading and reviewing every single chapter of my fic. I knew you warned me ahead of time but wow you really meant it! XD I don't think my fic is a great as it could be, just because of some of the errors, but still thank you very much! xDDD And yeah! xD
This chapter was something I have been meaning to write for a while, because of how it ends. If this fic was going on the routine that Mother 3 went through, I'd say that this chapter is the small 'conclusion' to the last 15, or the entire fic so far, which means next chapter would start the second saga. Lawl I dunno xD
But anyways, I should stop rambling and let you enjoy this ficy! Which I hope you guys do by the way x3 Thank you all for reading this fic to where it is so far! x3
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Picture day was always a dread for me. It was even more of a dread when it was for new I.D. pictures to keep up to date with our appearances. My hair was always sloppy; I would have to adjust my glasses, even while they take the picture. I was also seemingly tired through all of them which made about half of my photos look like I'm falling asleep. But perhaps the biggest reason why I hated picture day, the main reason that I would always try to find any way to avoid them was because my identity was always brought up again.
Nonetheless, I always hated the looks that the camera men gave me; skeptical eyes, greedy grins as they snickered at me to walk up to the stand.
"Smile for your father," One of them said to me. That was the photo I frowned in the most.
---
Ness and I sat together in a long line, handcuffed and still drowsy from anesthesia. Neither of us could speak, or had the brain power to think then, but there was a definite doom that lingered under our noses. We watched over time as we slowly emerged to the front of the line as a door at the end of the hall would open up and blind us temporarily, only to claim whoever was at the front into its blinding embrace.
Eventually, Ness was the next to go and I could remember him looking down at me with scared, weak irises as he was dragged into the light and I was stuck in that dark hallway. I ran my fingers through my hair as best as I could. It was this scary, lonesome feeling that kept me awake. Just what happened and what is happening to us?
---
Tony's first photo in first grade was the photo I could always remember. Contrasting from his photo from kindergarten, this picture showed his wide, toothy grin and he was always proud to show it off, especially to me at the time.
"Look Jeff, I'm smiling!" He giggled as he smiled at himself, which only brought a smile to me in return.
"You deserve to smile Tony, everyone does," I told him. It was then that Tony studied my face.
"When was the last time you smiled like this?" Tony asked me instantly with curiosity. I fumbled a bit with the question, because I wasn't sure how to put it in words.
"The last time I really smiled... was when I was at the beach with my family..." I replied.
---
Soon enough, the door opened itself to me. The silhouetted man in the doorframe snickered when he spotted me.
"Come on in you little devious scientist..." He chuckled as I was dragged into the blinding light. I shielded my eyes when I was in a decently big room. The man told me to stand in front of a certain wall that had height measurements while handing me a sign with a random big number. Each photo flash made me flinch and it didn't help me wake up either. I could hear the evil laughter from afar in a nearby control room.
"Wait till the doc hears about his son causing mischief away from home..." That was the last thing I heard before someone escorted me out of the room.
---
"Was that really the last time you smiled?" Tony asked me. It took me a moment, but I nodded. I just knew that Tony would be disappointed with my answer.
"I've never been as happy since..." I told him.
"May I see your photo?" Tony asked. I wasn't sure what the right thing to do at the time, but it only made me remember my first time in the photo booth even more.
---
"Smile for the camera!" The man said as he tried cheering me up with a silly looking puppet. No matter how much he attempted, my expression was mute and I looked like I had seen just about every sad movie in existence. The camera man eventually sighed in defeat.
"Come on young man, isn't there anything that can bring a smile to your face?" He asked seriously, dropping his hand puppet to the floor until it was lifeless again. For once I looked at him, but I didn't give him any clear answer, I just looked at him. I could tell in his eyes, he was becoming impatient. My eyes traveled to the lifeless puppet on the floor.
"At least think of something that makes you happy so you can smile, just slightly?" He said. I slowly nodded and soon enough, he finally took the picture.
---
"Come on, you can show your best buddy, can't you?" Tony asked me with puppy eyes. I sighed.
"I'd rather not... not now, maybe later..." I told him as calmly as I could manage. I was both surprised and happy that Tony backed down.
"Well alright... I'm going to go to the library now to check out a couple more books. Be back in a few!" He smiled and waved to me as he left our room finally. I sighed and got up. I wanted to remind myself, why didn't I want to show him my photo? I rummaged through my drawers, in the deepest darkest corners of my space, until I finally found it, hiding under the top half of my mattress. And then I looked, really looked...
... At the face of the young hopeless boy with real tears and a forced smile.
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The Universe Will Die Without You
Chapter 16 The Truth Behind the Grin
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"Jeff... Jeff you're almost there, just a little further..."
Paula? Was I hearing Paula's voice...? Yet again, I was in a void of dark nothingness and I could feel every inch of it devouring me.
"Where is there? Are you in the Monotoli building?! Paula, answer me!" I hollered as I scanned my sight wildly around me. It was to be expected, that I was all alone by the time I tried to find her.
"Paula? Now why are you trying to find Paula in a strange place like this?" I heard a familiar voice say behind me. Spinning around to see Demetri was expected to me, as he flashed his golden tooth; irises a flare of bright cherry red. I started to grit my teeth and lunged at him. But it was too late, for when I reached out to him, he disappeared with a chuckle.
"Oh Jeff, I thought you were smarter than to get yourself wound up here. Looks like there's nothing else to do but die." My eyes went wide as I heard another familiar voice behind me. When I spun around, to none of my surprise, I saw Pokey, standing in perfect posture while crossing his arms. For some reason, he looked different, and his face seemed pale. Nonetheless he still smirked but it was less noticeable.
"Why don't you ask yourself that? Where are we anyways?" I demanded. Pokey shrugged casually.
"I'm not sure, why don't you ask the brilliant one over there," He said, gesturing his arm to point behind us. It was then that looked again, slowly, only to be shaken by what he meant by 'one.'
It was that same gigantic thing that was at the ocean, where mom gazed eagerly out into the sea. Except this time, it was Paula's face that was concealed in its giant orb, and she looked down at me mutely. Just what was this thing...? Was it Giygas?
"What is this?!" I asked Pokey as I spun around.
But instead of Pokey staring back at me... it was a strange humanoid creature, all silvery white with a tail and ears. Its eyes glared as I heard an ear shattering screech.
---
"Gaaah!" I yelped slightly as I was suddenly conscious again, lying on what felt like a very uncomfortable bed while my glasses were partly on; partly hanging off my nose. I panted, bringing my hand to caress my forehead, like I always did whenever I had these strange dreams. Just what was happening to me? That thing appeared twice, nonetheless...
I tried clearing my mind as best as I could possibly manage. Now was the important time to ask what I asked in my dream; just where was I? I was apparently lying on a mattress, staring at a bunk above me, but that didn't mean we were back in the hostel, right? The bed was harder and sharp; the air reeked. I was no longer in Ness's black shirt, which we were apparently too lazy to change out of before. Instead, my shirt was an ugly light gray. Sitting up in surprise, I found myself in some sort of jail cell. The cold, hard stone floor and the claustrophobic walls were cracked and the metal bars made me feel trapped and alone. I started to think about how we ended up here, and those wanted signs posted all around the city. What was to happen to us now? In fact, were was Ness?
I felt as if I would fall back onto my face when I stood up on my wiggly legs, but it was when I did stand up to look through the bars that I spotted him in the cell across from me, curled into a ball against the wall. There looked to be another man in the cell who had taken up the bottom mattress. One moment, Ness would be perfectly still, then the next he would shiver violently. I felt weak and I couldn't even grunt. It must have taken at least five minutes before I was able to udder any legible word from my lips.
"Ness?" I spoke putting my hands on the rails. Ness was seemingly unresponsive as he still kept his face buried.
"Ness... please say something," I said again. Yet again, nothing, except this time he withdrew his knees closer to his chest. I let myself sit cross legged on the cold stone floor in front of the bars. Questions kept repeating in my head, the main one being; what was to happen.
"Ness..."
"..." Ness perked up slightly to look back at me with one eye that looked glossy. I was sick and tired to see him like this... I felt horrible physically, but most of all...
Images of the strange dream repeated over in my mind once more. Mother at the ocean, her face looking down at me in taunting pity. What was happening? My mind was out the window... but there was no sunlight around from what I could see. Ness had finally raised his head to examine me in confusion, because he wasn't the only one that felt helpless.
I started breaking down, feeling my bottom lip tremble and tears welling up in my eyes; I clenched my forehead in agony while trying to keep my beak down silent. Nonetheless, I choked on my silent sobs. Such a feeling I had awaited for ever since I had first taken my first step out of Winters. It was the first time that I actually missed Snow Wood Boarding School.
"... Jeff?" Ness asked my quietly. I sniffed in response, running my fingers through my hair. What was going to happen? Would we be killed? Would we be locked into prison for the rest of our lives? Would I be prosecuted for my mother's death?
"Jeff please... stop crying please..." Ness asked me but with a heavier voice as if tears were collecting in his eyes too. Soon enough I could hear him; breaking down along with me. It stayed like this for what felt like hours, but had to have been merely minutes. It felt as if all hope was lost.
Was this really the end?
...
"You two really are pathetic," We heard one's familiar voice say, though it took a moment for recognition. Both of us looked around, even in our own cells, trying to find the source. When I looked beyond my own bars again however, our source stood right there, grinning smugly down at the both of us.
"Picky?!" Ness gawked at Picky who dangled around a ring of keys, in attempt to taunt us. Ness looked baffled nonetheless.
"How did you..." I narrowed my eyes.
"Why do you know that we're here? Nonetheless, why are you here, waving those keys in front of our eyes?" I asked. Picky raised his visible eyebrow.
"I'm going to bust the two of you out of here, duh," He replied while smirking after wards. "Of course... you gotta beg me first," I dropped my jaw in protest. I wasn't going to let some kid treat me like a dog begging for food, I thought! However, when I glanced at Ness again, expecting the same reaction, he was way ahead of me in a different direction.
"Please Picky, please, let us out!" Ness practically bowed on all fours. "Please... don't leave us here..." Taking control of the situation, Picky took full advantage.
"Yes, beg for mercy; now who's your almighty savior?" He spoke cockily. Pfff I couldn't believe this...
"... Picky..." Ness barely muttered.
"Who?" Say it louder so everyone can hear." Ness sighed with a huff, half annoyed, half aggravated.
"Picky, almighty one, save us!" He spoke louder. Picky chuckled with satisfaction as he took a key out to unlock Ness's door. I interrupted, almost without thinking.
"Wait a second. Now I want a clear answer, did you come here on your own accord, or did someone else send you here on purpose to release us?" I asked. Picky took a moment to ponder and smile.
"Paula sent me-"
"Paula?!" We both exclaimed. Picky looked dumbstruck for a moment.
"That's right, Paula sent me here. I'm going to take you two up to where she is," He replied as he worked with Ness's lock.
"But what about Pokey and Monotoli?" I asked. Picky shrugged.
"What about them?" He replied.
"Why are you doing this..." I spoke in a serious tone. By that time, Ness had been set free.
"Look, do you want to get out of here or what?" Picky asked. I blew hot air out of my nose.
"Fine, so be it, let's go," I replied as he unlocked my door. We snuck out of the jail dungeon. I wasn't sure if Picky was being truthful of not, but I stood by Ness's motives as much as possible. Besides, we had to get to Paula as quick as possible. I hoped she was alright...
---
It was as if he ran the place, though I was sure that Monotoli was the real one behind the mask around here. Picky surprisingly had found our clothes and our belongings in a small nearby room; more like a closet than anything.
"I'll wait and keep lookout here so you two can change out of those ridiculous clothes," Picky said as he closed the door behind us. The room was very small and crammed; Ness and I barely had room to stretch out our arms without hitting each other. Nonetheless we were squished and embarrassed at the same time.
"How are we supposed to change in here?" I asked; half ranted until the scenario finally caught up to me as I blushed. When I scanned the small room for my bag; finding it on Ness's side, he had already started to blush as he worked with his shirt.
"Oh your stuff... right," Ness said awkwardly, handing me my bag as I averted my eyes.
"Sorry..." I said.
"Sorry for what?" Ness asked. I shook my hand as I took out my needed to be washed school uniform.
"Never mind," I replied. It was silent from then on as our backs barely grazed next to each other as we changed into our clothes uncomfortably. Damn Picky, why couldn't he find a bathroom at least?
"Jeff, try not to look up," Ness suddenly spoke. I grunted in response and confusion as my eyes slightly glanced upwards, spotting what looked to be a security camera.
"They're just expecting us to escape, aren't they?" I commented. Ness chuckled.
"We have to remember?" Ness replied. I grunted again.
"Then it slightly makes sense why they'd stick our belongings in a place like this. Makes you wonder what we're really getting ourselves into..." Moments later, I was finally in my attire, while Ness had finally put on his yellow and blue violet stripped shirt on. He slipped his red cap on his head that his special badge attached to the rim. Ness pulled on his back pack while holding his bat.
"You ready?" Ness asked me. I took out my only hand weapon, which was the gun I still needed to fix, or toss at least.
"Barely," I replied. "But I still have a couple of bottle rockets on hand and I managed to find my knife, so I guess I'm good for now," I replied. Ness's mouth curved down.
"That thing is still broken?"
"Sadly yes. It's been difficult for me to think straight lately," I said. Ness nodded as we opened the doors...
... Only to hide back in as we saw a couple of officers talking to Picky in suspicion.
"Alright young man, why are you in here again? You know the drill," One of the officers said. Picky shrugged.
"Is it wrong of me to get a little lost?" Picky said innocently. The security officer sighed.
"Sir, we know that your father and Master Pokey reside on the higher floors of this building, I can't possibly understand how it's so difficult for you to find your way up the Monotoli building, there's just one set of elevators between the bottom floor and floor 47," He said. Picky looked as casual as he could manage, as if he didn't even pay much attention to him. Ness looked at me.
"The jail is below the Monotoli building?!" Ness whispered. It was then that I realized that everything strung together almost perfectly. There was no doubt now that something fishy was happening in the Monotoli building.
"So I was exploring the place a bit, big deal," Picky replied. The security officer studied Picky a bit with suspicion while wrinkling his nose and mustache.
"Look kid, I know you're up to something, you and that bastard of a brother you have. And I-"
"You're calling your master a bastard? Maybe I should tell him so you'll lose your job," Picky replied smartly. The officer's face turned red.
"Alright kid, I know you're hiding those two kids in that room back there, what are you, blind? There's cameras-"
"LOOK!" Picky practically screamed; pointing beyond the officer's back. The officer quickly looked over his shoulder.
"What?! I don't-" Then all the sudden, Picky lifter up his leg swiftly to strike the officer in the groin with force while signaling us to come out. So we did and we rushed pass the wailing officer who was in pain and agony.
"We have to get to the elevator, which should be around this corner-" Picky told us as we turned to the elevators. However, there was already a group of security guards there waiting for us.
"Hey there they are, get them!" As all three of them quickly rushed up to grab us, but Ness quickly stood in our way and held out his hands swiftly.
... And all three of the officers collapsed to the ground. I gawked at them in shock as they lay nearly lifeless on the floor. Picky pushed the button for the elevator that would take us up around 47 flights of stairs.
"Wha- ...What did you do?!" I asked while in a small state of shock, until Ness grabbed my wrist, which made me shake back to reality.
"They're just asleep, now come on," Ness said dragging me into the elevator. Soon enough, we went flying upwards.
---
Soon enough we could see the late afternoon daylight that shone on Fourside. Was it already nearing the next day from when we left the desert? I pondered a bit about how long we were down below the city limits. However, soon enough, none of us even paid any mind. When I looked between Picky and Ness, I was a little confused of the looks they gave each other. While Picky looked a little perplexed, Ness seemed very uneasy and it took me a moment to realize what their silent communication was all about.
"Please stop looking at me like that..." Ness asked politely averting his eyes from a ten year old. Wow...
"How can I not? What did you do to those cops back there?" Picky semi questioned with wide eyes. Ness silently winced at his remark and turned his back to look at the city. There was a long sense of silence.
"... You don't even know yourself?" Picky asked. Ness flinched.
"Shut up... you saw nothing..." He hissed under his breath. Picky sighed.
"You said you put them to sleep didn't you?" I asked Ness. However, once Ness replied, I felt like a dumbass for asking and adding into the moment.
"That's not what he means..." Ness muttered, taking off his cap and running his fingers through his hair. Was that a nervous habit of his? Ness's eyes drifted up above us and spotted something. When Picky and I looked as well, there was another security camera looking back at us. Ness sighed.
"That swine is probably looking at us right now through that camera," Ness replied crossing his arms and closing his eyes. All the sudden, something in the camera 'popped' and the camera sparked slightly while the lens popped out. I flinched slightly, assuming that Ness broke the security camera.
"I guess that would also explain why no one has even bothered to stop the elevator in the first place. Because they're expecting us to show up..." Ness blew out hot air.
"No... He's forcing us to show up. I'm positive about that..." I looked at Picky, who didn't seem to protest in any way. I frowned.
"Are you leading us into a trap-" Ness held up a hand.
"Jeff, stop; it's okay. I trust Picky, especially in this situation," Ness replied. Knowing that Ness had the ability to see the evil motives inside people, I went by his words with somewhat of a stubborn attitude. Looking at Picky again, his mouth curved down.
"I told you before Jeff, I'm not fond of what my brother is trying to do..."
"Where are we heading, Picky?" Ness asked suddenly. "Where is that cheap bastard Monotoli hiding her?" Picky shrugged.
"Should be on the top floor. We'll have to find another elevator on floor 47 however so it can take us up there," Picky replied. There was a moment of silence.
"So... Porky Pig was right all this time..." He said as our elevator started to slow down. Ness messed with his bangs again.
"He was right about what you could do..."
"Can we please not talk about him right now?" Ness suddenly asked as our elevator opened.
Surprisingly, no one was in the central room, waiting for our arrival, which I sort of found odd. But just to be safe, all three of us looked around us and every security camera we ran into, Ness instantly destroyed. When we were sure that the coast was clear, we followed Picky to the elevator that would lead us to the top floor. However, soon enough, we heard someone from around the bend storm through a couple of doors with heavy footsteps. Picky's eyes widened.
"Hide behind that fern there!" Picky whispered to us as we quickly obeyed his command. Poking our eyes through the plant, I noticed the same rather large man; I assumed was their father, spot Picky down the hall. His face was still red and his once neat hair was out of place. Nonetheless, he looked pissed like the last time.
"There you are; what are you still doing here and not back home with that lazy bitch? Surely you must be bored here, so why don't you take the bus home?" He questioned. Like with everyone else, Picky seemed casual.
"Well dad, I need money to ride the bus, but since you probably wouldn't want to cough up any change, I might as well stay here a bit longer," Picky replied. The father snorted like a pig as he reached into his pants pocket to get his wallet. He pulled out what looked like a fifty dollar bill. Picky grinned deviously.
"Fine, take it and use it to catch the bus or train home. By the way, where's your Porky brother? I've been storming around this tower for hours and he still hasn't responded to my call!" The way he spoke seemed to make Picky flop slightly.
"I... haven't seen him myself, what do you know?" He replied. His father inspected him slightly.
"I forgot to tell you son. That coat suits you. Have a good trip home if I don't manage to see you again before you leave. Get one of the security men to escort you to the station," He said as he stormed off to the opposing elevator that we had just ridden in. When we were sure that he was through the doors to go down, Picky signaled us to pop out again.
"Let's go upstairs I guess..." Picky said as he pulled out a special card key to operate the special elevator. Soon enough, the doors opened for us, as we walked inside the box, descending our way up to the top floor.
---
"I don't understand Ness, what's Porky Pig trying to accomplish?" Picky eventually asked as we awaited our destination. This time, Ness was unresponsive. I wondered why? Did it have something to do with Giygas? The pause lasted a while.
"Can you at least tell me what you're going to do when you get up there?" He went on. Ness put on his cap again. Studying his face, I noticed the bags under his eyes formed larger than ever.
"I just want to get Paula back on our side really. Since you're leading us to her, I'm assuming you're on decent grounds with her. But tell me, why do you know her enough now that you're calling her by her name?" Ness asked, making an interesting point. Picky took a moment to think.
"I dunno, dad just ordered me to go help out the mayor and that's how I ran into her again. When I finally noticed how strange that mayor was acting around her, Porky and himself, I guess I started asking her questions-"
"Monotoli didn't do anything to her, did he?" Ness suddenly asked startled. Picky shrugged.
"Not that I know of. Since when did you know this girl Paula anyways? Why'd you leave all the sudden? Wasn't your mom worried about you?" This was getting to the point where it seemed like Picky was asking too many personal questions and Ness looked a bit infuriated about it. Around this time, we were finally emerging this top floor that Picky spoke of. And on that note, Ness was in responsive and neither of us questioned it for some reason.
Like I've always thought, some things were better left unsaid...
---
When we stepped onto the floors of what was supposedly the top floor, it was dead silent and the rather cool temperature made things wearier than it should have been. Was Paula really up here this entire time? I started to get an eerie feeling from it all.
"This doesn't seem right... well it does, but..." Ness continued, as if he had no idea what he was talking about. "Hey Picky, you have that knife you supposedly purchased from that weapons store on you still?" Ness asked.
"And the lighter, why?"
"Just trying to be prepared," Ness replied. "You alright, Jeff, you've been silent for a while now..." Ness asked, contents of his voice changing. I nodded with confirmation.
"Just a little weary, that's all," I replied. Ness nodded.
"Because I have a feeling that something is going to go wrong soon..." So with the thought in mind, we emerged through the small hallway while following Picky, relying on him that he knew the way. We went through the third door down. Opening the door, the lights were out, so we turned them on.
Inside the windowless cold room was what looked to be an office with a few tables and computers; but the technology itself seemed ancient and the room itself looked as if it hadn't been used in a long while. There was a strange, musty, yet dusty smell in the air. Picky looked around us and gestured us to follow him to the door that was to our left.
"Be as quiet as you can manage..." Picky whispered as we approached the next door. He took out his bundle of keys... where'd he get those keys anyways? When unlocking the door, something accidental and embarrassing happened at the same time. It just happened to be that Ness's bat hat to out a-line itself and drop to the floor with a clank. Ness picked it up immediately when we heard what sounded like a machine, operate suddenly.
"Say the secret code..." We heard a robotic voice say. All three of us jumped as we saw a robotic object drifting towards us with its wheels. All three of us eyed each other. What would happen if we didn't know the password?
"Say the secret code in 10...9... 8," It started to count down. All the sudden, we started saying the most random things, from words, numbers, abbreviations and such, but it was no use. Once it counted down to zero, it held out one of its robotic cannons and fired what looked like a rocket, preferably; possibly the kind I used. All three of us jumped out of the way as the rocket collided into the wall with a bang! Ness and I got back up to our feet instantly, but when we looked back down at Picky, he looked dead shocked.
"They... it fires missiles?!" Picky asked stunned. Ness gripped his bat.
"Not for long," Ness replied as he ran up to the machine to give it a good whack across the robotic head. It created a spark, but it was still functioning somewhat. I decided to try operating my gun and while it fired five times, it broke down again. Swearing, I threw the gun at the robot in hostility. Nonetheless it still functioned. It started to flash a bright red light while setting off a loud alarm. Trying to fire another rocket again, it missed miserably. Ness must have managed to corrupt its coordination by hitting it. This time however, the robot seemingly went bonkers as it started to tackle the wall and the computer desks, making a loud bit corrupted mess. However, after running around for too long and with another whack with Ness's bat, the robot malfunctioned and stopped moving. All of us sighed in relief.
"I didn't have to use PSI... thankfully..." Ness sighed. Ness took one more whack at the robot before turning back to Picky and I. Picky slowly got to his feet.
"That was ridiculous! How could you stand up to that thing so boldly like that?!" Picky asked in amazement. Ness smirked.
"Who's bold now? Say their name..." Ness spoke in pay back for before. However Picky dusted off himself and snorted.
"Alright alright, so you aren't that pathetic after all... Cept four eyes over here still needs to prove his balls," Picky replied pulling out his keys. I could feel the anger rise to my head.
"I don't think Jeff likes being called four eyes, Picky," Ness said hesitantly. However Picky shrugged.
"He'll get used to it," He said.
"Get used to it?!" I growled. Picky unlocked the door.
"But of course," Picky replied smirking at me. Boy did I want to prove him wrong... or punch him senseless, whichever made me feel better. Ness sighed.
"Let's just go," He said.
---
We were lucky to keep ourselves silent through the next few rooms. However they seemed to drag on forever and it was all a bit annoying. Eventually however, we had managed to reach an area that seemed a bit newer in use and to our surprise; we had managed to find Electra's room. The girl that had in dearly wished for the trout flavored yogurt machine. Her eyes lit up when she spotted Ness and I.
"Oh! There you two are! Did you get it back? Pweety pweety please?" She asked with hope in her eyes as she clasped her hands together. Ness put down his back pack, which I was sure he was tired of carrying around because of the weight of the yogurt machine.
"Here maim, this is what you wanted, right?" Ness asked. She opened it and inspected it.
"It's perfect!" She replied with her peppy voice. Gahhh, why did it annoy me so much? She set the machine on the counter.
"Oh, and are you Ness?" She asked politely. Ness nodded slowly.
"...Yeah...?" Ness replied in confusion. Electra nodded as she took out a cup and spoon, put her yogurt contents inside and operated the machine. All three of us looked at each other in confusion until the contents squirted out into the cup.
"Master Pokey wanted me to make this special yogurt, especially for you Mr. Ness. You're our guest of honor after all," She replied smiling as she handed him the cup. The look on Ness's face was uneasy again and he looked into the cup, almost in disgust.
"Thank you... yeah..." He said. Electra smiled sweetly.
"I'm sure you'll find your way around, if you manage to get lost, just call my room. And I'm sure Master Pokey will make you feel welcome here, he's quite the gentleman!" She said while blushing to herself. I couldn't help but notice Picky's snickering, but when I looked at Ness's face, that was a totally different story. We left the room; Picky laughing to himself while Ness's expression was pained and pissed as he crunched his cup and tossed it in the nearest trash.
---
"We should be closer now," Picky told us as he unlocked one last door that led us into a fairly large, empty room with a chandelier, nice carpet, and a potted fern towards the back wall.
"Monotoli's room is right through that door over there, meaning Paula should be right through-"
CLANK
All three of us jumped up in surprise while turning our heads to the source of the sudden outburst. When we spotted a different looking robot, walking and moving around like a drunk, we all backed off a bit. When attempting to stand still, it kept stumbling. Picky and Ness chuckled.
"This'll be easy, it can barely stand up in the first place," Ness said as he approached the bot. However when I heard the robot making a strange beeping noise, something seemed frighteningly wrong. All the sudden, its entire body jerked out of control.
"Ness, Picky, watch out!" I shouted as I tackled Ness to the ground to get him out of the way. Picky yelped as he must have jumped out of the way as well. Looking up, the robot, it had started firing multiple missiles across the room. It was both its demise and strength that its aim was poor and random. It started moving wildly around the room. Ness and I stood up as we saw the robot tackling itself oddly against the back wall where the fern was. Picky took this opportunity to run to the last door to try and unlock it. However, Picky had trouble doing so.
"Shit, did I drop that key somewhere?!" He swore out loud as he patted himself. However, he didn't even have enough time to do that as the clumsy robot started rushing towards him. Picky dashed away while Ness ran up and used one of his special abilities. The shocking thing was, it re-bounded and struck all the walls around us, barely missing any of us. Holy...
"Damn it, it has a shield of some sort," Ness swore as he put a hand over his mouth. The robot started rushing towards Ness, who in response, wacked the robot as it rushed by. While succeeding at hitting it, the robot still rushed passed us and rammed into the wall while managing to knock down the potted plant.
"If I would have known that this was going to happen, I would have brought my own bat or something!" Picky remarked.
"This is not even a time to regret Picky, just live!" Ness replied. Just then our eyes opened in horror as we saw the robot lift up the plant and forcefully toss it towards Picky and I. We both dodged, but the top half managed to make Picky fall flat on his face.
"Jeff set up a bottle rocket, we'll distract it!" Ness told me. I nodded while thinking how dumb of me for not doing so before. The only problem with setting up the damn thing, did I even have the time? When I took it out of its case, the robot started firing madly across the room again.
"There's no time Ness," I replied. Ness growled.
"Think of something, I can't swing my bat at this thing forever!" Ness replied with a huff as the robot started chasing Ness around the room. I scanned the empty room; the place was practically empty. Looking up at the ceiling to find the chandelier gave me an idea for a moment, but there was some planning to be involved. I took out my bag, and rushed through it as quickly as I could manage. The only things that were useful I had was my hp sucker which only seemed to work half of the time.
"Picky, get over here!" I called. Picky rushed over.
"Use this for your defense," I told him, handing him the hp sucker.
"Is it a gun?" Picky asked.
"Sort of. It's not guaranteed to work 24/7-" The robot violently crashed into the wall next to us. I grabbed the most random thing out of my bag before we had to quickly immigrate to a different area. Looking into my hand, I held the insecticide spray that I fixed all the way back in Winters. Damn it how was this going to help us fed off an out of control robot? I thought again. I was sure that the robot was bound to run out of energy soon, or bang itself up too much. I was sure that Ness was irritated that I was standing around, thinking but at the same time doing nothing. Ness was tired of running around and so was Picky; I had to think of something fast. The robot fired a few more beams. The more it fired the more I flinched. Then for some reason; the word 'fire' kept repeating in my head as I looked down at my spray can. Then it clicked instantly.
"Picky, I need your lighter," I yelled while the robot tumbled around clumsily. Ness was panting by this time.
"My lighter?!" Picky questioned while reaching into his coat's pocket. I shook up the spray can. Picky tossed it towards me as I saw Ness whack the robot again against the wall forcefully with a grunt. I rushed over to Ness and the robot while it was seemingly plastered to the wall.
"Stand back," I ordered Ness.
"Are you crazy, you're going to light the whole damn building on fire!" Ness protested as he stood back.
"Well then, we'll just have to see the outcome, now won't we?" I replied while holding out the lighter and situating the spray in front of the flame. Without hesitation, I sprayed and soon enough an outburst of flames showered the pitiful metal creature, as some of the features on its metallic body, including the antenna on top of its head started to melt. Ness approached slowly besides me while Picky was behind us.
"I think someone is at the door!" Picky shouted as he must have gone to tend to the door. We watched as the robot slowly melted underneath the heat. But I knew soon enough that the flames would stop.
"... Is it broken now?" Ness asked as my spray can was empty and the giant flames were no more. There was an awful stench in the air.
"I want to say yes, but I'm not sure about that," I replied. The robot lay limply against the wall, sliding down slowly. Ness chuckled.
"I seriously would have never thought of that. But you know that you still had that dragonite I gave you, right?" Ness asked. I slapped my forehead.
"Thanks for making me feel like a dumbass Ness..." I replied. Ness all the sudden gripped my shoulder. I blushed at first, but his gesture wasn't affection but more so for warning, as we saw the robot twitch again in action. This time, it stood up again, and the melted antenna on its head glowed bright. Oh god, I thought. The beam was huge and monstrous as it barely grazed my skin as we both dodged it in different directions. The side of my neck and face started to burn slightly. Looking back up, the melted robot was yet again back to life. Then all the sudden-
"Not another one! Get em, Lucky!" Both of our jaws dropped as what looked like the Runaway Five storm through the door. We watched one of the band members dash with grace behind the robot.
"Where's its switch?" He said out loud. My jaw dropped even further. It was just a matter of flipping off a switch all this time?! I looked back at the band and Picky, who grinned down at me with a thumb up.
"Here it is!" Lucky yelled as the robot looked to have a mental breakdown, until the living robot was no more. The band, including Picky applauded his success at beating the robot. All by simply flipping off a damn switch... The man known as Lucky bowed from his successful attempt.
"I don't understand; how did you guys know we were headed up here?" Ness suddenly asked. All of them suddenly started to laugh. Lucky walked over to Ness to put an arm around his shoulder.
"Well you see here, it's about time we paid our debt somewhat. You kids saved our butts countless times, now it's our turn."
"We noticed that you two were being hauled unconscious, so we followed yeh guys," Another said. "Oh, and I think you guys dropped this," He spoke dangling a key. Picky took the key in hand.
"We figured; you're here to save your friend Paula, right? I have a fishy suspicion that she might be through that door." One of them said. Picky unlocked the next door.
"We'll keep guard of the door while you go in there and rescue her, alright?" Lucky told Ness and I. Ness nodded his head silently as he made his way to the door with Picky. I flashed Lucky a smile and wave before following along into the next and hopefully final room.
---
As we opened the door, the first thing I saw was a giant grizzly bear! But after noticing it was stuffed, I sighed in relief. Just like Pokey's office down on the 47th floor, this room was much more sophisticated than all the rest, with couches, detailed drapery hanging from the windows. All three of us slowly emerged into the room further while scanning the room. While taking my first step, I felt something beneath my foot. Startled, I stepped back to look down.
And at my feet there was Mr. Ziggy, wrinkling its nose and making another hefty sneeze on my shoes. I must have stepped on him accidentally.
"Well… there's that Mr. Saturn… but where's…"
"Stop, stop right there!" We heard one's frightened voice state from behind the couch. Ness went full speed towards the voice.
"WHERE IS SHE?!" Ness ordered immediately. Then I saw him, on the other side of the sofa, cowering on the floor. Monotoli looked like he was truly on his last leg as I saw tears streaming from his eyes.
"Stop, please don't hurt meeeeee!" He wailed. However, Ness didn't seem to be buying any of it.
"If you lend her back to us safe and leave us alone, then maybe we can talk about me not hurting you!" Ness growled angrily. I sighed. I was surprised that Monotoli didn't have his guns with him.
"Just tell us where she is…" I said calmly. And we waited there as I heard his muffled sobs.
"… I give up… look at my skinny arms… my gray hair… I've become so weak… so helpless once that statue took over myself and is now gone…."
"We don't give a shit about the Mani Mani statue anymore, now-"
"Listen… Paula's fine, she should be taking a nap on the couch right over there…" He said pointing weakly over to a certain couch where Picky had already emerged to.
"She's out," Picky nearly chuckled. Ness immediately rushed over, me close behind.
And there she was; in her new clothes from the department store, sleeping like a dove. Surprisingly, from what I could see, there were no marks on her. Perhaps; she looked healthier than she was when she traveled with us all along. Nonetheless, while it was the exact case with Ness, Paula looked extra peaceful while she slept.
"… Paula has been a very good; sweet girl to all of us. In that sense, I was happy that I had someone to talk to that actually made me feel like a person, even when I really was under that trance…" We all turned to Monotoli, who had just started to stand up, only to sit back on the couch to support his aching head.
"… I didn't do anything to her, I promise… and I'm sorry for kidnapping her and causing you so much pain and trouble… it was just…" Monotoli started to say. This time I frowned. I managed to speak before Ness did.
"It's just what? Why did you want to go ahead and do that in the first place?" I asked. It took him a moment for him to speak, as if there were multiple things he was mingling through in his brain.
"I… I was caught… trapped in the magic of the Mani Mani statue… everywhere I looked, illusions… evil and greedy thoughts… they fueled my mind and weakened my heart so much that now I can barely speak or eat without trembling from the aftershock of such power…" He spoke. "… It was such an empowering feeling; it feels like a wave of energy that your body feels as if you need it… and addiction that makes you feel like you're are on top of the world, when in reality, you are the lowest creature of all existence…" We were all silent from his words.
"But then… when I started feeling and hearing the subliminal messages from its evil reach… I started to grow frightened of this almighty power. It was like my subconscious mind was telling me to do things that I didn't want do… it seemed threatening to me and I grew so tired of it. But the more I had it in my possession, the more of its bidding I did and that's how I came across the idea of kidnapping that sweet little angel Paula over there. There was a message that kept repeating in my head along with an inhuman voice; 'Stop Ness with all your power… keep him from the pyramid… from the city of Summers. It was as if that phrase alone was my ultimate goal and I obeyed it without a second thought, because maybe I thought, if I did do something for it, maybe I would be rewarded… but in the end, I realized, I did it because I was afraid… I was afraid for my life… no… everyone's lives," He explained.
"… And that's why you hid it behind Jackie's café… you were too scared to hold it for yourself," I said.
"That's right… but I also had to keep in contact with it, or else I feared something worse would happen. It was around this time that rumors started spreading that I was appearing at the café. I went there to pray, because it was more of a peaceful way for me to communicate with the evil inside of the statue, instead of confronting it head on." Ness looked like he had something on his mind, and when he spoke, I couldn't help but feel curious myself.
"What was the deal between you and Everdred…?" Ness asked. Monotoli let off a strangled sigh.
"Everdred was the one that wanted to make a deal with me and the statue, but instead of paying for it, I stole it from him. Nonetheless, I knew in the back of my mind that he would have come back for it somehow. When I saw him that day that I first met you two in Jackie's Café, I panicked; my mind was blank… I know in the back of my mind I did something horrible, but I can't remember… or maybe I'm too weak and afraid to dig through my memories…" He sighed.
"Did the voice from the statue reveal its identity at all?" Ness asked.
"It was very vague to me… it didn't reveal its name, but I could sense a feeling of invasion… a phantom or creature or something… I don't really know what it wanted to truly accomplish by stopping you, but-"
"You were hearing Giygas… Giygas was the one communicating to you through the statue…" All of us spun around to the young innocent voice from the couch; Paula, who rubbed her eyes, had awoken from sleep.
"P… Paula…" Ness spoke weakly looking at Paula on the couch. Paula smiled at both of us.
"You don't have to worry anymore; I'm here now Ness…" She smiled. Ness looked as if he was about to cry; we all watched him fight back his tears as Paula embraced him in a hug.
"Paula… I'm sorry…" Ness mumbled. Paula hummed before letting go; Ness however looked as if he didn't want to break apart. Their bond was so close… so intimate, I thought. More intimate than my connection with Tony… I shamefully thought to myself.
"Thank you Picky… thank you so much for leading them here," She smiled sweetly towards Picky. Picky smirked cockily.
"And you thought I wasn't going to get them here, did you?" He asked. Paula shook her head.
"Nah, I trusted you. You're not as bad as you say you are after all," She smiled while turning to Monotoli and me. Nonetheless Picky looked baffled and defeated.
"How are you, Paula?" I asked. Paula's face lit up when she saw me and immediately walked up to me to give me a small hug. She didn't say anything much different.
"Paula, please listen to me… I want you to go back with your friends; they need you more than I do and I'm sure you were happier with them anyways," Monotoli told them.
"So… how are we going to head to Summers anyways?" Ness asked. Monotoli stood up.
"Which also reminds me… Jeff, Paula has told me a lot about your knowledge of machines and mechanics… you think you could tackle the task of flying my helicopter down to Summers for them?" He asked me. My jaw dropped. I didn't really know why, considering I did fly … his sky runner invention before.
"You think you could do it, Jeff?" Ness asked me. It took a moment; I could feel a little pressure on my own shoulders as everyone's eyes rested on my sloppy appearance. I rubbed the back of my head.
"I'm sure it isn't that hard; I've studied some air craft's back in school, so I might be able to tackle it," I replied. Ness and Paula's eyes lit up slightly. When my eyes drifted to Picky, he was casually on the couch, fiddling with his lighter. Monotoli stood up.
"Well I guess that settles it then, let me go get the big switch behind the bear-"
… A nearby wall had started to open up mechanically… Monotoli's eyes grew wide in horror.
"Wha- What's happening, why is it opening up all by itself?" Monotoli asked in confusion. When looking down the dark narrow passage, that's when I heard him… that laugh, was in mistakable. I narrowed my eyes as he approached the room.
"Haha, what a sweet and touching reunion this is… mind if I barge in for a moment?" Pokey snickered as he leaned his right shoulder on the passage's wall, as if he was having a bit of trouble standing up straight.
"P-Pokey, I thought you were down town for the day, what brings you here…?" Monotoli spoke nervously. What was visible of Pokey's light blue eye seemingly eyed Monotoli with suspicion. An eerie grin spread across his face.
"You really are an idiot, aren't you? If you knew that two young gentlemen such as Ness and Jeff was in the jail below the tower, wouldn't you make sure that things wouldn't get out of hand… like they already have?" He spoke. Monotoli took a step back in horror.
"No… nonononono, get back, you're just as bad as that statue, I won't let you get a hold of me!" Monotoli panicked as he rushed to the door, but managed to trip. Glancing at Ness, he was stock still and Paula hid behind both of us. However this time, there was a different look on her face, as if she had seen all of this before. Pokey limped through the room passed us towards Monotoli.
"Huh… I had a feeling that your mind would snap one of these days; I expected it from the start. Really Monotoli… you're pathetic…" Pokey spoke down at him. Monotoli shook his head. Getting up again, he dashed to the door.
"I'll send the police here to arrest you!" Monotoli wailed as he stumbled out of the room. And then there was a moment of silence again… all of our eyes watched the young man in the red and black stripped suit who was either looking at the door or on the floor.
"He's just like the rest of them… fearing his life more than anything in the world. Well I guess he isn't very useful anymore…" Pokey continued. "Picky… why are you still here?" He asked. Picky shrugged.
"… Don't tell me that you actually helped her…" Pokey started to say in a more bitter tone. Picky finally stood up.
"And what if I did?" Picky started. "You were the one that wanted Ness and Jeff to show up in the first place," Picky said. They both stood there staring at each other eye to eye.
"… Just do yourself a favor, and get out of here before things get out of hand," Pokey told him in a rather quiet tone. Picky raised an eyebrow.
"And what is the Master Porky Pig going to do if I don't leave?" Picky asked. Pokey frowned.
"As your brother, it's more of a request. Please leave before things get out of hand…" He said in an eerily low tone. Picky took a moment, until he actually nodded and walked out of the room. But instead of exiting, countless security guards came walking in, each holding a member of the Runaway Five while one held a handcuffed Monotoli while another firmly held on to Picky.
"What the hell is this Pokey?!" Picky ordered as he tried fighting the guard's grip. Pokey shrugged.
"I told you that things would get out of hand. Oh well…" He smiled slightly.
"Pokey… this needs to stop… what you're doing…" Monotoli begged. There was another moment of silence in the room, when finally, Pokey let off an echoing laughter in the room. Paula squeezed our hands.
"I just cannot believe that it actually came down to this… well maybe I did, but that's not the matter. Ness! Welcome… while hoping that you wouldn't get up here, I knew on the back of my mind that you would and as you can see, Paula is fine. However, by letting you take back your precious Paula, your helicopter ride to Summers is being delayed permanently, for I already have the first right to use it after all," He said smirking deviously at Ness. Ness snarled.
"Why don't you just leave us alone?! You're making all of this more complicated than it has to be, why don't you just get out of my life for good!" Ness roared as I could feel the room vibrate from his voice. Pokey smirked.
"It's my life. You can blame me if you'd like, but merely it wouldn't match up with my anger towards you. We reside on the same coin you and I. Once flipped, we'll see who comes out on top," Pokey explained. Ness snorted.
"It's not that hard to leave us alone you know just don't affiliate with me, how hard is that?" Ness asked. Pokey looked around the room.
"Very, Ness. Very very difficult you see," He replied.
"And why is that?!" Ness asked. Pokey paced slowly around the room, walking awkwardly as he did so.
"Well you see… I don't think it's in my power to say exactly why, but let me put it this way. I'm just promoting the duty that has been bestowed upon me. And in a matter of fact, I enjoy this job. But you see, I'm running a bit low on time now, so I'll have to be going now-"
"You're not going anywhere right now," I finally said to him. Pokey stopped in his tracks.
"Oh?" He spoke. I glared at him.
"Stop hiding behind a silly mask and come out. What are you trying to do and why?" I asked. Pokey snickered.
"Well it's always an honor to see the infamous Jeff Andonuts now isn't it? But I believe… didn't I tell you not to get yourself involved with this more? Besides… what did I say?" He added. I momentarily was at a loss of words, but once they caught up with me, I sighed.
"Leave Jeff alone, Please," Ness asked politely. However, Pokey snickered instead.
"No, let us talk. And yes, I remember what you said. I don't give a rat's ass anymore," I told him. Pokey's mouth curved down slightly, but then quickly covered it with a smile.
"Well then I guess you don't care about what happens to Tony now don't you?" Pokey asked me. I shook my head.
"I don't care in the context that I won't let you get your way. By the way, I was right back at our little meeting. Looks like you managed to keep Paula safe and sound for us, just what I had intended," I said. Ness looked at me in surprise. Pokey chuckled again.
"Just remember that I wasn't the one that held her hostage this time... although in a way, I guess I did. And yes, I guess you did manage to get her safe and sound, I sincerely applaud your seemingly courageous efforts, both of you. Really, congratulations; how ever did you pull it off?" Pokey smiled.
"Well… one of your weaknesses was Demetri himself," I told him. All the sudden, the atmosphere shifted into a darker tone. And from the looks of it, Pokey didn't seem to like where I was going.
"Demetri?" Pokey acted as if he had no idea who I was talking about. I wasn't buying it.
"Yes; the Man of Mani Mani himself. And from what I could tell, you were probably using him to keep track of us and our actions at the hostel. And because of that, you were able to know when and where we were going to go each day in Fourside. I remember Demetri specifically telling me that he had been trying to search for his precious statue for quite some time. I bet you somehow kept them at arm's length to threaten him until it came down to Monotoli. But when Demetri did find all his answers, Monotoli was probably too scared of anything and everything about him getting close to it. So he used its power to send Demetri back to Moonside," I told him. Though Pokey was grinning, his eyes slowly started telling a different story.
"Jeff…" Ness said.
"And what else would you like to add to that?" Pokey asked.
"A lot. In fact, remember how you said that you knew things that humanity had yet to discover? And the fact that you knew, all this time and not your brother for example, that Ness and Paula both have powers. That has to link to what you're trying to accomplish here. And like Monotoli just told us, his own subconscious told him to stop us, as if his subconscious was something else; something inhumane." I said. Pokey frowned.
"What are you trying to get at?" Pokey said in a light tone. "You don't honestly think..." I could finally tell now, that he was starting to feel uneasy. I clenched my fists.
"My final and my biggest observation; there is only one that truly wants to stop our accomplishments," I said.
"I should be leaving-"
"Give it up Pokey, I know what you've been doing; it's obvious; you've been acting under Giygas's orders." I finally stated. Pokey's reaction was unexpected as his eyes momentarily widened like I had been snooping through all of his biggest secrets.
"In fact, the Mani Mani statue was just a tool… a device that could let Giygas's channeling commence and that is how and why the people of Fourside has been acting strangely and that is especially why the people here have been giving Ness and Paula, but mainly Ness strange, almost obsessive looks lately." I said. It was silent again.
"… You see… this was exactly what I meant when I said that you shouldn't have gotten yourself involved like this. Scientific minds such as yours make me sick," Pokey spoke with a cracked voice.
"In reality... you're nothing but merely a bus boy doing all of Giygas's duties for him..." Pokey drifted his eyes to Ness, who looked to be in a state of surprise and shock.
"… Pokey? I knew that you've been making my life difficult but… Giygas?" Ness asked in a hushed, but desperate tone. "... You really were on Giygas's side this entire time?" It took a moment for Pokey to actually respond, but his cockiness was completely gone; replaced by what looked to be anger that he tried controlling by clenching his fists. Finally, Pokey snapped, as he rammed his arm into a vase, knocking it down on the floor as it shattered. Pokey brushed a hand into his forehead.
"I should have known… obviously that you would end up not only saying his name, but to try and humiliate myself in front of many people. I mean come on, it's happened to me so many times before," He mumbled.
"Then we're not all that different in that sense," I told him, thinking back to all those times that I was ashamed to hear my father's name. Yet again, another moment of silence.
"Pokey…" Ness murmured. Pokey finally raised his voice.
"You really think I'm probably doing this for fun and games… as if you expect me to truly enjoy this curse I have been enduring for all my life… you have no idea what it's like, and in that sense, yes, I know something that no one else on the planet knows. But you know what… it's a part of me now that I cannot let go very easily." Pokey finally looked up at me.
"This curse that has been bestowed on my shoulders is nothing like the channeling that one would witness through the statue of Mani Mani… no no, it's unexplainable. Now if you excuse me, I must leave," He suddenly said.
"Pokey, why…" Ness said again.
"I can only imagine that is why you can't leave us alone," I spoke.
"Shut up," Pokey said.
"At least I know how you truly operate now."
"… Shut the fuck up before I…" By this time Pokey's eyes looked bloodshot, tired and dead as they glared back into my own.
"You just didn't want me to get involved because you knew that this would happen," I spoke again. This time, he actually stepped forward towards me.
"How would you like to know how it really is?!" Pokey's voice was filled with venom and anger, all towards me. "I can show you at this very moment-"
Everything happened very fast. My eyes widened as I saw him raise a fist that aimed towards my face. But before he could even strike my nose, Ness had managed to slip between us to prevent Pokey from getting closer to me. How he did so baffled me like no other, because his method was quickly embracing him in a hug.
Pokey froze into the embrace, irises open underneath dirty locks of blond hair. Ness's arms wrapped weakly around his back and shivered when he did so. Pokey's arms stuck out awkwardly and his bottom lip started to tremble a bit. But I didn't blame his state of shock, I was in one myself.
Ness started shivering more now; I think the realization kicked in that he was not only hugging his childhood friend, but one of his worst enemies. Then I realized... he wasn't hugging him to comfort him... Did he embrace him because he might have prevented what Pokey was about to do next? But it didn't matter; I couldn't help but pity the both of them. It was identical... I believed... to the bond that my father and I share today. And when I saw Pokey slowly raise his hands to reach around Ness's shoulders, I really wasn't sure what to expect.
But then the next thing he did while shaking in the process, he grabbed Ness's shoulders forcefully, squeezing them tightly, as he ripped his body from his, tossing him onto the floor in the middle of the room.
"Ness," I gasped. Paula gasped as well as she tried rushing past me to him, but I grabbed her arm to keep her put. I wasn't sure what to expect between them at the moment.
Pokey's eyes were hidden from me again, but from the look of his frown, I was sure that he was glaring down at Ness, who looked back up at him, glaring back but without the energy. Soon enough, Pokey stomped off, past all the guards and pacing through the door. Ness immediately got off the floor.
"Pokey!" Ness called as he rushed his way past. I snorted and followed them, Paula behind me. I was surprised that no one was stopping us from getting through.
---
When we got to the door at the end of the hall, we ended up on top of the sun lit city. I had to shield my eyes from the bright setting sun in the distance. Outside, Paula and I found the yellow helicopter already spinning its propeller in attempt to take off. Ness was literally a half step too late before the craft started lifting higher into the sky; Pokey standing, and holding onto the drop ladder.
"You're just going to leave and not explain a thing to us?!" Ness hollered at him. Pokey's hair waved wildly in the wind; his eyes scanning from me and Paula to him. His eyes were both pained and mad. It was as if the cocky Pokey we had once known had vanished. The helicopter lifted higher and higher into the sky as Ness hollered him to come back. However, I finally decided as the helicopter transcended higher and higher into the sky that my hypothesis was correct. His weak point was Ness all this time... I thought. Paula rushed up to Ness who was still staring blankly at the yellow helicopter flying into the distance. I drifted my eyes to my feet. Why did I feel so guilty all of the sudden?
"So he's gone?" I heard Picky say as he walked up beside me crossing his arms. I looked out into the distance again.
"... Yeah... I'm not sure how long it'll be though," I replied. Picky sighed.
"He's always gone... but I guess now it's starting to make more sense to me..." There was a pause and during it, I watched as Paula shook Ness's sleeve. Ness's head still averted up into the sky.
"Do you have any idea where he might be going?" I asked Picky.
"Not at all... " Picky replied. There was a gust of wind then, blowing my bangs across my eyes.
"I guess it doesn't really matter right now..." I said. And that was it. We all stood on top of the Monotoli building, gazing at the late sun lit brilliant sky while Ness broke down in the distance. It was so complicated; but was there something Ness wanted to say to him all this time?
I could see the twinkle of a tear rolling down his cheek.
It matched perfectly with the twinkle in the distance...