Trigger Warning: This chapter contains disturbing themes. Approach with caution.

On average, I've been getting more sleep with Lucas back.

Then the nightmares come. Nightmares not mine, every other night. Nightmares as bad as my nightmares about Giygas. Flashes of the torture Porky's men put Lucas through. Porky with Lucas's amiibo in his grubby hands. Our dreams mix and melt together. Wearing a Dark Dragon Mask studded with scales for the Valentines Masquerade Ball, Lucas hands me a white wine cocktail - except his drink overflows over my hands into bloody rivulets over the floor, warping into Giygas's laughing face and jolting me awake with Claus's scream ringing in my ears.

The first night, I wake up disoriented, confused and terrified. The nightmare leaves me heaving on my knees by a trashcan, though I feel better when Lucas brushes the hair out of my face with a murmur and gives me peppermint tea. Though Claus has stopped haunting me a while back, the nightmares drive another reminder home.

Lucas's scream sounds like his brother's.

Whenever I wake up flailing from another nightmare, Lucas tugs me close, wrapping himself around me. Maybe hugs me a bit tighter. It's the only time he's not as distant.

I've always been a sensitive sleeper, but it's hard to tell if Lucas is trapped in a nightmare. Lucas stays painfully quiet. He locks his limbs and tucks himself tighter into a ball. Like he's paralyzed by fear. Like he's stuck in a silent scream. He doesn't make a single sound, and only fidgets a bit before he jerks awake.

The nightmares keep coming.

I don't know what to do.

I love you and your dumb face, I want to remind him. But he already knows. So whenever he barricades himself into the closet, I wait. When he feels okay enough to drag himself back out, I quietly crawl over to the couch and lie on his back. And just for a brief moment, his eyes grow a shade softer. His grandfather's right- Lucas speaks volumes through his eyes. Then the hollow look returns, and I'm at a fucking loss. And it sucks, because there really is nothing I can do. In the end, this is one enemy he has to fight off on his own.

I miss him. I miss his stupid smirk. I miss his wry, awkward smile. I miss all the times he roasts me for fucking up and doing dumb shit, when Porky didn't exist and the only thing we had to worry about was how stupid we'd look twirling on the dance floor.

Then after a sleepless night, the sun rises, and Lucas starts the day like nothing fucking happened.

Lucas is acting too normal.

This scares me.

We're stuck in this bizarre role reversal where I'm the one who has their shit together, and Lucas loses control. His telekinesis is jerky and jagged, cracking mirrors, shattering vases, exploding lightbulbs. Not an hour passes without Lucas's magic going haywire and breaking shit. People hastily steer clear of him after he accidentally fucks up Corrin's arm, and Lucas quarantines himself, obediently keeping his distance.

I've lost control of my powers so many times it's not even funny. They flow and ebb with my feelings. On a bad day, I can snap and set my hands on fire, but my outbursts last shorter and aren't as bad. Now, I think everyone's kinda realized a little too late - We've all taken Lucas's self-control for granted. Without it, his outbursts have disastrous results. It's only a matter of time before Lucas loses it completely and accidentally snaps someone's neck.

Maybe this scares me because I can actually see the little changes. A heavy haunted look has settled in Lucas's eyes. Biannual trips to the closet become daily. I can't tell what Lucas is thinking, but ever since that night in Tazmily, he's been lost in space. This doesn't seem to ring any alarm bells for most people, because Lucas has always been on the quieter end of the spectrum, but I know him too well to be fooled. He's keeping himself busy so he can't think.

Then Lucas shuts off our empathy link, and I can't feel what he's feeling anymore.

Only two other people seem to notice.

No matter how close they are, Lucas's grandfather can't pry out answers from his grandson. Despite sharing blood, there's still a distance between them. It's obvious that Lucas loves his grandfather, but it's true that they've only rekindled their relationship recently. I doubt Lucas spills out all his woes to him.

I have a bit more luck with Duster.

During one of Lucas's visits with his grandfather, Duster approaches me to talk about our shipping scandal. So far, he's contained the rumors until we were ready. Towards the end of our discussion, he brings it up. "How's Lucas?"

"You should ask him."

"I have, but I want to hear from you."

"I mean... Lucas doesn't talk much. I'm trying to be there for him, but-" I trail off. "I don't know."

Duster's voice turns careful, like he's asking a loaded question. "Has he talked to you about that night?"

"No. Nothing." I look up. "Wait, has he talked to you?"

"...No. I saw Strong's footage," Duster says quietly.

Oh yeah. That was a thing. I want to be sick. "Oh."

"I didn't have a choice. I had to be informed for damage control in case the footage was leaked, but it's restricted material. By far, the only people who know of the footage are the Head of Smash Police, Master Hand, you, and me. We're trying to keep the footage as confidential as possible, but what Strong and his men did to Lucas that night-" Duster's eyes burn with an indescribable anger. "-is nothing someone should have to go through."

I gulp. "Do you want me to watch it?"

"I don't think you can. Master Hand barred your access. He was angry that the police had given you access to the footage in the first place. Their blunder was understandable, since you were Acting Hand at the time, but considering the sensitive nature of the video, they should've double-checked with Master Hand." I don't know whether to feel relieved or frustrated. I'm not sure I could've stomached the footage. As if sensing this, Duster's shoulders slump over. His features turn weary. "Keep talking to him. Lucas trusts you most. It might do him some good to remember that he has someone he can open up to."

I don't know why it took so long, but Duster's talk knocks some common sense back into me.

Lucas has always been so infallible that until now, it's never crossed my mind that he's genuinely slipping. That whatever Porky did to him that night broke something inside. Something irreparable. What Porky's men did to Lucas in less than an hour left Lucas healing for an entire month. If Porky had actually managed to take him away, there might've been a chance we would've lost Lucas for good. As Jeff says, trafficking victims aren't so easily found.

Despite his own failure to take Lucas away, Porky succeeded in hurting him to get to me.

I stare blankly at the page on Claus's dissection.

A crazy thought jumps into mind. Is that what Porky would've done to Lucas? Gouge out one of his eyes like he did to Claus? Attach wings? Amputate his fucking arm? Brainwash him with pills? Sell his body out to dozens of vendors before dissecting him? My stomach gives an unpleasant lurch. I can't imagine Porky ever holding back. If I'd managed to escape that day without Lucas, Porky would've taken out all his frustration onto him. Lucas never would've been able to see the light of day again.

Rope Snake saved my life. Lucas saved my life.

So when Lucas shakes from another nightmare, I grip onto his hands tighter.

It's okay. I'll be there to catch him if he falls.

Four days after Lucas returns to the land of the living, right after his accident in the training rooms, I receive a letter.

Despite its anonymity, I recognize the golden envelope. It's a no-brainer who it's from. It's even in the same envelope Lucas got before Christmas. All our mail is checked beforehand for bioterrorism and shit, so I spend no time worrying about what to do with it.

I rip it open.

The letter only has four words.

"I told you so."

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I can't take it anymore.

I go see Strong.

I know. It's dumb. It's stupid. It's a complete waste of my fucking time.

But I don't know what else to do. I've tried venting off steam through training. But every time I fight, all I can remember is every punch I threw that night. The sound of each man crumpling against the forest floor. The impact of my knuckles against Strong's face. The way his skin rippled across his eyes from impact.

It's not enough.

Despite recognizing me, the Smash Police are reluctant to let me visit Strong. No matter how big a shitstain Strong is, he's a key witness in an upcoming testimony. He's "Evidence", and to talk to him risks tampering with "Evidence". Pending the trial, Strong and his men are probably one of the most tightly-guarded prisoners here. But for some reason, the Smash Police relent, and give me ten minutes.

As I wait in my stupid plastic chair, I wanna kick myself because I still don't know why I came here. Why the fuck did I come here? For answers? For closure? For some stupid hope that Strong will confess his guilt and fold before the trial, just because I'm here? Yeah, good one.

They've treated him well. Strong doesn't look like he's lost an ounce of sleep. He shows no remorse, and his eyes have healed. Even with his attempt to smile, I can tell he fucking hates my guts. When Strong glowers at me across from the glass slider, he taps on his mike, and rasps, "What do you want?"

"I want to talk about that night."

"Not without my lawyer present."

"I'm not leaving without some answers."

"Fine. But no recording."

I scowl. "That's rich, coming from a man with child porn."

Strong shrugs. "You wanted to talk to me, kid. Have it your way - I'm not having false evidence stacked up against me. Turn your phone off, tell the guards to mute the mikes, and then we'll talk."

Fine, Fuckface.

The Police refuse to cut the cams, but they mute our mikes. Ten minutes, they remind me. Only ten.

Strong coughs again. I think he's coming down with the flu. Serves him right. "I suppose you want to know why I did it. Well, I told you. I didn't. Porky Minch dragged me into this city to do his dirty work. Promised me he had a travel pass approved for me and my men, but well - look where I am now. Say what you want, but I'm not guilty, kid. Really. You would've believed me if you were there. Master Porky blackmailed me for my job. For my life. What was I supposed to do? Drop dead? I know the footage looks bad, but the village that burned down- it had drugs, see. Investigating tip-offs is kind of my job-"

"Not outside of Onett. And you knew Porky planted pills in Tazmily beforehand."

He wets his lips and rubs his palms in a desperate plea. "C'mon, ki- Ness. Ness. You clever rascal. You good, good boy. Weren't you swindled by Porky Minch? Well, so was I. He took us both for fools. Let's strike another deal. Get me out of prison, and I'll keep the town safe. I'll arrest Porky Minch."

"Yeah, and maybe we'll find a cell big enough to fit both of you," I snarl.

"No, no. Us Onett citizens- we gotta stick together. You know our police department doesn't mean no harm. Sure we like to joke around a bit, but it harmed nobody. The city doesn't give us enough money to do our jobs, so we gotta accept a few bribes under the table, but it's nothing, really. You should see what the mayor does in Onett. Everyone does a bit of money laundering... Or is this about that boy?" Strong shifts in his seat. "Listen kid, I know about your world-saving streak, but you shouldn't have come that night. If you valued your own life, you should've left him to Porky. It wouldn't have been so bad. Porky's got lotsa harmless drugs that could've helped him forget. When Porky was done with him, the boy wouldn't have remembered his own name."

When I fiddle with my bat, Strong grows more nervous, wetting his lips again. "I know what you're doing. You can't scare me, kid. I told you the truth, didn't I? Porky made me do it. Porky made me shoot and drug the boy. He wanted me to hurt the boy for information. I was only following orders- I don't know what else you want from me. That boy punched me pretty hard too. He would've killed me if I hadn't shot him. And you almost punched my other eye out. Now I'm behind bars. Have some sympathy."

I pretend to think over it. "So you're saying it's all Porky's fault. Thanks. I'll let him know what you told me-"

"Wait! Kid, wait-" Strong panics, slamming his hands against the glass slider. "All right, it wasn't Porky. I didn't want to say this, but you leave me no choice." Strong rubs his chaffed wrists. "It was the boy. And... And I couldn't help it. I didn't want to, but the boy bewitched me. He made me do it to him. He made me touch him." He sounds genuinely regretful. "...you're lucky. He's got a pretty face for a boy. I didn't fuck him if that's what you're worried about-"

Strong shrieks when I suddenly slam my bat against the floor, and he cowers under his chair. This sight should've filled me with some kind of sick satisfaction, but staying here only makes me feel worse. There's nothing to feel good about. I don't feel good about bullying someone, even if it's an utter shithead like Strong.

One of the Smash cops bursts into the room.

"Master Ness, we can't have you threatening the defendant before testimony. Please leave," he interrupts tersely. Good thing too, because I'm this close to kicking in Strong's head.

Smash police escort me out. Then they kick me out onto the curb.

A part of me knows they're right. The last thing I wanna do is to ruin Strong's upcoming trial. But from the way things are going, Porky's gonna win anyways. What's the whole fucking point?

Stewing in a bad mood, I round the corner, before bumping straight into someone. He stumbles back from the collision.

Lucas sounds surprised. "...What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here?"

"I was on my way to the-" He hesitates, catching the look on my face. "Are you okay?"

A million words swarm up my throat.

Instead, I elbow him in the side. "Yeah, I'm okay. Let's go home."

Later that night, I feel an ominous chill crawl up my spine. Lucas turns on the TV and checks the news. His expression grows dark.

At Nine Fifty-Five PM, Captain Strong was found dead in his cell.

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~Chapter Thirty-Nine~

See You On the Flip Side

(aka Opiate of the Masses)

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I don't know when, but something changes in Lucas. A switch flicks back on. Maybe it was the night Lucas returns late from the Red District, looking like death on my doorstep. Or two days after that, when Strong Epsteined himself.

Lucas has been thinking again.

Under Mewtwo, his telekinesis markedly improves. People no longer tip toe around him. He's still learning, but for the most part, his powers are back within control. The revelation doesn't surprise me. Of the two of us, he's always been the one more intuitive with magic. Finesse is his talent. He's a fast learner too. I watch him go from uncontrollably bending a spoon into halves, to successfully tying it into a knot.

Mewtwo even tries to teach Lucas Possession.

Okay.

I know Mewtwo has questionable morals. I know Mewtwo's a shady Pokemon. But you can't skip along and teach someone how to possess people just because you can. Mind reading already crosses certain lines, but there's a reason Possession has a bad rep. It's illegal. For one, Possession leaves no signs. Unlike mind reading and telepathy, any reason behind Possession is nefarious. I mean, it's true. You're essentially breaking and entering into someone's mind and coercing them to obey you. It's difficult to master, but disastrous when perfected. And that's if everything goes right. If Possession goes wrong, one accident could leave your victim brain-damaged for life.

At least Lucas is sensible enough to drop it. He reassures me that Mewtwo had only tried teaching him the basics, and that he had no interest in learning how to Possess people. Even if he'd wanted to, it's not like he had people he could practice on.

But our distance continues to grow. Even without the Summer Tournament, Lucas slips in and out at odd hours. He doesn't return on some days until past curfew. Master Hand pulls him aside for another warning.

I don't know what he's up to.

I don't know where we're headed.

Two weeks later, I find Lucas outdoors. Lucas has been banned from the training rooms this month after blowing up the entire floor, so he's in the Mansion grounds, inside the Ancient Stadium by the apple orchards. I guess it's where Mewtwo trains him now. It used to be a popular pick for training outside, because the place is already so dilapidated. Half of the outer wall's sunken into the dirt like a shitty version of the Roman Colosseum. In the center is a magical campfire that changes color with the temperature- its flames never die. The bleachers are so old that the paint's starting to flake like frosted flakes. I think this place was supposed to be a scrapped stage for Melee, but what the fuck do I know?

I watch Lucas from the bleachers. If he notices, he gives me no sign he does.

He's dragged out several dusty sandbags. Sweat drips off his hair. Stuck in deep concentration, Lucas's eyes glow faintly from Magnet as he drinks in energy from the purple campfire through his hands.

Lucas tenses up like a taut fishing line.

Then in an impressive flurry of attacks, he lets his PK Fire loose.

His magic blasts nine of the practice dummies away, scorching them dead in the center. He grazes the tenth on its side.

Frustration contorts his face. Bending over to tie his shoes, he stalks off to retrieve his sandbags. When Lucas returns to the center of the field, I jump over.

"Spar with me," I say when he pushes all the sandbags upright.

Lucas pulverizes the tenth Sandbag with an expertly placed kick that sends it flying into a nearby wall. Despite the physical exertion, his voice betrays no sign of faltering. "No."

Too bad I'm just as stubborn. "Fight me."

"No."

"I won't hold back. It'll clear your mind."

A squeak. We watch Sandbag slowly slide down the wall, and peel itself off like a wet sock.

"...Okay," Lucas finally says.

We're pretty evenly matched. I've heard people say otherwise, but that's bullshit. Fights against Lucas are hard. They're challenging. That's the downside of battling a good teammate. Lucas knows all my weak points the same way I know his. He can read me better than I can read him. Which is funny, because I think his personality bleeds into his fights. He's careful. Clever. He feints. He has all sorts of tricks and strategies up his sleeve. He might be at a disadvantage with his anemia, but more than makes up for it with his smarts.

I've noticed his eyes get this intense look in them when he fights. Magic lends us both an unearthly grace, but the way Lucas moves so effortlessly on the battlefield scares the shit out of me. He moves with purpose. Like he's ready to kick your ass, and take no survivors.

Today, Lucas isn't that. His mind's clearly elsewhere.

When I knock Lucas into the dirt for the third time in a row, pinning him flat on the ground, I watch his dazed eyes return to focus.

Then Lucas laughs. It's not a happy laugh.

I frown. "What's so funny?"

"You beat me."

"Well, yeah. You've beaten me before."

"But you beat Porky." Then quieter. "...My brother did too."

An uncomfortable pause has settled in the arena.

I shove off him.

Neither of us say a word. For the next few minutes, we clean up, stacking the sandbags back into the shed. When I kick the last sandbag into its slot, I join Lucas at the foot of the apple orchard. He hands me a bottle of water. There's an unspoken apology in that gesture. Like he's sorry for cutting me with his edge.

I take it.

For a while, we sit in the grass, watching the sun set. It's a generic movie poster backdrop. We could be anywhere, really.

Averting his eyes, Lucas shifts against me, but doesn't say anything. A stray strand of hair falls out of place.

For a split second under the fading light, he looks like he could be anyone's younger brother.

Lost for words, I pat him on the back. "Hey... It's okay if you lost to Porky. I mean, I didn't defeat Porky on my first try. I still haven't, y'know- Defeated him for good. Porky's still out there. This isn't some video game, where we've got all the chances in the world."

"Sorry. I wasn't in the mood for a fight."

"Don't be. I shouldn't have pressured you for one." Suddenly, the memory of Porky's words come to mind. I swallow down my unease. "Uh, do you still see me as a brother?"

Lucas gives me a strange look. "No. That'd be incestuous."

"But I remind you of him."

"Partly, but I'm reminded of him whatever I do. I've been told I even sound like him." Lucas's fingers idly pick at the grass. I watch him weave a bracelet of dandelions. I wonder if his mom taught him that. As if to reassure me, he hesitates, then squeezes my hand. "...It's not you."

Following his lead, I pick the grass too, trying to remember how my sister does it. "What does it feel like? Losing him?"

Lucas pauses. "Like if your sister died."

I try to imagine it.

I can't.

Lucas plucks another dandelion. He's got two strands of hair sticking out. I reach for his face-

He stops me.

Our empathy link swells with guilt. I swallow at the look on his face. I know that look. I don't like that look.

It's the same guilty look he gave me when we were cuddling last week, and I'd accidentally gotten a hard-on against his leg.

Refusing to meet my eyes, Lucas drops his gaze to the ground. Sweat drips down his bangs. "Ness, do you think... we jumped into this relationship too quickly?"

"No! No, I don't think... no." I've learned from enough of Tracy's chickflicks that this is not a line you want to hear. "Why?"

"I think we need to look at this objectively."

"...You want to break up."

"I don't want to break up. I'm saying we should talk this through, and figure out the right course of action for both of us."

It's my turn to give a humorless laugh. "Lemme guess. "It's not you, it's me"?"

"Is this what you want, Ness." Lucas turns his eyes to his dandelion bracelet. His voice turns softer. "You have a promising future. A stable career. I'm... I have a lot of debt. I have the Tazmily Villagers to care for. I'm putting you and all the people around you in danger."

"But it's debt that Porky put you in, which won't be a problem once we put him behind bars. I'm still looking after Onett. And danger? Yeah, well so am I. I'm putting your family in danger too, but Master Hand's hired competent bodyguards. We're both Smashers, Luke. Danger's kinda our middle name."

"You lost your yo-yo to Porky-"

"Lucas, you're arguably worth more than a yo-yo from the dollar store."

"It was a gift from your dad-"

"So? I can buy another one. And it's not like my dad can't buy me one either-"

Lucas ignores me. "We both know who the dead weight in this relationship is, Ness, and it's not you."

I clench my fists. "We watch out for each other. We look out for each other. That's what people do in a relationship."

"But there comes a point where you have to stop and weigh the risks. All this peril from Porky isn't worth your life. I'm not worth that-"

"Porky would be after me whether or not we're together. Breaking up won't solve that."

"But it can mitigate it." Lucas swallows down a painful pause. "Ness, you're done with your quest. You're free to move on. You have the chance to find someone who actually deserves your love. Another boy maybe. Or another girl."

Okay, that stings. "Are you fucking serious?! You can't expect me to just move on-"

"You will, because you've moved on from love before," Lucas says, now looking at me, and all of a sudden I can hear the unsaid reason behind that truth. Of Paula. How many times did I ramble about her to Lucas until middle school? How many times had I ranted starry-eyed to Lucas until he'd playfully elbowed me in the side to make me shut up?

Insulted by the insinuation, I shoot back, "Okay, then say our positions were switched, and Porky came after me that night. Would you have gone after him to save me?"

"Yes, but-"

"If you'd do the same for me as friends, then what's the damn difference?!"

"There's a difference-"

"What kind?! We knew what we were signing up for when we decided to get together-"

"I thought I did," Lucas says quietly. "But that was before Porky got involved."

"If you want to break up because he's causing you trouble, then okay. I'll understand. But if you're doing this because you think it's best for me, then don't go around preaching that I need to protect you bullshit to me-"

"As long as Porky's out there, he'll make another stab at the Tazmily Villagers. Or other people. It's only a matter of time. You said it yourself, Ness. We're Smashers. You know we have an obligation to the people we've sworn to protect. Like it or not, that obligation comes first. That's what you taught me long ago- When you left me to save the world for the greater good-"

"The greater good?! You know what," I continue. "I think it's pretty shitty of you to lead me on."

Lucas clenches his jaw. "You know I didn't."

"Then do you like me?"

"That's not-"

"If you want to break up with me, Lucas, I just want you to be honest-"

"I don't want you to lose your mom!"

His sudden outburst makes the words die in my throat.

"I don't want you to lose your mom. Or your sister. Or your friends. Because of me." Lucas's voice breaks. His voice sounds thick. "I like you, Ness. I like you so much that it's tearing me apart, because if I ever lost you, my world would literally implode on itself, and your loss would kill me from the inside. I don't want to lose you because I lost you before, and I fucked over half my family the same way because I stood by and said nothing while they died protecting me. Ness, you're too important for me to lose, for your world to lose, and if I did lose you, I don't think I could ever recover from your loss. This is why I want us to think things through, because I'm selfish, and I can't forgive myself if I let Porky take you down with me, because I said nothing and let it happen. Is that honest enough for you?"

Oh.

A sudden pressure rests on my shoulders.

Lucas shifts away. His voice is more level now, but horribly resigned. "If we lost you, the world would mourn you. Your family would mourn you. But I'm disposable. No one needs me. Porky already took care of everyone I care about. He tortured a Drago to eat my mom alive. He enslaved and abused my brother until he committed suicide. He knocked my dad into a coma and made me watch my grandfather get shot in front of me - if stress doesn't kill Alec first, old age and grief will. I have no one left that cares about me. I have no one left that Porky can hurt." Lucas pauses. "Except for you."

I don't what's worse: the conviction in his voice or his matter-of-fact tone.

The pressure builds like a headache.

"I won't hold you back anymore. Porky was right. I was helpless that night. I couldn't do anything. He showed me that he could do whatever he wanted. I was used- groped, molested, shot at against my will. And I was stupid for thinking I could take him on. I'm no one special. I'm not a hero. I've never been a chosen one like you. I'm just a kid who tried to help and got in the way. Because no one else in the village could. And if something happens to me, they'll move on-"

I've heard enough.

I lunge forward, grabbing him over by the front of his shirt. The next thing I know, there's flashes of magic everywhere, hot sparks flying and spitting into our faces, and we're fighting for real, wrestling around like we're in the fucking arena. Except it's nothing like the arena.

It's personal.

I don't know when, but our brawling must've caused a loud enough ruckus because at some point, Falco and Shulk arrive, pulling us apart in the fray.

"What are you two doing?" Shulk says, aghast. Lucas doesn't respond, panting and struggling in Shulk's chokehold.

"Fuck you," I say, shaking. I don't know who it's directed to. "Fuck you for thinking no one would ever miss you. Just... fuck you."

Wrenching myself out of Falco's grip, I stomp back inside.

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~oO0Oo~

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Lucas and I avoid each other for the rest of the night. It's what he wanted, anyway. He can go fuck himself, because I'm not gonna care about him anymore. Yeah, I didn't care about him at all.

Hours later, I'm a pitiful mess, sniffling and curled up on the floor, watching trash TV and drowning all my woes into a tub of icecream. I used to laugh at break-ups in corny action movies, because who fucking cared about the Plot B romance when it was so phony and over-the-top? How dramatic can people get? It's just a breakup. Get over it.

But I feel so betrayed. No one said heartbreak hurt this bad.

Mom calls me a few times, but my phone dies during her third attempt. I miss her too, but I'm not in the mood to talk. I'll call her back tomorrow and apologize then. I hook my phone up with Jeff's charger and sink back into breakup hell.

I rock back and forth into a whimpering ball. "I think he hates me now."

"I don't think he hates you-"

"Do you think he hates me because I've been so fucking needy? Because I stole one of his cookies last year?" My eyes sting. "I knew I shouldn't have eaten that stupid cookie-"

"Ness, stop. You've been reciting the same questions for the past hour. You're not going to get any answers by asking me." When I remain a catatonic, shivering mess, Jeff sighs, and takes my tub of icecream away. "Okay, I think that's enough Rocky Road for you."

"I fucked up."

"I agree. Your frustration was misdirected."

"But I still said I loved him. Kind of. Do you think that counts?"

Thumbing through his father's journal, Jeff stifles a snort into his arm.

"What?" I complain, glowering at him from the floor.

"Tony and I don't brawl each other whenever we have a disagreement," Jeff says, struggling to keep a straight face.

I plant my face into the carpet. Porky's still free. Paula's avoiding me. Now Lucas wants to break up. I hate this. I wanna die.

Ignoring the elephant in the room, Jeff and I talk more. About how his dad's doing, how he's doing, how our search for Porky's going. Ever since Porky's attack on Tazmily, I've been tirelessly dropping by Jeff's apartment the past month. He seems to be doing a lot better after Lucas woke up.

But there's a downside to catching up with the same friend over and over.

There's not much to talk about.

I lead the elephant back into the room. "Can I stay the night?"

Jeff shrugs. "I'll be here for you if you want to crash. But-" he throws me a look. "-you can't avoid Lucas forever. You have to return to the apartment at some point. And if you two want to break up, it's best to make it clean."

But I don't want to break up.

And from what I've felt from our empathy link, Lucas didn't seem to want to either.

If Lucas breaks up with me... he'll be my Ex. Ex. Ex... friend? Will we even stay friends? Cold dread creeps up my toes. Shit. Now I know why Popo was against dating roommates. This is going to be so awkward.

I need more icecream.

Well, if Lucas wanted to break up, I guess there's no point in waiting. I should rip the bandaid off right now. I roll onto my back.

...Fuck. Just thinking about a break-up hurts to breathe.

He said he liked me.

That was the first time he ever told me.

That was the closest he's ever gotten to saying he loved me.

"Ness, it's two in the morning," Jeff shouts after me, but I've made up my mind. I don't care how late it is, I'm tired of waiting. I'm apologizing, and we're talking this through right now. Unless Lucas wants to push this to tomorrow, I need to know.

But when I return, the apartment's dark. Lucas's shoes are still missing from the shoe rack. I run around, checking under his bed, diving into the bathroom, flinging his closet open, but he's nowhere in sight.

He's not here.

"Did you see Lucas tonight?" I ask Rope Snake, and he flicks his tongue at me. Lucas stopped by, but only briefly.

Lucas has never been this late for curfew before.

My fingers tingle. Something's not right.

Luigi's officially Acting Hand, but the system hasn't been completely updated yet. I still have some rights. We might've cancelled patrol duty, but there's one room I can use.

So when I burst into the Control Room, Pit squawks like a chicken at his desk, swiveling around in his chair. The giant overhead screen paints flecks of light onto each of his wings.

"Ness! What are you-"

"Why are you- nevermind. Have you seen Lucas?"

Pit immediately turns worried. "No one's left the Mansion, but I can pull him up." He shuffles his wings. "You're lucky. I heard the Pacman Ghosts got food poisoning, or else they'd be roaming the floors for stragglers-" Pit catches my eye. "Wait. How did you get in here?"

"He was former Acting Hand. He's got access to restricted areas up until this week," a voice interrupts us, and melting back out of the shadows, Pittoo perches on a steel beam overhead.

"You," Pit says furiously. "Why are you breaking curfew?! Kuro, you're gonna get us into trouble with Lady Palutena-"

"-If she catches me out of bed. And I was hungry-" Pittoo munches on an apple. "Cafeteria closed early. Pretend I'm not here."

With a last glower, Pit returns to the keyboard. When Lucas doesn't show up on Phone Tracker, he minimizes the tab and pulls up Mansion Mapper.

A blue holographic map of the Mansion pops up on-screen, with several red dots glowing in the background. Most of the red dots are clustered on the 11th floor - Assist Trophies. There's another cluster on the 9th and 10th floor - Smashers. Master Hand and Crazy Hand don't show up on the map at all. None of the missing Twelve show up either - I guess Master Hand's still patching up the system to detect them. Even without Phone Tracker, we're supposed to be able to see the Petrified anywhere in City Grid, and all living Smashers in Mansion Mapper.

Pit filters his search. There's five glowing dots.

Three in the Control Room. Obviously, us.

Then Two in the library.

Pit looks surprised. "Huh?! That wasn't there before-"

I grab his mouse and hover it above the dots.

One reads Lucas. The other reads Ashley.

Pit looks faint. "I have to report them, don't I?"

Pittoo snorts. "What, you gonna bust them for a bit of midnight reading? Technically we're all supposed to be in bed-"

"Not me-!"

"Liar. None of us are supposed to be out."

"At least I have an excuse! The only reason I was here was because you went missing, so Lady Palutena sent me to search for you, but then I found this room open, so I-" Pit moans, clutching his head. "Oh flicker feathers, why does this have to happen on my watch?!"

"Relax, Pitstain. We'll all go to bed, so let it slide."

Then the two glowing dots blink out of sight.

Pittoo's apple falls out of his mouth.

Pit screeches. "Where are they going?!"

We rapidly zoom out of the Mansion, and bam, they're back on the map. Hovering above the grounds, the dots look like they're walking in midair.

"They're flying somewhere," Pittoo says, now tracking the dots with his eyes.

Stressed out of his wits, Pit drags his face down with his hands, like he can't believe this is happening. He needs more coffee. "...Where," he says faintly.

We look at each other.

Then with a resigned sigh, Pittoo tosses his apple into the bin, and shakes his wings free. "Come on, Ness. Once they leave the grounds, we'll lose them."

Pit swallows. "But Lady Palutena-"

"Don't snitch then. Tell her I'll be back."

Pittoo drags me out by the arm, and I shoot Pit an apologetic glance before we disappear around the corner.

"...Didn't think he was crazy enough to actually do it... and at this fucking hour?" Pittoo mutters, now hauling ass to the library. We pass under arches of books, marching over to the grand windowsill. A pair of dark curtains gently billows about from the wind, and with a jolt, I realize one of the five windows is open. "I fucking knew he was batshit crazy-" Taking a deep breath, Pittoo glares at me. "Okay listen up. I'm only doing this once, because I owe your boyfriend. But after that, we're even."

"Where are they going?" I say blankly when Pittoo grabs me by the arms.

"The Market."

Then with a powerful stroke of his wings, we're launched into the air.

"What's so bad about getting some groceries?" I scream, terrified because I'm kicking at empty air a good hundred feet from the ground. It's like riding the Tower of Terror at Disney World... without the seats and safety bar.

To my relief, Pittoo's adjusts his hold under my arms so I'm no longer dangling violently like a leaf in the wind. "No, I'm talking about the Black Market."

I scrunch my face against the wind. "Didn't Snake get all his painkillers there?"

"Not at 2 in the morning. If they're leaving at this time, then they're probably meeting up with a shadier vendor. Fucking Ashley. I knew her ego was bad, but she's gonna get them both killed-"

"Killed?"

I feel Pittoo scowl. "Every dumbass knows not to head off to the Market at night! In the later hours, if you stray off the main road, there's some booths you should avoid. Especially in the Deep End. Human trafficking's a big one."

"Why don't the police stop it?"

Pittoo laughs. "Good one-"

"No, really. Why-"

"Oh they try. But the business is too big." Pittoo circles around the roof of a church, scanning the ground. I know his sight's as good as an eagle's. "...I think I lost them."

I snap my head up. "Where did you last lose them?"

"I never saw them from the beginning. I was guestimating the path they took. Was hoping to bump into them, but I still don't see them. If we can't find them, I'll just have to guess which entrance they took into the Market."

Shit.

In a last ditch effort, I reach for Lucas's empathy link-

It sears my chest.

He's nearby. Somewhere. Distracted. But he's here.

"They're close," I rasp, and Pittoo cocks his head like an owl. He even checks Phone Tracker a second time, but Lucas doesn't show up at all. To no one's surprise. If Lucas had half a brain, he would've turned off his phone so nobody could track him. I whip my head around, but it's night, and it's too dark to see shit. It's made worse when something irritates my eyes. A shimmer. I turn my head, but the blurry patch won't fucking leave the same spot in my vision.

That's it. I'm going blind from desperation.

When I point it out, Pittoo squints. "Holy shit. It's them."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. They're invisible, but I can make them out. They're covered in water. Nice find."

"We need to stay out of range, or Lucas might sense us," I warn. Pittoo gives no response that he's heard me, but he soars a good distance overhead. Even with the city lights twinkling below us, I still can't see shit, but as long as Pittoo can, we're in the clear. By now, he seems to know which way they're headed.

Even with his speed and prior tip-off, we miss them. Lucas and Ashley have just disappeared into the void when we crash through the windows of an abandoned pub.

Goddammit.

Not again.

"I guess you'll have to wait. Portal opens every 4 minutes." Pittoo furrows his eyebrows. "Okay, listen. The second you enter, you can't teleport out-"

"Why?"

"Magic. Now shut up, I'm not finished. When you walk in, the Market will drop you off on a roundabout named Silk Road. All the exit portals are scattered there. You can't miss them. They're blue. You're behind, so you might have to do a bit of searching for those two idiots-" Pittoo shuffles his wings in irritation. "But the second you find them, drag them out, teleport to the Mansion, and sneak back inside. You can't directly teleport into the Mansion anymore, because Master Hand improved his wards the day you came back drunk, but there's a blind spot by the back door that Popo used to use. Just stay close to the wall and shimmy up the stairs. If you're lucky enough, Master Hand won't find out, and you won't get in trouble. But if you don't show for our match tomorrow, I'm gonna assume you fucked up somewhere and sound the alarm. Got that?"

"Yeah, thanks. Stay on Silk Road. Don't go to the Deep End, don't teleport, don't do drugs."

"Oh yeah, one more thing. Whatever you do-" Pittoo narrows his eyes like a hawk. "Don't bump into a man named Neckbeard."

"Avoid Neckbeard. Got it. Anything else?"

"No. Most vendors stick with their stalls, so if you steer clear of their goods, you'll be fine. But Neckbeard likes to lurk around the fringes of the Market. His Lost Boys almost tore my wings off once when I wasn't looking. So if you see him coming, fucking run the other way."

"But I don't even know what he looks lik-"

Then the Portal opens, and Pittoo shoves me into Limbo.

.

.

.

~oO0Oo~

.

.

.

I come into the world kicking and screaming, before faceplanting spectacularly into the street.

That's it.

I'm never trusting Pittoo again.

When I stand up in the middle of a bustling crowd, spitting out silk, Chinese lanterns wave and wink on their clotheslines. Magical butterflies light their wings up with a strange glow like floating fireflies. The main road's crammed with stalls. The cobbled path is stuffed with pebbles tied in spider silk - The same path I'm standing on.

Silk Road.

Pittoo's right about the exit portals. You'd have to be blind to miss them. They're everywhere by the street - blue portals the size of trampelines. The color reminds me of Lucas's PK Magnet.

For a supposedly dark hub, it looks like a regular marketplace.

A trio of witches gossip past me to the nearest blue exit portal. I catch one bemoan,"-can't believe a single kid wiped my favorite dealer clean-"

"Oh you better believe it. I heard the brat's been ripping off Margaret's Pixie Dust and reselling them in pills! Happy Happy Pills!"

"Word. He's contaminating our product and stealing our business by charging at twice the price-"

"-Shh! Not so loud! Do you want Neckbeard to report to the brat?"

"She's right. If I lose any more customers, I'll have to close up shop for good."

The tallest witch crooks her finger. "Mark my words. Neckbeard cheated the Devil. It'll come back to bite him in the end."

They cackle in unison, before melting into the portal together.

I tug my cap down, and take a walk.

Stall is an understatement. Some of these stalls are as big as houses. I'm not kidding when I say the Stalls have everything you can imagine: bags of candy and drugs of every color, news of a rebellion, herbal medicine from ancient Crete, Cherry ale spiked with Love potion, Siren Song in a bottle. I even pass by what looks like a Genie seamstress sweatshop. Huh. So that's where Master Hand gets our clothes.

Customers, most humanoid, walk in and out like they do in any store, checking out goods, debunking fake news, paying coins. Except when people spot me, they avoid my eye and hurry past.

Off the glowing Silk road, the Stalls are darker. That area beyond must be the the Deep End. Just hearing its disembodied whispers creeps me the fuck out.

I don't need to be told twice to stay away.

We were only four minutes apart. Lucas and Ashley couldn't have gone too far. I start asking around, but the people here seem afraid of me. The few shopkeepers who do respond shake their heads at me quickly. When I leave, their eyes follow me through their blinds.

Then one witch is kind enough to point me in their direction.

Eastward.

Off the beaten path.

Great, just my luck.

In comparison to Silk Road, the crowd thins by the fringe. The stalls near the Deep End are dead silent. Barely anyone's here. The few people I see lurk in their shops, barricading themselves in the middle of some private transaction. Breaking away from a few glares, I swear I pass one stall that reads "Human Organs - Name your Price" but I don't stop to stare.

After a while, I'm aware I'm being watched. A boy with green eyes pops up everywhere I go. I can tell they're green, because his eyes glow faintly in the gloom. When I stop at by a Stall selling Medieval armor and weapons, I turn around.

There he is. By the corner. The boy doesn't budge. Is that Neckbeard? He looks pretty young to be a neckbeard.

He stares openly at me.

For some reason, this pisses me off. Well buddy, two can play that game.

I smile as widely as I can and stare back at him. The fuck you looking at, you weirdo?

The boy blinks, and silently slinks away.

Despite winning the staring competition, I'm left feeling even more creeped out. The quicker I find Lucas, the better.

That's when someone clamps a hand over my mouth, and drags me struggling into the nearest alleyway. When I try to bite it, the hand lets go.

Then-

"Are you mad?!" Lucas hisses, his face pale. Up close, I can see that he's ditched his usual ensemble for a dark jacket and pants. He looks like an emo teenage goth. Oh wait, he is one.

"I should be asking you," I retort, directing another glare at Ashley beside him.

Lucas's eyes flicker back as if hearing something. He seems on edge. "He's much too close."

"Close to what?"

Ashley groans. "Ness, you can't just go around asking people if they've seen us-"

"I'm sorry, I got lost. Now why are you two here?"

"Well, we're here for the Egg of Light-"

Lucas interrupts her. "-Not anymore."

Ashley stares at Lucas. "What do you mean? We had a deal-"

"I'm calling it off. We'll find another time to swindle Neckbeard-"

"You guys are looking for Neckbeard?!"

Ignoring me, Ashley balls her hands into fists like an angry pixie. "What?! You can't just call it off when we're almost at his Stall-"

Taking off his jacket, Lucas covers me up, pressing his hands against my shoulders and steering me into another alley. Closer to Silk Road. "He's attracting too much attention. Let's go home-" Then Lucas suddenly goes rigid. I barely have any warning before Lucas sweeps out his arms behind me.

Lucas's PK Magnet absorbs the emerald flames in a sphere, before they disappear in a messy pop.

Two green pinpricks float towards us in the gloom. Then the same boy with the dark hair and green eyes shows up, surprise evident on his features. The caster of the PK Fire - the person who tried to burn us into crisp.

Neckbeard's telepath.

He and Lucas observe each other.

For some reason, the boy doesn't look too happy to see us. He scowls. There's a twinge in my gut. His distaste is so strong that I can feel it emanate from him in waves. Not distaste - jealousy.

Six more boys pop up, surrounding us in a pack, their hair blonde in contrast, the glow of their blue eyes noticeably dimmer in comparison. When a few tendrils of thought prod my mind, they hastily retreat when I stab back. Minor telepaths.

Through my empathy link, Lucas tenses up. Seven against three - and they've got magic too. Not good odds. I reach for my trusty yo-yo - the one I always leave in my pocket - then remember that Porky stole it. I must've left the replacement at home. Great. Fuck me sideways.

A voice booms. "Who goes there, Yanuk?"

I catch Ashley's whisper of surprise.

Neckbeard.

He's tall. Tall enough that he even towers over Lucas. Then I notice he's got a fair amount of bling. On his right hand rests a giant studded ring. Around his neck is a thick necklace of gold. On first glance, he looks like the harmless old man who enjoys flying kites at the Park with his grand-daughter on Sundays. But down here, with his thick graying beard and beer belly, he resembles a serial killer behind his cold smile. He has cruel eyes.

The green-eyed telepath flickers his eyes to the side, obviously sharing his thoughts. Neckbeard's own eyes rake over us.

"Interesting. No one's countered my boy's first attack before. Another telepath?" His eyes linger first on Ashley, then on Lucas. "Well, I hope my Lost Boys haven't been giving you trouble. They tend to wander and play, you see." Neckbeard makes a grab for Lucas's shoulder, but as if reading his mind, Lucas subtly shuffles to the side, avoiding the hand. This only seems to make Neckbeard amused.

I don't like the way he's eyeing Lucas like a piece of meat.

Then Neckbeard looks at me. "Ah, Yurk. Early delivery today?"

He's staring at me.

Fuck, why is everyone staring at me?!

I clear my throat. "...Oh, yeah. Slow Saturday."

"Strange. I was expecting to see Master Porky early in the morn."

"Don't shoot the messenger," I counter, playing along. "Master Porky's paranoid about the Egg. He wanted us to fetch it for him while we were at it. You know he doesn't trust just anyone."

Evidently it's the right thing to say, because Neckbeard nods, now jabbing his thumb at Ashley. "Who's the witch?"

"She's with us. Master Porky wanted me to-"

"Introduce me to his cause. Witches never see reason," Ashley seamlessly interrupts with a toneless smile. I flashback to Silk Road. Are witches common? There hadn't been too many witches there- Neckbeard must have terrorized their businesses. Ashley's voice snaps me out of it. "Now if we can do business...?"

Waving his hand, Neckbeard flippantly gestures in the direction of his stall.

Not like we have a fucking choice but to follow.

I try to catch Lucas's eye, but he seems like he's purposely avoiding me. Thanks to my stupidity, we're stuck together, prodded in the back by thought police, about to face who knows what- and we never even had the chance to fucking apologize.

When we make a turn, I nudge against him. Sorry.

Don't blow your cover more than we already have, is all Lucas says. But when he awkwardly pushes his jacket back around my shoulders, I know I'm momentarily forgiven. Somewhat. We'll make formal amends... if we live to see the end of the day. I zip his jacket up, hiding my striped shirt. There's nothing either of us can do about my eyes, so I keep the baseball cap. From behind, Lucas presses closer against me.

Neckbeard's Stall is Las Vegas in a Mansion. An arch - buzzing with fluorescent letters - welcomes us in.

NeVeRLaND, it flickers.

When we cross a moat, the reflection of the water better illuminates our 7 person guard. Except for the green-eyed boy, who swaggers by Neckbeard's side like a faithful guard dog, gem-studded shock collars gleam around their necks. To my surprise, the six blonds fidget about when Lucas glances at them. When one accidentally bumps into my shoulder, raw fear pulsates through our brief contact.

We pass several workers - slaves - who wearily look up at our approach, but are quick to put their heads down when Neckbeard passes with his telepath. It's hard to watch. When I see their shackles, my fingers ache to melt them with a PK fire. Under the dim light, I can't tell what color, but all the slaves have light hair. When one slave gets in our way, Neckbeard shoves the poor man aside like livestock. His skin is shiny with burns and fresh scars, and when he turns around, something black flashes out at us. The Pigsnout tattoo is branded below his collarbone.

My spine tingles.

I don't think Neckbeard bought your explanation, Lucas says.

I glance at him. What else is he thinking?

I can't tell. He's a pathological liar.

"Yurk, I'm surprised you don't keep your boy collared. Is he trained?"

I start. "Trained?"

Neckbeard grabs Lucas over by the arm, carelessly turning his shoulders around and examining him as if he were some pricey object on sale. To his credit, Lucas's face is a blank slate. "Looks young for his age. How old is he?"

"Old enough," I say, resisting the urge to punch him and hoping he'll let go, but Neckbeard doesn't stop.

Obliviously unaware of our discomfort, Neckbeard continues perving over Lucas. He taps Lucas's chin up, first lifting up his eyelids, now noting the texture of his hair through his fingers. "Blond. Blue eyes. Not a bad face. A telepath too. I'm surprised Master Porky's letting this one go. Too old for his tastes?"

"I don't know," I manage.

Lucas's jaw tightens. It's a subtle change in his otherwise indifferent expression. If it weren't for the fact that Neckbeard has yet to show us where the Egg of Light is, and that his thought police are silently watching us, Lucas looks seconds away from hurling Neckbeard 6 feet under... if I don't beat him to it first.

Neckbeard's eyes flicker lower, undressing him with his eyes. Neckbeard's hand crawls up Lucas's leg under the hem of his shorts, and squeezes the inner side of his left thigh. Lucas flinches when the hand continues creeping upward, feeling him up. A stray blue spark stings his hand in warning, but Neckbeard heeds it no attention. "Seems disobedient. A bit tall, but he's got nice milky thighs-"

I've had enough. "Can't you see he doesn't want to be touched?" I snap, yanking Lucas back.

Everyone stares at me.

"...Master Porky doesn't want you touching his goods," I amend in a mutter, glaring at the floor. "Negotiate a price first."

Withdrawing his hands, Neckbeard's expression is impossible to read. He glances at his telepath, then shrugs before walking deeper into his Mansion. "Undress him later, then. I need the details, Yurk. We can discuss the price before I try the goods, but I need to know what I'm buying. If Master Porky sends me bad merchandise, that's hardly a forgivable error."

Lucas's smile is impossibly tight. I can almost hear the cold, brittle snap of anger from his mind.

God. Of all my undercover missions, I hate this one the most.

I glance at Lucas. It's all I can risk here. You okay?

A muscle twitches in Lucas's jaw. When this is over, I'm going to dropkick this man.

Make that double.

Walking through the cramped corridor of goods, we arrive at a luxurious lounge with couches and ashtrays. When ten mortal men flock over - bodyguards - Neckbeard waves them away to the next floor. Stubbing his cig into his gold ashtray, he points at us to sit at the nearest couch. "I'll do honest business with you, Yurk, but that boy stays outside. No telepaths." When Ashley and I share an alarmed glance, Neckbeard sighs with a bite of impatience. "My boy will lead him outside. He will be well cared for."

It's a loaded statement.

No is not an answer.

Behind Lucas's back, my hand tightens on his. It's too late to leave now. None of us thought that we'd be splitting up, and we're so outnumbered that a fight is the last-ditch plan. I glance at the green-eyed telepath waiting behind us. You think you can take him on in a fight?

Lucas squeezes my hand back. Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

I'll let you know once we have the Egg.

Don't get yourselves in trouble.

Without batting an eye, Ashley answers. "You better keep him in good condition. Or else, the deal's off."

"Of course."

It happens in seconds. A last squeeze of my fingers. A gentle brush against my mind.

Then Lucas lets go.

My hand drops into the couch.

The telepath boy leaves with Lucas in tow. I cling onto Lucas's thoughts until his telepathy cuts off, dissolving out of range. He's gone. Even with our empathy link, I feel strangely empty without him speaking in my mind.

He'll be okay.

It's all I can hope for.

Reclining like the God of Couch Potatoes, Neckbeard twists his necklace, popping the jewel open. He breathes into it once - a fleeting expression of ecstasy flashes across his face - before snapping the clasp shut. "You must be exhausted from traveling a long way. My boys, where are your manners?" Neckbeard snaps his fingers as if beckoning a dog.

The six Lost Boys reappear.

In matching skimpy outfits and sapphire earrings, two of the boys walk in with grapes. Setting them on the table, they join our company, seating themselves on Neckbeard's lap - one on each leg. Blond and blue-eyed, they could be mistaken for twin brothers.

My stomach gives an unpleasant lurch.

"...Ah, Yurk. I've never introduced you to my boys." As he speaks, Neckbeard idly rubs his knuckles against the chest of one. "These are two of my newest. You know how I favor blondes with blue eyes. Forgive Yanuk for his rude behavior earlier - we don't take kindly to unexpected guests. Especially of your kind-" Neckbeard inclines his head to Ashley. She's got a winning pokerface that could give Lucas's a run for his money. "You can't trust a witch. Females are too temperamental for business."

Ashley's smile takes on a plastic quality. Her face betrays no sign of anger, which is surprising because she's usually so quick to snap into a temper tantrum.

Her smile scares the shit out of me.

I quickly move on. "...Yanuk?"

"Yes, Yanuk - my pride, my joy. My Ganymede. He may be my right hand man, but he needs to work on his jealousy. You see, my Yanuk is growing old. I have been looking to replace him." Neckbeard plucks a grape. The boys on his lap silently watch me with unblinking eyes. They don't speak. In this setting, they've been reduced to nothing but ornaments. "I have only the best men for labor. I've handpicked over a hundred boys... procured six blondes with mindreading powers of any kind... yet I have failed to find a capable blonde spell caster with blue eyes. A PSI telepath. I should be grateful, I suppose. Any psychic boy is rare on the market. Many years ago, I was lucky to have bought a powerful telepath from Master Porky. The boy who found you - Yanuk. I raised him. I believe he is twenty-five. Yanuk has served me well. He has grown fond of me as a father. Unfortunately, he is not my type. He is not blonde." Neckbeard's eyes bore into us. "But your boy... well, I've never seen anything like him before. How much does Master Porky want for the boy?"

His question bounces between my ears. I imagine Lucas bent backwards to serve, forced to wear earrings and fetch drinks. The very idea is abhorrent. Neckbeard makes Strong look like a Saint.

I clench my fists. It takes all my willpower not to punch this man's face in. With a flaming fist. "That depends. Do you have the Egg of Light?"

"I do. Fetch." Neckbeard snaps his fingers, and a third Lost boy scurries off. He returns and kneels against the floor, bearing a treasure chest. Neckbeard opens the lid, revealing a winged egg the size of a Giant Chocolate Cadbury Creme. Light pulsates along its dark pink stripes like a heartbeat.

Its beauty steals my breath, searing my side. "That's-"

Breathtaking, no?" Neckbeard guesses. "I've possessed artifacts from many worlds, but have no idea what this could possibly be used for. Whatever this is, it must be priceless for Master Porky to ask me to hold it for him. A lot of trouble for one object." Then he snaps his finger, and the Lost Boy hastily slams the lid down, covering the Egg from view.

I swallow. "Are you sure it's real?"

"As real as you or me."

"Can I hold it?"

"Not so fast, Yurk." Without breaking eye contact, Neckbeard leans forward on his feet. "Master Porky must first respect our deal. Show me the goods."

Ashley and I share another glance. Neither of us know what he's talking about, and Lucas isn't here to help us bullshit our way out

We're so fucked.

"Excuse us, my lord," Ashley interrupts. "We weren't informed of this transaction-"

"I give the Egg, and Master Porky gives me my share of Pixie Dust. Where is my Pixie Dust?"

"I think there's been a mix-up. We'll call Master Porky to deliver your Dust in person," I say as Ashley surreptitiously reaches for her staff. I'm so nervous that my hands are sweating bullets, ready to burst into magic at the slightest moment's notice. Time to bolt. Thinking out loud isn't the smartest move, but it's a risk I'll have to take. LUCAS! We found your Egg! I yank on our empathy link, but if he feels it, I can't tell. There's no response, so I try again. Lucas, get your skinny ass here! Boba! EGG! Free food! EGG!

"You are too kind, Yurk. There's no need to trouble yourselves - Master Porky is already on his way. Please, sit and enjoy the refreshments," Neckbeard says, rising to his feet. "After all, we can't have you leaving so soon. It would be rude of me not to entertain Master Porky's most cherished-" His eyes lock onto mine. "...friend."

In that split second, I see it in his eyes. He knew who we were all along.

I shove Ashley off the couch as the chandelier drops like a trap, its legs crashing behind us. Before either of us can attack, Neckbeard snaps his fingers.

In a rehearsed motion, the six boys stand. Their eyes glow, and my world explodes into pain.

Another understatement of the century. Lucas might have had it worse, but I'm no stranger to physical pain. I've been beaten bruised and bloody by gangsters, burned by a possessed coffee cup, run over by an evil taxi cab. The cherry on top? Giygas himself was literally the embodiment of pain.

But I'm not used to intense pain of this kind. Whenever the situation called for it, Lucas has always been careful with handling my mind. His touches are soft and gentle, probing through my memories and brushing against me with care. Now I can finally appreciate how cautious he is.

Then they dig deeper, and I want to scream. Fuck. Fuck. It's the worst fucking headache I've ever had, times a thousand. I feel like someone could drill into my skull with a jackhammer right now, and that wouldn't even come close to this torture. Several tendrils of thought stab into my head, grasping and tearing at my memories, and when I bat one tendril aside, another takes over. It's like playing a crazy game of whack-a-mole, except it's one I can't win. Another hot flash of pain wracks through my head.

From the corner of my eye, I can tell that Ashley's also gritting her teeth in fury, because she's locked in place from the same psychic assault.

They're attacking us at once.

As we sit paralyzed, struggling stupid to move, Neckbeard saunters around the table like he's got all the time in the world. "Ness. I knew it was you, from the moment I saw your eyes. Master Porky tells me many stories about you. About how you went on an adventure with three friends. About how you fight with a blond sidekick. About how you've thwarted his plans over and over. But your luck's run out. Master Porky's on his way now- Ah, Yanuk! Good boy."

From the corner of my vision, Yanuk slinks back to Neckbeard's side, sporting a bloody nose. Even through the haze, his blue eyes are bright.

"What did you do- with Lucas," I manage through gritted teeth.

"He never stood a chance. Yanuk's taken care of him. You see, my boy's never lost a battle against another of his kind." Another flash of pain tints my vision red. From the bulk of his shadow, I can tell that Neckbeard's now standing in front of me. His eyes look hungry. "What reward do you think Master Porky will give me if I hand you over? He'll give me anything to have you for his Auction tonight." Neckbeard smiles, twisting his ring, and the pain amplifies like a speaker. "And don't worry about your friend- I'll keep him safe in my service-"

He's cut off by a distant scream.

.

.

.

~oO0Oo~

.

.

.

Neckbeard's cut off by his own scream.

Yanuk retracts his fist from impact, sending Neckbeard's ass sprawling into his own plush couch. Neckbeard moans, pathetic from pain. Something clatters onto the ground.

The ring.

Drawing everyone's eye, Neckbeard's ring slowly tinkles onto the floor, spinning like a quarter.

Then Yanuk grinds the ring under his shoe. I hear a crack and a fizzle.

The mental assault falters. The six boys stumble back as if struck, the broken halves of their shock collars lying at their feet. As if in disbelief, one of the boys slowly brings his hand to his neck. "I'm... I'm free."

Neckbeard sputters. "Yanuk?! Wh-What is the meaning of this?!"

Jerking his head up as if on a puppetstring, Yanuk slowly turns to face his former master. He tries to make a frantic motion to speak, his nose bleeding profusely, but then teeters backwards into the floor, his eyes rolling back into his head in a dead faint.

Stunned silence.

Then his blue eyes blazing murder, Lucas storms into the room.

It's pandemonium. Four of the boys, no longer fearing punishment, flee for the exit. Two of them panic, and struggle to turn back the tide.

My battle reflexes kick in. Before the two boys have taken another step, I've bathed the table and fruits on fire. It becomes plainly obvious that they're not fighters. When Ashley hexes one with boils, forcing him to turn tail, the other boy screams, stabbing my mind in wild abandon. Together in a group of six, they might've been strong, but alone they're weak.

Flicking his mental probe aside, I grab him by the shoulders. "You're free. If you want to live, run." And shove him back.

In the corner of the chaos, his eyes cold and unforgiving, his expression twisted with disgust, Lucas grabs Neckbeard by the collar of his shirt, like he's holding a squirming maggot. In his grasp, Neckbeard's frozen in terror, looking like he's pissed his pants. Through the murk, Lucas's eyes gleam like two dangerous slits. When he's stretched upright from his slouched posture, I'm suddenly aware of how tall Lucas actually is. He's an imposing figure.

When Lucas is done reading his mind, he grimly drops Neckbeard back onto the floor. "...He's all yours."

Ashley flashes a wide smile.

Her shadow stretches behind her like an inky teardrop. Two horns sprout from its head. An eerie grin stretches itself from ear to ear.

Then as Neckbeard squeals like a pig being slaughtered, the Devil swallows him alive, dragging him down to Hell. Smacking its fangs, the shadow gives a loud burp that rattles the windows, before returning to the usual outline of Ashley's shadow.

Lucas and I stare at her.

"He'll be fine," Ashley says sweetly. "Now grab the Egg. Let's get out of this dump."

"Good idea. Porky's on his way." Lucas says, kicking the heavy chest open. The second he touches the Egg, it flutters in his arms. Like ripples on the surface of water, a multicolored shimmer pulsates through its veins.

As if transfixed by the sight, Lucas gazes into its depths. A soft light washes over his face.

Then his empathy link explodes into a celebration of color.

Chasing after one another, Lucas's memories reel past like a movie on fast forward. Memories, new and old, clash and collide in a fizz of energy, sparking, mixing, melding into one. The sheer amount of memories blows me away, overwhelming our blinking empathy link in a hurricane that buffets all five senses and leaves us stranded in dumb awe. Basking in enlightenment, Lucas breathes like he's alive for the first time, his eyes aglow, his identity reforged.

When the light dies, Lucas straightens his shoulders. There's a different look in his eyes, an old confidence - like he finally knows who he is. As I throw him an uncertain glance, Lucas elbows me in the side with a wry smile, as if to say he's still the same person.

Ashley snaps her fingers. With the sound of Red's disembodied cackle, her staff transforms back into a broom in a puff of smoke.

I grab an unconscious Yanuk.

Ashley gives me a look.

"It wasn't his fault. He was groomed-"

"Well, now there's too many of us," Ashley says, now searching the rubble. "My broom can't hold that much weight."

My heart sinks. "Then-"

"Here is it. Knew he had some on him." Ashley returns with Neckbeard's discarded necklace, and opens the clasp. She flings the soft golden dust over us. I don't know why, but for an instant, a buttery warmth infuses my face, making me giddy. When I stupidly grin, stuck in a stupor of happiness, Lucas lazily mirrors me. Everything the dust touches - including us - begins to float like we're on the moon. As the spike of happiness ebbs, I experimentally kick my legs out, and end up swimming through the air. We're weightless.

"Pixie Dust," Ashley declares.

I frown. "Pixie Dust? Like the candy?"

"No, stupid. Not Pixie Stix - Pixie dust. It's a drug-" A clamor down the stairs. Neckbeard's bodyguards burst in, yelling. I dispatch the first line with a solid PK fire. "-found by a man named Peter Pan-" Her hair flashing ghostly white, she blasts another bodyguard. "-that makes you high from happiness if you inhale too much of it- literally-"

"-I can't believe you're ruining my childhood-"

"Well, you're not going to have much of a childhood if we don't get out of here," she snaps, her hair flashing white again from magic. I drag Yanuk onto her broom. His head lolls on his shoulder. "Hurry up, you two. Quickly! I didn't throw too much dust on you, so the effect's gonna wear off-"

"Lucas," I yell.

After slamming two men onto the floor with the fruitbowl, Lucas runs over midair. As soon as he swings his leg over, taking up the rear with the floating Egg safely in his arms, we're shooting through the open door and soaring into the sky. The clamor of Neckbeard's bodyguards quickly fades behind us.

Underneath, the ground shakes, ringing with the sound of a hundred footsteps. It's the noise of a mass prison exodus. When I glance down, I can see a stampede of desperate people heading towards Silk Road, making a beeline for the exit portals to the real world. As they pass through the Deep End, dumbfounded storekeepers and clients watch the sight, too stunned to act. Neckbeard's bodyguards are too far to bother them now.

I glance at Lucas. "Did you-"

"I freed all his prisoners," Lucas admits. "Sorry for taking so long- I had to give them a headstart. I didn't have time to melt the shackles on their hands, but they should all make it to Silk Road." He uncertainly glances at Yanuk. "You were in danger- I didn't mean to Possess him-"

"Are you fucking kidding me? If it weren't for you, we would've been sold in some flea market somewhere." Seriously, if I hadn't been busy clutching Ashley's broomstick like a lifeline, I probably would've grabbed Lucas over by the face and kissed him stupid. But when I settle for patting him with my free hand, fumbling for his side, Lucas flinches. Something drips along my arm. Dawning in realization, my right hand pulls away. It's slick with blood.

"...You're hurt."

"He had a poisoned knife. It's not fatal. I was going to ask if you could heal me - when we were back on the ground."

I want to flip Yanuk over the broom right then and there, but Lucas presses his free hand over mine. His grip's firm. "He was a victim too."

"Let me heal you now- You can do Magnet with one hand, right?"

Lucas's forehead creases in concentration. A bead of sweat rolls off his nose. His shoulder sags. "That's strange. I can't-" he grimaces. "I think his poison's blocked my magic."

I stare at his bleeding side in dismay. "Shit. That's not good. We'll have to hope Master Hand can stop it."

Following the stampede of freedmen, the broom makes a steep dive. We hurtle through an exit portal, leaving the BlackMarket behind us. Soon we're back in the real world, surrounded by chapels and abandoned wine stores. Near where we started. I've never missed this city so badly.

Then Lucas stiffens up against me. His eyes suddenly transfix on something else on the street. I follow it.

My blood goes cold.

Porky Minch.

In the sea of escapees, Porky's eyes follow us as we soar overhead. A realization enters his eyes. He's seen the Egg. At the end of the street, I glance back at him again.

He's pissed.

As if out of instinct, Lucas presses closer against me. He wraps both arms around me to adjust his hold on the broom- as if trying to hide me in his fold. His head rests against my shoulder. His breath grows increasingly shallow against my neck.

We tie Yanuk up and dump him at the nearest police station, with a note explaining everything on his back. Stuffing the Egg of Light in my bag, we ring the doorbell, and take our leave as soon as a policeman shows up.

When Ashley's about to take us home, Lucas stops her with a request.

"Can you take me to the Skytrain Station?"

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.

.

~oO0Oo~

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.

.

Dawn's peeking over the horizon when Ashley drops us off. Good thing too, because her broom's starting to buckle under our combined weight.

Luckily, it's early. Few people are in the station - most look like arrivals.

Lucas slides off her broom. "Thanks, Ashley."

"Yeah, thanks," I add.

Ashley rolls her eyes. "You're lucky I like boys with daddy issues, or I would've dumped both of you in the middle of the street."

As she flies away, I wave her goodbye, before realizing Lucas has already entered the SkyTrain Station. When I hurry inside after him, Lucas clumsily pushes at my shoulder with his free hand. His face has gone ashen from blood loss. The wound's not clotting. "Ness, teleport home."

"I can't leave you like this," I retort, tying his jacket underneath his shirt to stem the flow.

"It's clotting- just slowly. Besides, I was shot 16 times last time."

Yeah, and we know how that went.

I follow Lucas up the escalator. "Why do you have to come here now? Can't this wait?"

"If I return to the Mansion now, it's the last straw. I've broken curfew so many times that Master Hand's never going to let me leave - especially if I return injured." Lucas heaves a breath. "The Egg of Light- I need to go to Tazmily."

"I can take you there-"

"No, not here. Nowhere Islands. At the SkyTrain station."

"You're making no sense."

Lucas slumps against me to catch his breath. I'm growing worried if he's not even trying to look okay. That blood loss didn't do wonders for his anemia- his hands are dangerously cold. "I don't know. I just know - I need to go there, now. There's one final memory here- and Porky saw us. He's probably figured out I've regained most of my memories. I need to go to the Nowhere Islands before he stops me. And then... he's hosting a sex party tonight. Don't confront him alone. Just let Master Hand know. Porky's obsessed with you, so lie low."

"You're impossible," I say, shaking my head. "Okay, I'll lie low. I just hope what you're looking for is worth bleeding your life out for it."

"I'm sorry I hurt your feelings yesterday," he says, and his words make my throat constrict.

"Yeah, well..." I rub the back of my neck and glare at the ground. "...I'm sorry I fucked up back in the Market and got you stabbed. Now if we promise to believe that Porky is neither of our faults... can we finally take him down together?"

"Together," he agrees.

"Good. Because the next time you try to break up with me over Porky, I'm decking you."

Against me, Lucas shakes in a silent laugh, but stops because of his side.

We've wasted enough time. I ruffle his hair. "C'mon, show me where it's at."

When the dizzy fit passes and Lucas can hobble back onto his feet, we duck into the terminals, avoiding as many people and security as we can. With his magic shot, Lucas is cautious of Porky's spies in the area. He hesitates a few times on our way to our destination, worriedly glancing at me to teleport the fuck back already, but I roll my eyes and push him forward. If you ask me, I think we do a pretty good job of staying undercover. The only person who spots us is a frantic flight receptionist, who tries to intervene.

"I'm sorry, but you don't have the authority to be back here," she says, waving her hands to the Keep Out sign. Somewhere through its cracks, wind whispers through the broken-down tunnel. Its entrance has been barricaded by steel and wooden beams. "According to safety regulations, we have been told not to let anyone through here, by any means."

I show her my ID. "That's okay. We're here on business."

She doesn't back down. "We can't clear either of you, Master Ness. Our donor explicitly said to forbade anyone from entering this old tunnel when he paid to barricade it."

I frown. "Donor? Which donor?"

"Master Porky Minch, sir."

Lucas and I share a significant look. This is definitely it.

I roll my sleeves up. "Let us through. If he asks, I'll take responsibility."

The flight receptionist still doesn't seem too keen on letting us go, but there's not much she can do when I start blasting the barricade with PK Fire. With bemused eyes, Lucas watches her scurry away in mortal terror.

"Subtle," he notes.

"Shuddup, like you can do better. You're bleeding all over the floor."

But Lucas's frown deepens, watching her disappear back to her station. "She was wearing sunglasses. Indoors."

"Well, maybe it's because she had a bad pimple on her eyelid and didn't wanna show it."

Amusement spreads in our empathy link. "Did she really?"

I blow fire off my fingers like lit birthday candles. "Yeah, really. Now are you sure about this?"

"I don't know. But it's what the Egg showed me."

There's a heavy pause. Neither of us can look the other in the eye. This is pretty much it. Porky's about to be cornered. Lucas is about to regain all his memories. We're at the finish line.

In the background, the intercom announces the arrival of a SkyTrain from Onett.

I clear my throat. "Well..."

"I better go." In an unexpected twist, Lucas squeezes me close - for a second so fleeting I barely register it - before he turns away. Shoving a melted beam aside, Lucas slots one leg in, then glances back. His eyes are uncertain. "Ness, you should really teleport back-"

"Allright, I'll fucking go. Don't bleed to death."

"I won't. Deus ex machina."

I grin. "See you on the flip side."

Shaking his head, Lucas walks deeper into the tunnel. I watch him until he vanishes into the gloom, and I can't hear his footsteps echo anymore. Whipping around my hair, the unseen wind whispers louder in my ears.

I guess that's my cue to leave. Despite pulling an all-nighter, I feel wide-awake. Jeff and Paula have to be filled in. Poo's flying in at noon. And Master Hand has to be notified. Shit's about to go down. Porky's not getting away this time.

I turn around, ready to teleport-

A stomp. A yell of pain.

Fear not mine sears my chest.

Then her eyes wild, someone familiar rounds the corner, screaming my name. Behind her, a burly man hops on one foot in pain.

It's Tracy.

She collides into me, her shoulders shaking. What is she doing here? What's going on?

The man swears, reaching for his taser.

Without a second thought, I'm moving, punching him across the jaw with a flaming fist. No one messes with my sister. No one fucking touches my sister-

Something stings me twice - in the back of my leg and arm - then half my body goes dead. My paralyzed head hits the floor, cap clattering out of sight. From the sounds of it, Tracy's kicking and clawing at the man before several footsteps rush in, and I come face-to-face with the receptionist from earlier. Behind her glasses, her left eye's swollen with a pimple. Fuck me. She was actually one of Porky's henchman.

And as someone plunges a syringe into my neck, I can't help but think-

God. This is such a lame way to go.

Author's Note:

See, I can write happy chapters too ╰(▔∀▔)╯

I know COVID-19's on everyone's minds, so I released this chapter early! I hope it made your day a bit better, wherever you are ԅ(˘▽˘)~ TFW you procrastinate on exams and write a chapter in a week because you're a responsible soul ha

F for all the ruined childhoods (S̶o̶r̶r̶y̶,̶ ̶P̶e̶t̶e̶r̶ ̶P̶a̶n̶)

Shout out to the doctors, nurses, delivery men, tech duds and dudettes, and everyone else who have to keep society running. It's a difficult time (understatement of the century), but we'll get through it together. Hang in there!

[OBLIGATORY EFF U TO GAMESTOP]

Don't have too many references in this chapter:

*The broken-down tunnel is referenced back in Chapter 24

*In Peter Pan, The Lost Boys are a group of boys who live in Neverland (I think there were 6 Lost Boys in the Disney movie, but don't quote me on that).

*According to "Nefarious, Merchant of Souls" - a documentary that explores human trafficking in different countries - some Traffickers showcase their victims to potential buyers by forcing their victims to walk naked, similar to a fashion runway. The victims are treated like merchandise. During these auctions, buyers can "try" out the merchandise and buy their victims (usually girls, to make money off them in countries that legalize prostitution).

*The Dark Web is a part of the Deep Web. It's known for pharmaceutical/illegal drug trade, and blueprints for 3D printing. However, it's better known for transactions that cross moral boundaries, like child porn.

*In Earthbound, Ness completes his adventure with Paula, Jeff, and Poo. Fun fact: Poo was supposed to show up instead of Kumatora last chapter, but I scrapped it.

Nyxnsu: AAAA Happy late birthday! Lucas is precious boye and must be protected ;-; And please don't apologize - even though I try to fact check, I still get things wrong. So thank you - I completely forgot about the ID lottery eep! Fixed :D And Porky's creepy obsession over Ness is definitely ramped up to 11 in this fic LOL

Forestfire34720: AYY You have a really good point! I was hesitant for Lucas to give away the Master Ball so easily, because of sentimental value. At the same time, I feel like Lucas has no practical use for the Master Ball, and that Red would appreciate Lucas giving it away if it helped him in the end. But I know where you're coming from :) And touche - Lucas wasn't thinking straight last chapter. Depression is sucky like that ;-;

ReadyforTeddy: asdHDKS thank you ;-; I hope this chapter made you feel better (￣▽￣*)ゞ *sweats nervously*

Dr3amsxx2: AH I can't believe you've been reading this for years! Has it been that long? TFW you write a fic very drunk lol. I originally didn't plan on posting this fic, but when I accidentally did, I was like - lemme try this fic out. It was never supposed to get serious, but unfortunately, I'm a serious person - so anything I write kinda falls down that angle haha! Maybe I'll succeed in writing a good crack!fic one day :D As for future works similar to this fic- I have nothing planned yet, but I'll probably continue writing for Earthbound.

Conna: I know I responded over DM, but I'll write here again :) Lucas not participating in the tournament was supposed to have an impact (LOL), but I don't think I pulled it off. It might've had more oomph if I included the training montage - I had segments where Lucas and Ness warmed up together before brawls (stretching, doing pushing ups, etc) for previous chapters, but I was forced to delete those in favor of other plot lines. But you're right - Lucas has so much on his plate that I'm sure he'll see it as a boon. Depression is just a beeech (and stalls the plot uGH) ;-;
Alec was supposed to be teasing (kinda trying to say he accepts Lucas in his own grandpa way), but yeah, I can see why it could be an asshole move. Then again, Alec in canon was that dude who kept farting when Flint went off to search for Claus LMFAO
And thank you - I enjoyed writing Ashley (though she's supposed to be more deadpan/short fuse character in canon) and Kumatora is a joy to write. Yeah and Porky is hurtling towards the core towards the center of the Earth D:

*I also scrapped an early chapter where Ness and Lucas accidentally switch bodies to Manaphy's Heart Swap. Though unfinished, it was still a fun read, so I touched it up into 3rd person and added it here for extra reading because of COVID-19. Enjoy! :)*

It starts when they wake up in a smoking crater, with no recollection over what happened.

"You okay?" Ness coughs.

"Yeah."

As if one person, they freeze in place. Wide-eyed, the boys finally take a good look at each other, horrified realization dawning on their faces.

Then in a manner of utmost eloquence, Ness sums up their predicament in one word.

"...Fuck," Ness says, in Lucas's body.

.

.

.

"Ow! Shit!"

"Watch where you're going," Lucas hisses.

"How the fuck do you even WALK like this?! You're so fucking tall," Ness says, furiously rubbing the bruise on his forehead and stooping under the doorway.

Lucas makes a disgruntled expression. Ness thinks it looks weird on his own face. "We need to find Manaphy, and ask them to reverse their Heart Swap," Lucas says slowly, eyes wandering wall to wall as if trying to concentrate on their search.

Though it's hard to focus when Ness keeps shattering every vase in sight.

"How do you LIVE like this?!" Ness sputters, sinking to his knees in abject terror. The constant babble of thoughts is driving him insane. "I keep hearing VOICES inside my head-"

Lucas grabs him by the shoulders, and it makes Ness realize how SHORT he is. How Lucas doesn't have back pain every time he has to glance at him is a freakin mystery.

Lucas looks him square in the eyes. "Focus."

The chandelier explodes. Assist trophies scream in mortal terror, and flee from the site of destruction like Moses parting the sea.

"Nevermind," Lucas says, grimacing.

They make their way through the training rooms, but without luck. Thanks to a quick meditation trick, Ness feels a bit better- the voices in his head now muted somewhat to the point he can ignore them -but the lack of his empathy links makes him feel empty and hollow inside. It's almost like an uncontrollable itch. So that's how Ness reacts, scratching at the shirt where his- or well, Lucas's - heart beats in his rib cage. On the other hand, Lucas doesn't look overwhelmed by his empathy links at all.

"I'm shutting them out," Lucas says, when Ness asks him, and Ness is horrified.

"You can't just shut off all your empathy links- if I don't feel shit, I can't do magic-"

"I don't need magic now."

Famous last words.

Darting from the nearby pool, Manaphy shoots between their legs with a happy squeal. The boys stumble after the Pokémon with disastrous results- Lucas tries to cast a PK Fire, but his magic puffs into smoke in his hands. When Ness tries to salvage their attempts by aiming his pointer finger, Lucas's magic explodes in his face, ripping a jagged tear into the carpet.

It's going to be a long day.

.

.

.

They're forced to postpone their search to the afternoon, and go to their respective brawls.

Ness misses his body already. Lucas's body is too cold and hollow and lonely, and while he knows Lucas isn't exactly having the time of his life either, Ness is miserable. Voices keep tickling the back of his mind. Add Lucas's anemia to the mix, and Ness is already wrung out and exhausted. With how little Lucas eats, Ness swears Lucas runs on nothing but fumes.

He's always wanted to grow a few more inches, but Lucas's sudden height is impossible to work with. He can't count the number of times he's accidentally stubbed his toe into the wall, or backhanded someone across the face as he whips his arms around. Ness winces at the bruises. Lucas isn't going to have a happy time when he gets his body back.

It sucks. Majorly.

In the cafeteria. Samus slides next to him. "You look a little down there, Lucas. Feeling allright?"

"It's the worst day of my life."

Samus awkwardly pats him on the head. "Uh, I don't have an answer to that, pal, but I've got something that could cheer you up." She slides a piece of chocolate cake in front of him.

Ness stares at it.

Then he beams. "Thanks, Samus!"

And at the sight of Lucas BEAMING, everyone stares at him like they've just seen the sun come out. Like they've just seen the light. Like they've just witnessed a choir of angels starting to sing, who have somehow brought Heaven itself to Earth. Almost on cue, sparrows burst into beautiful birdsong outside. In a sudden scramble, Ike offers him a rack of ham, before he's elbowed aside by an enthusiastic Peach and her cupcakes. Ness is overwhelmed. There's so much free food. Now people are DIVING for anything in their reach, almost falling over in their haste to keep that beam alive.

Because whatever sorcery THAT was, all they knew was that they couldn't let that smile fade.

.

.

.

Lucas loses every match in Ness's body.

In a foul mood, Lucas returns to the apartment, only to be bewildered by Ness groaning on his side on the bed. "What happened?"

"I'm so full, it hurts," Ness whimpers.