Part VI of VI
Written in a Park
Winters
--Grand Balcony of the mansion on the hill
The walkway was silent and empty.
Two automatic doors opened, revealing a steadily approaching feminine figure cloaked in shade.
The doors closed again after the building’s only occupant stepped out onto the balcony. Her light-brown hair stopped just above the straps of her sky-blue sundress, and her emerald eyes sparkled as she came to a halt by the railing.
* * * * * *
“Lucy?” called Jeff, standing on the other side of a door a bit earlier.
The sound of running water got between their voices. “Yeah?”
“I gotta run.”
“Say that again. I can’t hear you.”
Jeff peeked inside the bathroom.
She was behind a shower curtain.
“I said I have to leave,” he spoke up.
The water slowly quieted. “Where to?”
“There’s, um…there’s going to be a battle in Onett,” he stared at the floor. “I’m going to be a part of it.”
No one said anything for a moment.
“Sorry,” he said quietly. “I know I’ve been taking some risks that…warrant concern.”
“Do what you have to do.”
After a pause, Jeff began withdrawing from the doorway.
“…But come back safely afterwards.”
Jeff stopped again…then smiled. “Deal.”
The sound of water resumed.
* * * * * *
The brown-haired girl was leaning with her arms folded on the rail.
* * * *
Onett
--The forest
A stunned, quiet Jeff Andonuts was staring quietly at the sky above the nearby field. “And suddenly it becomes perfectly clear…”
Prince Ness stood on his left.
“Everything that matters…”
King Poo was on his right.
“Everything that doesn’t…”
Princess Paula was beside Poo.
“…All just too darn clear.”
The large, hovering, shadowy aura of red now known as Giygas was not too far away in front.
Other things were becoming clear as well. “So this is what it was all about,” said Poo, looking up. “I get it now.”
“What?” whispered Ness.
“The Mani-Manis, the raid on Dalaam…all part of a plan,” said Poo. “Tracy was made out to look like the villainess here…but she was just a red herring. Pokeyus enacted a scheme that consisted of two parts: bringing Giegue back, via the Sound Stone, and providing a way for Giegue to become strong again when that happens—via the Starmen. During the war, they say Giegue would feed on his creations when he was weakened. Like just now,” Poo continued. “Eventually, the Four Heroes wiped out most of the henchmen and used the tune from the Sound Stone to seal Giegue in a sleep he was never to awaken from. But Pokeyus…he somehow is the magician from that time.”
Jeff began nodding along as he listened.
“He took control of Tracy and put that idea in her head—‘Onett is meant to rule all’—because the results of her actions helped with this. Here. Think about it,” said Poo.
Jeff snapped his fingers, “And he needed Onett’s wealth in order to buy the required technology.” He slowly looked away.
Paula was quiet.
“In short,” said Poo, “once he got the Mani-Manis on them, he used Picky and Tracy as his means…”
The terrifying form of Giygas began coming closer.
“…And I believe this is, indeed, the end.”
* * * *
All of the soldiers, and some villagers, were now running towards Dalaam Prefecture. Watching them arrive from a window—inside the home of a family friend—was Princess Tracy of Onett, who’d been teleported there moments ago by her brother.
* * * *
Giygas began charging downwards with an unrestrained fury…before being pushed back into the air by a flurry of pretty colors that didn’t feel as nice as they looked.
It didn’t scream; it just hovered again.
Ness stared with a look of uncertainty, wondering how much damage he’d done.
Jeff was behind him, kneeling while readying a weapon.
Giygas rushed again.
Poo ran up beside Ness and unleashed the strongest level of Starstorm there was. A few leaves were cut down on its way up.
Giygas again was pushed back, maybe a little farther than before.
Jeff continued concentrating on his weapon.
Giygas opened his eyes and turned back toward the ground.
Poo shook his head a little, “This isn’t working.”
“The three words I love to hear,” said Jeff Andonuts. And then, a loud, strangely shaped rocket of sorts flew from the device on Jeff’s shoulder…and pounded Giygas repeatedly upon exploding.
This time Giygas produced an expression resembling pain, and had to turn away once more.
“Niiiiiice,” said Ness.
But then, Giygas turned and charged them again.
“Never mind.”
The three boys ducked in panic, not having enough preparation time to counter.
A beautiful melody sounded off.
Giygas screamed, coming to a stop.
The boys uncovered their heads, looked up again…then turned, seeing Princess Paula holding the Sound Stone up with both hands.
The scream continued, and Giygas began pulling away again.
…The tune reached its end. The girl holding the stone was trembling and looking up in awe.
“How’d you do that?” asked Ness.
“I’m not sure,” replied the princess as she caught her breath. “It worked for one of the Heroes; it worked for me…it might work for you too. I just tried to see if I could get some kind of reading that might help, so I touched it to my head a moment, wanting it to play in the next.”
Jeff was confused. “Pokeyus didn’t do that. At least not as far as we saw.”
“He manipulated it somehow,” said Poo. “Probably with magic—the chief rival of PSI.”
Ness chimed in, “The tune he played sounded different too. I think…oh great…”
The problem was coming back.
“Jeff, you ready?” asked Ness.
“That’s the only rocket I had. They’re kind of heavy.”
Paula began focusing on the Sound Stone once again.
A huge, crimson ripple of energy launched from Giygas.
Paula’s eyes widened as her hands lowered.
“Forget it!” said Poo. “Run!”
Everyone scattered.
A tree was cut down as the wave of energy flew—leaving a shaky distortion in the air—and created an explosion upon impact.
Sounds like that make even the bravest of people a little scared when heard up-close, and though Giygas had plenty of frightened runners to choose from, he didn’t seem to hesitate at all in deciding which one to go after.
“Ness! Watch out!” said Paula telepathically. “It’s following you.” She tried not to feel relieved.
Jeff and Poo slowed down and turned.
Plenty of trees were knocked aside as Giygas flew just over them, angrily chasing the prince.
Ness fell to the forest floor, turning over and nervously inching back as he looked up and launched his PSI attack again.
Before Poo and Jeff could try rushing to his aid, they saw Paula speed between them.
Giygas reeled, then slowly looked at Ness again, staring as though on the verge of revenge.
Ness looked confused and nervous at the same time.
The melody suddenly returned, and Giygas had to stop and tremble and scream again.
Paula overcame her fear and moved closer.
Giygas flew higher, deciding to get away for a moment…but the move seemed to be more out of strategy than necessity.
Jeff stared at Ness. “…Why is it after--”
“How on Earth should I know?” he brushed the question off in frustration.
“Well, look…” Jeff wasn’t going to waste this sudden opportunity. “I’m going across that field. I’m doing what I came here intending to do.”
“Are you kidding?” asked Ness. “Jeff, you don’t have any way of fighting back. It could single you out.”
“I’m doing what we both know has to be done, Ness,” he continued. “If…” he had to pause before saying the next part, “if I’m going to die today anyway, then we can at least prevent or hinder that thing from getting stronger again in the struggle that’s coming for everyone else.”
Poo stared at Jeff. “…He’s right.”
“Then I’m not going to let you go alone,” said Ness.
Poo spoke again, “I think…” and it was now hard for him to say the next part of his sentence, “…I think I’ve got an idea. Paula, I need you to come with me.”
“Where are we going?”
He turned to Ness and Jeff, “You guys go ahead. I’ll try to lure it away.”
“Be careful.” Ness executed a short-range teleport with Jeff in tow.
Poo did the same with Paula.
One second later, another wave of energy struck down where they’d all stood. The ground blew apart, and dirt and leaves scattered as more trees began to fall.
As Giygas looked around, he felt another blast of Starstorm from the side. Barely any effect.
“All those Starmen in it.” Poo held Paula and teleported again as Giygas tried chasing after them, crackling with energy.
Ness and Jeff materialized after a few warps, running across the drawbridge and entering the castle.
“Save your PSI energy once we get down there,” said Jeff, slinging off his pack. “I came prepared.”
* * * *
--Dalaam Prefecture
Having teleported to the small village some time ago, Pokeyus watched from a distance as the soldiers passed through. The ones from Dalaam grabbed their children as they moved on toward Winters, calling to the residents to evacuate their houses and put as much distance between themselves and the flying monster as possible. But most villagers remained, not believing such a crazy tale.
“Don’t listen to such nonsense. There’s no ‘monster’ coming,” Pokeyus called out from an empty, quiet area. “…Heh, heh, AHH!” he screamed, feeling another sharp, sudden pain—this time in his right leg. Turning around while in a kneeling position, he saw his own blood dripping from a sword…then the face of its wielder.
“One thing you got right about me: I do have my darker side,” said Princess Tracy. She lifted the blade again.
Poo and Paula teleported onto the scene, causing Tracy to hesitate.
“Okay. Now,” said Poo.
“What do you mean?” Paula replied.
“What I mentioned. Try luring it here with the tune.”
“The tune drives it away.”
“But if it gets annoyed enough it might still come. It’s worth a try.”
Paula wasn’t sure about this, but a few moments later, the Stone was sounding off again.
Tracy watched and stepped closer, leaving Pokeyus bleeding on the ground.
* * * *
--Castle Onett
In the basement, Jeff Andonuts, the famous inventor who’d created all the high-tech copying equipment present, was now more determined than ever to destroy it. Helping him attach the explosives was the prince named Ness.
* * * *
Poo and Paula looked off towards the distant sky.
The melody began coming to an end…again.
“No, no, no,” Poo complained as Giygas turned away.
“I don’t think it even sees us from that distance,” said Paula.
“Why does it keep going in that direction?” he mumbled.
“…I think it’s still looking for Ness.”
* * * *
Onett
--Minutes later
A button on a remote was pressed.
A significantly loud explosion—several of them, actually—came next. The mass-production equipment in the basement was destroyed.
Standing in the field outside were Jeff and Ness.
With a sigh, Andonuts slouched and let himself drop to the grass, staring at the castle. A phone rang. Jeff began chuckling while shaking his head. “Why did I ever create all this crap?”
Ness answered. “Poo?”
“Ness. Are you guys done there yet?”
“Just finished.”
“Good. Look, it seems like that monster’s after you. That’s why I need you to teleport to my ground village.”
“Ness!” shouted Jeff.
Giygas tore through the air.
Ness dropped the phone and grabbed Jeff. They sped straight across the field…soon teleporting.
* * * *
--Dalaam Prefecture
Arriving, Ness and Jeff found Paula and Tracy, but…
“Where’s Poo?” As though in response, Jeff heard his phone ring. “…Hello?”
“Jeff, good work. Can I speak to Ness?”
The phone switched hands. “Yeah, Poo.”
“Ness, I can see Giygas over in Onett from here. It’s searching for you again.”
“Where are you?”
“Right above you.”
Ness looked up. Way up. “In Dalaam?”
“It seems most of my people and Paula’s are running for Winters. But the villagers who live down there haven’t left for some reason. I don’t think they’re going to have enough time now to do so.”
Ness looked around at all the homes.
“Do me a big favor: ask Paula to call out to all of them; get them to come outside.”
Moments later, several doors began opening, as the residents came to see what the famous Princess of Twoson wanted.
Paula opened her eyes.
“Now what, Poo?” asked Ness.
“You told me you’d learned the next level of shielding, right? The Power Shield?”
“Yeah. So now what, Poo? We’re in the middle of a fight here, remember?”
“Shield them.”
“What?”
“There are a lot, but not that many people living down there. Shield them.”
“But--”
“Ness, you’ve got to hurry! I think Giygas is coming this way now!”
Giygas was looking that way now.
“This was my plan before,” said Poo. “It has to be timed just right, but in any case, you’ve got to shield everyone who’s down there. I don’t think those buildings will provide enough protection, but Power Shields might help.”
“Poo, even Power Shields aren’t going to protect them from something like Giygas.”
“I don’t mean from Giygas, I mean from the blast once he’s destroyed.”
“What?” Ness got so confused suddenly.
“Haven’t you noticed all that power emanating around it? You can’t tell me something like this thing isn’t going to blow if destroyed. Maybe not in its old form, but certainly in this one.”
“P-probably,” said Ness. “If I live, I’ll get up-to-date on my physics studies. But—oh, that’s right—how are we supposed to destroy it, again?”
“Ness,” Poo chuckled, “…it’s been nice knowing you. Even for a little while. Just promise me you’ll shield those people. Just try.”
“Wait. What are you--”
“Promise me.”
“I promise. But what are you talking about?”
“…A king looks after other people.”
Jeff and Paula listened to Ness, wondering what was going on.
“Poo?” said Ness. “What are you going to do?”
With his eyes fixed on the now-moving Giygas, Poo decided that the right time had come. “What I’ve always hoped to do,” he had removed his armor, and now, he had drawn his sword, “…act like a king.”
The Sword of Kings gleamed beautifully…until being driven into the torso of King Poo by King Poo himself. Immediately, the island of Dalaam began descending.
Poo’s eyes bulged and blood poured freely from his wound. It began appearing from his mouth as well. He dropped to his knees.
“What’s happening?” asked Paula as a large shade began passing over everyone.
“He…” Ness was shocked.
Dalaam drifted, steadily gliding at a diagonal angle. The young man who was completely alone up there tried clinging to its ground.
“It’s the legend,” said Ness. “When the current King of Dalaam…” he remembered what he had to do, and forced himself out of his shock, as he knew Poo would want. “…Stay still. Don’t move.” Ness started running around. Power Shield after Power Shield began covering the confused residents of the village, some of whom had to be kept in place by Paula’s control. The prince felt the PSI energy draining away as it happened, and hoped he’d have enough.
Giygas was flying just over the trees again, coming closer.
Nearly a minute later, Ness had almost finished up, telling Jeff to go and take cover after shielding him, then himself. He turned, looking around. “Paula.”
She was still in the same spot, and she was looking at something.
Giygas had rushed past the villages of Onett and screamed into this one.
Princess Paula, though nervous, gritted her teeth, touched what she was holding to her head…and held it out again with a two-handed thrust.
The Sound Stone glowed like never before, beams of light escaping Paula’s fingers as the eight dots glowed brighter and the tune played louder.
Giygas fidgeted in the air at about the same height as before.
Paula noticed a mystical flash coming over her—the last of Ness’s PSI shields, the last of Ness’s PSI right now, period.
Exhausted, he fell to the ground, kneeling beside Paula and looking up.
Giygas’s eyes were again locked on those of the boy who looked so much like one of the ones who’d defeated him before, and he was trembling in quite a midair display—the force of his hatred struggling to bring him downward while the agony brought about by the sound held him at bay.
“I don’t know how much longer this’ll work,” said a tense Paula, noticing that Giygas seemed to be fighting harder now. “I think this form it’s in makes it stronger than it was during the war…all that energy it absorbed…”
That assumption was correct.
The tune was finishing up.
Ness was panting on the ground.
“…” Her arms lowered. The tune that held Giygas away came to an end.
Giygas growled and rushed down.
PSI Fire ignited and rushed up.
Giygas was smacked back a little by Paula’s attack, but before he could retaliate again…he suddenly felt a little bump on his head. And as his eyes glanced in the appropriate direction, what Giygas saw became far less significant than what Giygas began to feel. He felt a huge amount of weight pressing down on his entire body—a weight that hindered his movement, a weight that was the totality of the once-floating island called Dalaam.
All of the villagers had started running by now, and Princess Paula followed suit, holding the Sound Stone in one hand and forcing a tired Ness to follow with the other.
But someone else who’d been there with them had a little problem at the moment.
“Wait!” shouted Pokeyus, still grounded.
Being positioned toward one of the edges of the mass that was coming down, Ness and Paula managed to get clear soon enough and follow everyone else.
Giygas, still held in place by the weight, did his best to squirm free while confused.
Naturally, the magician on the ground was looking up while squirming himself. “No, no, no…” said Pokeyus, seeing the red matter coming closer.
On the island, Poo pulled the sword from his body, feeling weak like never before.
Pokeyus screamed as the sparkling crimson mass he called Giygas overtook him.
Giygas began to scream as he felt the hard ground grow harder.
Poo summoned a Power Shield, his body lying behind and propped against a small house.
Everyone in the village dropped for cover in the distance.
…And in the next moment, Giygas utterly exploded—the force of the island bringing about the desired result.
But that wasn’t the only notable force right now. Sweeping through the village came a wide crimson blast, spreading beneath the island and tearing through some houses while taking others in half. And even though everyone shielded had only felt the weakest parts of the blast as it died down, none of the villagers had been able to completely outrun it at this point—which meant none of them would’ve survived without the protection placed on them by a prince named Ness.
Now the shields had automatically come off with the strain. The aftereffects of the sound were everywhere. A cloud of dirt had quickly spread. The side of Dalaam that had fallen on Giygas had quite the indentation under it. The rest was spread out through the gap leading to the villages of Onett—the inhabitants of which were slowly peeking from their windows at the results of what they’d watched. The unthinkable had happened: Dalaam had fallen to the ground. And now it was just lying there, a large, limp, spectacular platform too high to scale.
In its prefecture, those with enough courage began to step forward.
“Poo…” said Ness, still weary.
Paula walked through the smog with him, as did Jeff, who was equally stunned.
“What happened to…” Ness paused suddenly. “Poo!” he tried running.
All anyone could see by the island right now was the still body of a king, who’d fallen off after impact.
“Poo!” said Ness, arriving and kneeling to turn the other boy over.
Poo’s eyes were closed. His face was utterly lifeless.
“C-come on, man,” whined Ness, shaking him a little. “…He had a shield up, but…oh no.”
Jeff wore such a sad stare.
Paula knelt as well. After a moment, she whispered. “He’s not responding to my telepathy.”
“Ness,” said Jeff, “that PSI of yours. The healing you gave me.”
“I tried. I don’t have enough PSI energy left. I used it to shield everyone…like Poo said,” Ness mumbled.
Paula frowned.
“It’s not fair,” said Ness. “He does this…he probably saved the world by doing this, and now he doesn’t get to live in it? Come on, Poo!” Ness shouted at the face, shaking him again.
Jeff closed his eyes.
“…Come on…” A tear rolled down Ness’s cheek.
The gathering residents cared little about the buildings they could eventually save; right now they just cared about the person they couldn’t.
With Dalaam grounded and the king fallen, it was a very sad day in the village.
‘Tap…
Tap…
Tap…’
The sound of someone’s footsteps was heard.
The crowd parted.
Ness, Paula, and Jeff looked up.
A breeze blew through Tracy’s blonde hair, and she took a few more steps forward. When she arrived, she knelt and looked closely at Poo.
Ness’s eyes began to widen.
Via Tracy’s will, an aura of PSI energy began to flow through Poo’s body.
Ness’s gaze went back and forth between the two of them.
But soon, it wasn’t Ness’s eyes at all that had everyone’s attention…but Poo’s, which began to flutter open.
Paula began a wide smile.
Tracy closed her eyes, then ended her effort, soon opening them again.
Jeff grinned. “Poo,” he said in a very friendly tone.
Ness was still in awe, but not too much to be happy. “Poo? Are you all right?”
He was, but just barely. As Poo had been on the brink of death, Tracy’s effort had only tipped the scale just slightly in his favor. But fortunately, just slightly was still good enough. “…What…happened?” asked the king weakly.
Shouts of joy erupted in the crowd of villagers.
“It’s over,” said Ness. “Your plan worked. The--”
And just then, a rumbling began nearby.
Ness gently pulled Poo away as everyone else stepped back themselves. The island of Dalaam started to rise again, slowly returning to its place in the sky.
“Thank you, Tracy,” said Poo moments later, after Jeff’s explanation.
Tracy nodded. “I’m glad you’re okay.” She looked to her left. “You too, Jeff.”
The boy from Winters nodded as well.
After she stopped looking up, Paula, who was still holding the Sound Stone, turned to Tracy. “It makes sense now. The way you recovered during our fight.”
Tracy’s gaze lowered to the ground.
Ness stood. “The time you were cut, too. The way your hand just cleared up. It’s because…”
Tracy was quiet.
“It’s because you’ve got PSI too,” said her brother. “You’re just coming into it. Being able to heal like that is also the first power I learned.”
Tracy slowly looked up. “Princess Paula…”
The other girl didn’t say anything.
“You have my sincerest apologies for all the wrongs I inflicted upon your kingdom while I was under Pokeyus’s influence. What I have done is unforgivable, and though I can’t change any of it, I can at least begin making certain wrongs right today. All of your people whom I’ve captured will be freed the moment I return to Castle Onett. I’m ready to go there now if you are.”
Paula stared at Tracy. “…I don’t have to be a telepath right now to know what kind of person you really are, Tracy. As you’ve said yourself, and as has been proven, you were under the influence of another, and your actions were not your own. So why don’t you let me decide what’s ‘unforgivable.’ While I still have some resentment despite the truth, I’m also thinking that it might fade as I get to know you better.”
“…Get to ‘know me’?”
“That’s right,” she paused. “Heh. It’s kind of odd. You’ve just gone from queen to princess…while pretty soon I’ve got to finally go from princess to queen.”
“Hm.” Tracy looked away grinning.
“Apology accepted.”
“Thank you,” said Tracy. “Now let’s go…”
Paula left the Sound Stone with Poo.
With Jeff’s help, the king stood, using the limited amount of strength he had right now to speak to one of the villagers. “I’ll need a message delivered to our people in Winters. Tell them the fighting’s over and they’re allowed back now.”
“Highness,” the man nodded.
“We will use some of the extra space in Dalaam for all of you while repairs are made down here. Trust me, I know you prefer living on the ground, but you’ll get used to it after a few days.”
Jeff and Poo followed after the girls.
More of the air began to clear, and as it did, the villagers saw the young man in the striped shirt who’d saved them while their king was busy saving the world.
As Ness got thanked many times, he simply smiled, made a familiar sign with his right hand…and hurried along, catching up with the others.
* * * *
One Week Later
--The Kingdom of Onett
Tracy’s actions had been explained and excused, and her parents—along with the soldiers from Twoson—had been freed and returned to their positions a week ago. Still feeling shame, the princess had gone into a self-imposed exile, but the king and queen sent messages everyday, anxiously awaiting the return of their daughter.
“In good time,” was the response.
Following the widespread news that came with the destruction of Giygas, the heads of Onett had expressed a lot of pride and affection for their son, who, at the moment, was in the castle’s backyard, busily swinging an axe. He wore jeans and a T-shirt, the short black hair always coming over his eyes as he brought the blade down. Eventually he heard someone coming.
“…Queen Paula?” he said quietly.
She wore an exquisite pink and white gown with a crown that looked more like a tiara adorning her head.
He stared. “How’s it going?”
“You don’t have to get all formal on me. Just ‘Paula’ will do.”
“Okay,” he said, slipping off his work gloves.
“So you’re a woodsman?”
Ness chuckled. “That’s the plan.”
“What is that you’re making there, a bat?” she came closer.
“…That’s the plan.”
“…How’s Tracy?”
“She, ah, took off several days ago. We’re all trying to convince her that we…well, you know, we understand what happened—especially me—but she’s still guilty over it, so she needed some time to herself.”
“When’s she coming back?”
“Don’t know.”
Paula looked down at Ness’s work.
“It’s starting to feel kind of lonely without her.”
“…That brings up my reason for stopping by, I guess.” She lifted her head, throwing a few blonde locks around. “I wanted to know if you’d like to come over for dinner today.”
Ness’s eyebrows rose. “Today?”
“Or, if today’s a problem, then--”
“No, no, today would be fine, it’s just…I’m surprised, is all,” he blushed.
“So you can make it? Around…6:30, maybe?”
“Sure. Thank you. Hey, why don’t you come over and dine with us sometime this week too. If you can get away, that is.”
“That sounds nice.” She turned and began walking off. “So…”
Ness started putting his gloves back on. “You know, you didn’t have to come all this way just to ask me that in person.”
Paula slowed down, facing the exit. “You’re right. I didn’t,” she grinned.
Ness paused with the gloves.
Paula, Queen of Twoson, left the yard.
Ness finished slipping the gloves on again, smiling while glancing down.
* * * *
Winters
--The mansion on the hill
A few days ago, Captain Strong had come and gone, not finding anything that incriminated Jeff. It almost seemed like he hadn’t really been looking, possibly due to the now famous occurrence in Onett that had gotten rid of all the Starmen, an occurrence which promptly pointed the finger towards a more mystical and less technical culprit.
The young, blonde-haired inventor sat on the carpeted stairway in the currently empty front room. He was wearing a dark, long-sleeved shirt of his own, along with his usual dark slacks.
Figuring out how to open the battery slot of this small device in his hand was proving to be harder than expected—while also providing a perfect picture of irony. Jeff fiddled and fiddled.
Pretty soon, he glanced to his right and saw the gown swaying above her ankles. She took a few more quiet steps down before sitting by his side.
Lucy offered her hand, and Jeff placed what he was holding in it. A few seconds later, she opened the slot—easily—and placed the two batteries in, soon handing it back to Jeff.
“Hff,” Jeff chuckled quietly, adjusting his glasses and sitting the device down on his side.
The smallest finger on Jeff’s right hand reached over and looped with the smallest on Lucy’s left.
She looked down at the gesture, and in a few seconds, their hands seemed to be adjusting and coming even closer.
* * * *
--Dalaam
The Sound Stone was in its place of protection once again.
King Poo was walking up the ramp, ready to call it a night. As he neared the top, however, something caught his eye. Moments later he summoned one of the kingdom’s elders via intercom.
The man asked what the issue was as he neared Poo, already suspecting what the answer would be.
“This,” said Poo, pointing at the newest picture on the wall.
“Yes…?” he smiled.
“What is a picture of me doing up here?” Poo smirked.
“This is where the rulers of Dalaam are honored.”
“But it’s not supposed to go up until after my reign,” frowned Poo. “This shouldn’t be up here with all of them now. It’s wrong,” he began reaching for it.
“You were willing to do something unlike anything any King of Dalaam before you has ever done: sacrifice yourself, and possibly even this kingdom, for the sake of our world.”
Poo had run out of things to say about it.
“And that, my young King, is what’s made all of us think that having your picture up there now…is something that’s very right.”
The man walked away.
After a moment, Poo’s hands again hung by his side. He stared at the picture, slowly returned its smile, then entered his room, turned off the lights, and went to bed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Twoson (199X)
--Burglin Park
A parked car revved up and pulled away, revealing the distant sight of four friends sitting at a bench in the nearby park.
“Well?” asked Poo.
The girl sitting across from him raised her eyebrows for a moment. “Well, what?” Her knuckles stroked the table.
Poo continued, “I called this one ‘Written in a Park’ because I wanted to meet here, get everyone’s advice on how it should end, then write in the ending based on that.”
Jeff chuckled.
Paula spoke again, “I’ve told you, I think it’s going just fine as it is. I don’t want to risk ruining anything. You don’t need my input.”
“Not even for the ending?”
“You’ve got your ending.”
Poo turned to Jeff a moment. “Okay, back me up on this…”
“All right.”
“The king stares at the picture, then after a while he ‘slowly returned its smile, then entered his room, turned off the lights, and went to bed.’ You’re honestly telling me that sounds like an ending?”
Paula was giggling. “Some writers aren’t ever satisfied with their work.”
Poo’s gaze shifted. “What do you think?”
“Ahem…well, I think that some writers aren’t ever satisfied with their…help! The princess has me under her control!”
Paula poked Ness with her elbow.
Jeff placed one hand over the other. “ ‘Giegue,’ was it?”
Poo frowned, “Heard the name somewhere.”
Ness grinned, “What if Giygas had really been able to absorb a bunch of henchmen like that?”
“See, that was just gross,” said Paula. “But what if Tracy really did have PSI?”
“Uncool,” said Ness, chuckling. “Hey, you want to know what I think? I still think the battle in the second chapter needs to be revised. There’s no way Paula would own me like that.”
She cut in, “Yeah right, pal. ‘Property of Paula’ is stamped all over your butt right now.”
Jeff was adjusting his glasses, “And how, exactly, would you know that?”
“Jeff, shut up,” said Ness and Paula in unison.
“Mm hmm. Look,” said Jeff, “when do you have to hand this story in?”
“…The 26th, I believe,” replied Poo.
Paula smiled, “A royal like you deciding to take a class like this. Such a very nice way to inspire the young people of Dalaam.”
“And what’s the name of this class?” Jeff asked. “Creative Literature 102?”
“101,” said Poo.
“Ah,” replied Ness.
Jeff continued, “Well, look…” he stood up, stretching, “if I come up with any suggestions between now and then, I’ll…you, you know the rest,” he said with a yawn.
Everyone else stood as well.
Paula shrugged, “I’m tellin’ you, it’s a fine ending.”
Ness adjusted his red cap, “I’ll bet Tracy will kind of like her hardcore portrayal in this.”
Poo chuckled.
Jeff chimed in, “Yeah, try posting it online after the class. She’s on the Internet every now and then.”
They began walking.
Paula wondered something. “How is it they had all that technology if this was during the Middle Ages?”
Jeff grinned, “Don’t you remember? A certain genius helped create it.”
Poo was quietly smiling again.
“Hmm…” said Ness, “this whole concept of modern-day stuff appearing in what’s traditionally the realm of swords and sorcery…”
“What about it?” asked Paula.
“I know I’ve encountered it before…but I don’t quite remember where.”
* * * * * *
James
Gonmon
Jonk
Falcon24
and JamesPicard_007
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My thanks to the other four gentlemen, whose much-appreciated efforts made this project all the more memorable.
* * * * * *
Character Rundown
Prince Ness
The Ness used in this tale is pretty similar to the one found in The Candle: Stories of Confession—kind of moody, hot-headed, and determined.
Princess Paula
This character is far different in 101 than how she’s probably perceived most of the time. She’s got the responsibility of solo leadership on her hands, and the anxiety that creates comes out in a lot of her aggression on the battlefield and in her brooding when elsewhere.
Jeff Andonuts
Jeff is one of the least changed; I think he’s written in this story pretty much the same way he’s portrayed in the game—polite, helpful, thoughtful…but maybe with a bit more boldness than one would expect.
King Poo
Poo is another character who’s probably not too much different than how he’s often perceived. He’s dutiful, serious, skilled, etc, etc, etc…
Princess Tracy
A villainess, in my view, is often more interesting than a villain because people, throughout history, appear to have certain positive connotations about women—particularly mothers, wives, and kid sisters. In the game, Tracy is a rather exaggerated example of this with her sugar-and-spice demeanor. The trick here was to throw all of that in reverse and try to make it still seem believable. My strategy came down to keeping her quiet most of the time, adding a touch of mystery. Her being spoken of almost more than she’s seen was a part of this.
Lucy
When I was trying to settle on a final look for Lucy, I saw a woman on the street with a similar hairstyle and thought, “That’s probably it.” Worked from there and ended up with the initial image in the story—the green eyes, brown hair, and telltale gray outfit. Part of the strategy with not revealing her entire identity at the beginning was to give the reader some time to decide, “Who do you want her to be?” I, for one, certainly knew.
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