Chapter 21

Ness’s True Power

“My good God! The damage here is catastrophic! Whatever went on here must have been tremendous!” said a shocked Paula seeing her home town in shambles. For the first time Ness and the other got to see what was going on in Twoson while they were away. The damage was absolutely amazing. It was close to the department store which was now level, and thankfully not near the preschool. “The preschool! Mom, Dad! I hope their okay!” screamed Paula as she ran to the preschool, her home as well.

“I’m going with Paula. Try to find anyone who saw what happened. If they know anything tell them to stay put and I’ll talk to them” said Ness as he ran off to quickly catch up with Paula.

“Jeff, you have any ideas of where to start first” said Tom

“I do. This was no ordinary situation. I have a feeling I might know who was involved. We’re going to see the Apple Kid” said Jeff as he ran off in the direction of the Apple Kid’s house.

At Polestar Preschool, Paula was relieved that it was still intact, but it seemed to quiet. “I wonder if anyone is still in there, or if they got out in time. I hope everyone is alright” Paula said to herself as she slowly walked inside her home. “Mom…Dad, is anyone here! If you are here, please say something so I know you’re alright! Please say something!” Paula was panicking as she saw that the place was sacked and completely abandoned. Only a mess that seemed to be from a panic remained. “I guess no one got away. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here went it happened. I could have done something to stop it” Paula said that as she was slipping off her left glove that she traditionally wore and threw her left hand to the ground.

“Using that ability again are we Paula. I see that you want to know what happened here pretty badly. You have reasons to though. I thought before you finish that I thought you might want to see who I found” Ness said very solemnly.

“Who did you find?” said Paula as she walked up to Ness.

“Look, I think you’ll recognize this face” said Ness, once again very solemnly.

“Oh my God, that can’t be him! Is that really Dave?! What in the heck happened to him? Is he…dead?” said Paula drawing a slight tear.

“He’s not dead, but he was hardly hanging on until I found him. I did a healing gamma successfully so his body is healing but he’ll be in serious condition even with that because of his wounds. I want you to find out what happened to him” said Ness.

“You know I can’t read the mind of someone that’s unconscious” Paula explained.

“You know what I mean. I want you to use your hand to read the past impressions of his body” said Ness.

“You want me to use that part of my telepathy to find his body’s past impressions! I’ve never done that on someone who’s still living. I don’t know what will happen” said Paula.

“I know that, but you’re going to have to try. You’re the only one of us with telepathy that’s developed that far” said Ness.

“Alright, but if I start wigging out pull this hand off of him” said Paula as she put her left hand on Dave’s forehead. After about a minute she took her hand off of Dave’s forehead. “Ness, this was the handy work of one of the Horsemen of Apocalypse. This one’s power has grown exponentially from what Giygas’s was when we faced him. I’m guessing Giygas might be as strong if not strong then what that one was when this battle was going on. Dave lasted somewhere around ninety minutes from what I saw and was about to be killed. Someone saved him but the motions were so quick that I couldn’t get a good look” said Paula.

“Wasn’t Mike supposed to be here seeing the Apple Kid about something?”

“Yeah, he was! Oh $*(&! You think it was him then don’t you.”

“I do. It is the only thing that could explain the speed. Mike must have taken whoever of the four it was on after saving Dave and hiding him it seems. Do you think he won?”

“I don’t know. I’m guessing where all the damage is from Mike’s battle with him. I don’t know how all that damage could have been caused by Mike” said Paula.

“I don’t want to say this but I have to come to real terms here Paula. I think Mike lost. I don’t even want to know how he lost but he probably did. Mike’s time speeder wouldn’t have caused that level of damage on that scale. I think it’s safe to amuse, even though I don’t want to” said Ness in a shaky voice.

“Let’s get back to damage site then since everyone seems to be gone from the preschool. I think something very bad happened here but I couldn’t check yet” said Paula.

“Then check, it will give us more clues to want has happened here. You also need to find out what happened to your family. I’ll take Dave’s body and meet up with the guys. You just find out what happened” said Ness picking up Dave’s body and putting Dave on his back.

“Thank you Ness, I’ll return as soon as I’m done” said Paula.

At the Apple Kid’s house, the others were knocking on the door and were getting no answer. “Hey Apple Kid, it’s me Jeff! I need to ask you something” said Jeff while still knocking on the door.

The door opened about a minute later with some persistent from Jeff. “Hey Jeff, I guess you guys want to know what happened here. I’ll tell you everything I know which isn’t much” Apple Kid replied.

“All we need to know is was Mike here when everything started to happen” said Jeff.

“Why do you think Mike would have seen him so late in the game Jeff? Mike’s not the one to put off something important like that” Tom said very quickly in response.

“Actually, he was. He came down for me to help him with a disk encryption. Right after we found out what was on the disk is when he noticed all the trouble started. That’s all I know. I kept investigating this disk. I took off the encryption so you can view it Jeff. I’m going to Onett now because I can’t stand to be here after what happened” Apple Kid explained quickly.

“Thank you Apple Kid.” As Jeff said that the Apple got what stuff he could and started to walk to Onett.

“Mike was involved with this then. That would explain the cars having paint stripped off and the leveling of the trees but that’s about it. The craters and the immense damage on these buildings can’t be explained by Mike’s galatical” said Tom.

“You mean one attack could do that! Mike’s galatical is a spacial shockwave technique isn’t?” said Jeff remembering one of his conversation’s with Mike’s while touring him.

“Yeah, but not even that can cause craters. I think Mike got involved in one heated battle and probably lost, very badly too” said Tom.

“I though Mike could absorb energy techniques. I don’t think anything physical could have done something like this though” said Poo.

“Unless the Psi technique was one of those twelve he can’t absorb. It had to be pretty intense and of the right type of energy for him not to absorb it if it fired energy. It might have been part summoning too, seeing the something physical had to cause all of those craters. No amount of energy fired at once could spread out and cause that type of damage unless it was fired from multiple points at once” said Tom.

“If Mike lost that means he’s in trouble and we have to figure out our next move” said Poo clenching his fist and having a look of anger on his face life Jeff and Tom at this point.

“I know but I don’t know what we can do! I know even know if he’s alive! He’s never lost when his life has been on the line!” said Tom.

“Nor have any of us Tom. Look, let’s go back and try to find and see what happened in more detail. After that we’ll come up with something” said Jeff trying to comfort Tom, and everyone else.

Ness arrived back at the battle sight first with Dave on his back with Jeff, Tom and Poo arriving shortly after. “Where’s Paula, and who’s that?”

“Paula is at the preschool still trying to figure out what happened using her powers of I think it’s called scrying telepathy or something” said Ness.

“Yeah, that’s what she called it. Anyways Ness, who is that covered in blood?!” said Poo.

“That…is…Dave. He seems to have been involved here. Paula used her ability to see what his body was through and it was pretty intense. It seems he fought first” said Ness.

“Once Paula gets back then, we have to have her check out this sight then to find out what happened to Mike and if he’s dead or not!” screamed Tom.

“I could tell you that right now from the energy I feel here. No soul energy was released here. Meaning Mike is probably alive. There’s a lot of evil energy here, but a soul coming out of a body is way too easy to detect, even with all of this energy to cover it up” said Paula as she was walking back wiping her eyes.

“What did you find out?” Ness asked.

“Everyone in Twoson was taken hostage. We at least know they are alive but, now they are going to be used as bargaining chips. I will also say this, it is impossible to find out what happened here. The energy is so evil here that I can’t even read the matter impressions” said Paula.

“Meaning we’re blind with our adversaries holding all the cards right now. I can’t stand this anymore! I wish these Horsemen of Apocalypse would just vanish! No one should have to feel this type of pain, sorrow, and fear ever. Human or not, no one deserves this! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” Ness screamed in utter fury as his body started to glow. “I will correct the pain and evil energy put onto this world! I will start to heal these wounds of everything that has suffered because of them starting here first! Psi Purification O-ME-GA!” Ness screamed this at the top of his lungs releasing pure energy from his body and the results could be quickly seen. The blood on Dave’s body vanished. The new trees started to grow with vigor as the damaged ground started to heal itself to its original state. The scars on the building were quickly wiped away with amazing speed and the buildings looked like new. The only thing that was missing was the people of Twoson. With one technique Ness had just shown the true depths of his powers. The battle scared area of Twoson was like it was before the battle between Mike and Dave versus Gorin. It was an absolutely incredible sight and an amazingly uplifting one at that. If anything was to show that hope remained, Ness’s powers showed that it did. The energy that Ness summoned to heal everything was absolutely beautiful. The evil energy left behind from Gorin’s Black Hole Omega and presence was washed away. Ness was truly the Horseman of Courage.

“Ness! Since when could you do something like that honey! I never knew you could do something this incredible!”

“It’s the true depths of the power from the sound stone. I realized this power a few months ago and I thought this would be a good test run for it. What? Did you think the earth had so little energy to give? I just haven’t realized my full potential after absorbing the powers of the earth yet.”

“That means Mike must be alive” said Tom.

“What do you mean Tom?” said Poo.

“I forgot all about those power spots Ness absorbed. Papers around the world had mentioned you did something like that! I’ll explain why later, but first we need to get Dave to a hospital. We need to treat those injuries. I’ll explain every about Mike’s relationship to the powers of the earth through his sound crystal once we get there” said Tom.

“That’s right! Mike said something about him having seven of the remaining eight sanctuaries when we first met and said he would explain that later! I would really like to know why that relates to Mike being alive then!” said Paula almost triumphantly.

“When we get to the nearest hospital, I’ll tell you everything then.”

“Okay, then it’s to Onett since its right next to Twoson. I’ll check Dave in there and then you’ll tell us everything you know about this” said Poo as everyone took the first step going to Onett.

Chapter 22

The Journey Begins

“After all that you have seen Dave, you know what you have to do” said the white-bearded man who was near Dave during Gorin’s fight with Mike.

“Yeah, I have to conquer this realm of my mind. I’m gonna have to do it and quick. If I don’t only two Horsemen of Light will remain to take on four Horsemen of Apocalypse, to be perfectly honest I don’t like those odds” Dave said quickly as he started to walk towards what he assumed to be the path that would carry him through the realm.

“Wait! Dave, I must make you aware of the dangers that lie ahead. This is the realm of your entire mind. Both good and evil sides of you are present here. You must conquer your darkened side to expose the light…” said the man.

“To realize my true powers. I know that. I’ll be careful but quick traveling through this realm of Magicant. I just need to know one thing, will I find anything to help me along the way, like weapons” said Dave.

“Yes you will. Because they are of your mind as well, they will have more power than you ever imagined possible.”

“Thank you, I’ll be on my own now. I hope we cross paths once again. This way you can see what I have accomplished” said Dave as he started to run off towards his future.

After about a half hour of running down a winding path, he came to an open meadow. <This is just like the one Mom and Dad showed me when I was around six years old when we went on our trip to Scotland. It’s still just as beautiful as when I first saw it> Dave thought to himself enjoying the scenery.

“Of course it’s as beautiful as when you first saw it. It because it’s how you remember it, and you made sure to never forget the moments of that day did you?” said a voice.

“Where are you?!” Dave yelled as he was pulling out his bow and arrow.

“No need to yell, if you just wanted to see me all you had to do was ask” said the voice as his head started to appear out of the ground.

Dave took a few steps back in utter surprise, not knowing what to think about a head just coming up through the ground. “You look like that one person who guided us when we were there. But why is your head in the ground?!” Dave screamed still not knowing what to think of this yet.

“Oh, I guess in your world you don’t experience things like this everyday do ya. Well just let me pull myself out of the ground then and we’ll get to business” said the guide as she pulled herself out of ground. This was still a little strange for Dave.

“Why of all people are you in this realm?”

“Well I can answer that easily with this, remember that gallery of memories that you just passed through. All the people you thought you saw before, but looked a little different. Or the strange buildings, plants, and trees that looked just like the one’s you had imagined, seen, or drew as a kid. Well that’s because this is the realm of your mind Dave, and I was a past guide for your trip to Scotland so I have kept that purpose. Meaning every that you could possibly remember has been gathered in this one little spot. If you had imagined the sky was green at one point I’m sure you would have seen that by now as well. Don’t try now though. As you are in your mind, you cannot imagine things that can affect this realm, or wait can you and it just not have an effect yet and just come into affect once you leave here. Wait though, how can you possibly imagine when you are in this realm because can your mind imagine in a mind? Or is it just…”

“Just stop, you’re starting to confuse me even. All that I know is that logic can’t explain this realm and anything that I have ever imagined possible can come true in this realm of Magicant” said Dave just cutting her off as she was getting way too deep for him.

“Okay, that’s what I was about to get to. You see Dave. I have been granted the task of explaining to you this gift in my hand and what lies ahead of this point” said the guide.

“What gift in you hand?” said Dave questioning her as she had nothing in her hand.

“Oh, I forgot to grab it. Oh well, I’ll just get it now” as she said that the gift manifested in her hand. “Fortunately I didn’t need to go back as seeing this is your mind I can get anything from anywhere in this realm. This is called the Magicant longbow Dave. This is your ultimate imaginative creation. With this, you shouldn’t have any trouble with what lies ahead.”

“Do I just use the arrows I already have with this thing or are you going to give me some new one to use, I like my arrows that I can guide with my mind right now” said Dave taking the bow from the guide’s hand.

“You don’t need to carry arrows with that weapon. Just pull it like you would normally attack and you will see what I mean, aim for that tree over there” said the guide.

As Dave pulled the string of the longbow back, he saw the arrow just form as he was pulling back. “Because that weapon is from your mind Dave, you can form the arrows as you need them from your mind. It’s easier to carry around without all those arrows” the guide explained.

“Yeah, this will be easier to carry. Can I control these things with my mind like I could my Avalon arrows” said Dave.

“Try and see what happens.” As Dave shot the first arrow towards the tree he found out how dense and sharp those arrows were. The tree, even though it looked like a very bad drawing, had a big hole going right through the middle of it, and the arrow still went a few more few yards. Dave then lined up a second shot but, this time the path was clear of any trees and he fired. The arrow was easily controlled and Dave could maneuver it pretty well with his mind.

“I guess my magic still has had influence here hasn’t it? At least I can still use these arrows like my Avalon arrows but, how heavy are these Magicant arrows? I mean an arrow shouldn’t be able to go through something like a tree unless it was heavy than steel and shot with an extremely durable string attach to a longbow” Dave questioned.

“Form another arrow only don’t shoot it and let it drop” said the guide. Dave let his next arrow drop to the ground and stuck his foot out to feel the impact from the shaft of the arrow.

“*Crack!!!!!!!!!* My GOD that hurt! I didn’t think I was strong enough to fire an arrow from a longbow that weighed nearly thirty pounds!” said Dave as he grab his foot and start hopping up and down from the pain.

“What, did you honestly think that those arrows would be as light as a feather?”

“No, but I didn’t think they would weigh thirty pounds either! What is that string made out of to launch something like that? I mean that string must be extremely resilient to be able to launch an arrow that heavy!”

“I don’t know. Remember I’m just a guide not a genius.”

<I’ll have to remember to ask the genius about that one later.>

“What, you know a genius?”

“That gets me to my second point! I mean you couldn’t read minds when I saw you as a real person so how in the world can you possibly know what I was thinking just then and before?!” Dave scream fed up with how this guide was able to read his thoughts.

“Well, this is the realm of your mind Dave. Meaning everything that exists inside of this part of the realm knows your every thought. This would represent the conscious portion of your mind. Just beyond this green field is the darker side of your mind. This is the side you must defeat to ever escape this realm. I think you know what to do now” said the guide as sternly as she could.

“Thanks, I guess I should get going now. I have a limited time to get back to my world and I have to find the person who helped me out back there” said Dave as he started to run off.

“Two more things before you go” said the guide trying to stop Dave before he cross the threshold. “You’ll need to know what you will see out there might be extremely traumatic. Secondly, you’ll need this for later, much later” said the guide as she threw what seemed like a small gem towards Dave.

Dave was wasting absolutely no time at all in crossing the threshold that would lead him into the dark side of his mind. He didn’t even spend time wondering what purpose that gem could serve him. Dave had one goal: to get through Magicant and get back with Ness and the others. He knew he had under two weeks before the Horsemen of Apocalypse were at full strength now and every second was too much right now.

After crossing the threshold into the darker side of his mind Dave found it cold, literally. It was absolutely freezing but that was something Dave was used to at this point. He just couldn’t stand the eerie feel that the atmosphere in his area now gave him and it was irritating him to why he was and even feel like this. After about a minute of wondering Dave saw a strange looking creature wandering across his line of sight about fifty meters away. It had about three feet, it was around six feet tall, and had a green skin color with red dots all over him. Dave at this point was laughing at the hilarious looking creature. The creature heard Dave and ran right over, blindingly quick too. It ran the fifty meters in about two second and was going to hit Dave with its front leg. It roared with extreme anger, probably offended by Dave’s laughing, but Dave dodged the kicked with his extreme speed and stealth.

“Dear lord that thing just kicked hard enough for me to feel the wind from over here. Looks like I’ll have to eliminate this thing and quick” said to himself as he couldn’t believe the monster’s power. Dave eliminated it in one shot with his Magicant longbow, not before Dave had the arrow chase the speed demon down.

After Dave defeated that monster he knew he was in for a long fight. When he looked over the landscape a little more, Dave saw many, many more monsters he would have to defeat. <Now this, might just pose a problem for me getting out of here quickly. Time to get to work I guess> thought Dave as he pulled back the string of his bow preparing to fire the first shot of a very long battle, and even longer journey.