CHAPTER XXV: Intermission
>Knock, knock, knock!<
The door opened slowly, and the blonde woman peered out at the four ragged teens standing on the doorstep. It took a few seconds to register into her head that the one standing in the lead was...
"NESS!"
The young man flew across the threshold, into his mother's arms. "MOM!"
She was crying openly, as Ness motioned for Paula, Jeff and Poo to come in. Tracy ran down the stairs, throwing herself at Ness, squeezing his neck.
"Oh, big bro! You're home!"
Ness laughed as King, the family dog, leapt up, slurping at his face.
"Master!" King barked. "You're back! Yay!"
Staggering further into the house, Ness pulled his family off of his body. "Hey, guys, knock it off! I want to introduce you to my friends..."
There were introductions all around, with each of Ness' companions giving their names, their hometowns, and how they joined up with Ness.
Ness' mom nodded. "I'm glad that you're helping my son, guys," she smiled. "I want you to tell me the whole story, Ness, and then I want you and your friends to take showers, and get cleaned up! I'll be making stir-fry for dinner tonight, so don't eat much beforehand...I want you to be good and hungry, 'cause I'll be making a lot!"
So, Ness sat down and told his mother what had happened since his last phone call--about Giygas, the Sound Stone, Buzz Buzz, and the Melodies of the Sanctuaries. She was a little skeptic, until Ness displayed his psychic prowess on her antique lamp, making it float across the room to land where it had been before.
After a few moments of stunned silence, she wrapped Ness in a big, motherly hug. She spoke in a quiet voice.
"Oh, my son...savior of the planet," she sniffed. "Who knew?"
Ness rapped sharply on the bathroom door. The shower was running on the other side.
"Yo, Paula," He yelled through the heavy door. "Jeff is getting a little impatient."
There was a little giggle from the other side. "Tell him I'll be out in a little bit," she called. "You know us girls--we take showers longer than sitting through 'It's a Wonderful Life'!"
He laughed, then went to his room, shutting the door softly. Jeff and Poo were sitting at different places. Poo was dressed in his newly washed karate outfit, Jeff was wearing sweat pants and a tank top, and Ness himself was wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt. His red baseball cap was hanging on the hat rack next to the door.
"She'll be out in a few minutes," He told Jeff. "I think she might've used all the hot water!"
Jeff laughed, then rolled his eyes. "Just my luck!"
Poo was meditating quietly, but opened his eyes. "Well, it's good to extend the courtesy to the lady first, hm?" He asked with a wry smile.
"I'll be going last," Ness mumbled, flopping on the bed, looking out at the crisp night. Winter was approaching slowly here in Onett. The scent of stir-fry cooking wafted under the door. "I'll be taking a freezing cold shower!"
They all laughed for a few moments. The shower in the bathroom stopped, and they heard the door open, then another door open and close as Paula went into Ness' mom's room to get her clothes on. Jeff stood, grabbing a towel and shampoo, and walked into the bathroom next door.
Poo sighed from his meditation position.
"Homesick?" Ness asked.
"Hai," Poo nodded. "I have never left Dalaam before, but now that I have, I feel so lonely..."
Ness smiled, cradling his head in his hands. His black hair hung over his left eye. "I know how you feel," He nodded. "We've all been experiencing those feelings. I wished for my mother and sister, Paula wished for her parents and the kids at the Preschool they run, and Jeff has been wanting to see his friend Tony...and, possibly, his dad, Dr. Andonuts. But don't worry about it, Poo. You've got us. We're your friends, and when you return to Dalaam after this is all over..."
"IF I return to Dalaam," The melancholy prince sighed. "Giygas is indeed a strong enemy. I don't know if we can beat him."
Ness responded with three words. "Prophecies don't lie."
"Hm?"
"We're foretold in prophecy, Poo," He said, looking at the ceiling. "The night I met Buzz Buzz, he told me about an ancient legend--'When the Chosen Boy reaches the point, he will find the light. The passing of time will shatter the Nightmare Rock, and reveal the Path of Light'. It's all there in the legend. I don't know all the details, but I do know that we're going to win against Giygas!"
After he had taken his shower, Ness wandered downstairs, drying his hair. Dinner was being laid out, and he took his place next to Paula.
They ate with chopsticks, the small talk around the table pleasing to the ear. Mom looked over at her son.
"You've gotten so big," She mused. "All muscular, and lithe. You look just like your father did when I first met him in high school."
"Mo-om!" Ness wailed, blushing. "You're embarrassing me!"
They all laughed, and continued eating, slurping the Japanese dish into their mouths.
After dinner, Ness made his way upstairs, and crawled onto the roof. He laid down, making his hands into a pillow for his head, one knee bent, the other leg stretched out. He just sat there, watching the full moon lift higher into the sky. His slightly damp hair waved in a cool, refreshing breeze, and fireflies began to rise from the grass below, swirling around the house like a glowing, ethereal curtain.
Where do we go from here? Ness thought to himself.
"There you are,"
He turned. Paula was standing behind him, wearing an oversized sweatshirt, and high-cut, tight-fitting shorts that really complimented the more feminine parts of her body. He blinked.
"What are you doing up here?" She asked, tying her hair back into a ponytail, and approaching him. She took a seat next to him, looking up as well.
"Just watching the moon," He said quietly. "I used to do this every night when I was younger. It's a place I come to when I need to think, or be alone..."
She sighed. "Well, if you want to be alone, I'll just go..."
He reached out, grabbing her arm. "No...please stay..."
She slowly began to sit down again. "If you want..."
They were silent for a few moments. This reminded Ness of that time in the Dusty Dunes Desert, where they had shared the image of a full moon for a few short minutes.
"You're family sure is nice," Paula commented. "You're mother is great, your sister is adorable, and that dog is just so loveable!"
He smiled, glancing at her. "King likes people. He's a real people-person...er...dog," He sighed softly, the barely audible sound drifting on the chill wind. He sat up, looking out at the lights of Onett in the distance.
Paula leaned against him, gripping the front of his shirt with one hand, wrapping the other around his neck. She nuzzled her face into his neck, sighing sleepily.
"Tired?" He asked. His entire body had gone slack when she had touched him, and his face was burning. He didn't really know what to do in this type of situation.
"Mm..." She agreed, her large blue eyes half-closed. "It's been a long day, hasn't it? First the fight with the Plague Rat, then this great afternoon...I love your home, Ness..."
He placed one arm behind her knees, and held the back of her neck with the other hand, then lifted her up. He activated a simple levitation technique, and floated into his bedroom window. By the time they were inside, she was fast asleep.
He tucked her into his bed, wrapping the sheets around her. She stirred slightly, her lips parting. He fluffed the pillow under her head, and watched her sleep for a few moments.
"Paula," he whispered. "Sweet dreams..."
Leaning down, he gently pressed his lips to hers for a brief second, then shut off the light, and went out the door.
"HA!"
Poo landed a punch right on his jaw. Ness rolled backwards, gaining his feet with ease. He stood, one hand extended, the other with the elbow cocked back. He dashed forward, and threw a punch. Poo leapt away, and the punch struck the ground. The earth around his fist exploded upward, showering the back yard with clods of dirt and grass. Poo countered with a few swift kicks, but Ness blocked all of them, then launched into a backflip, kicking his opponent in the jaw as he went.
Poo landed hard, and eased into a back-handspring, landing like a cat.
"Ness!" Mom called from across the yard. "Poo! Lunch!"
Ness' attention was momentarily distracted. Poo saw his chance.
"An opening! Time to attack!"
A devastating punch was launched towards the young man. Ness turned, saw the attack coming, grabbed Poo's arm, and threw him into the side of the plateau that graced the north side of the yard.
"Whoa..." He panted, frozen in place. "I didn't even see it coming, and I still countered."
"Well played, Ness," Poo moaned. "PSI LifeUp Beta..." He peeled himself from the wall.
Ness shook his friend's hand. "Good job yourself," He sighed, rubbing his jaw. "Ow..."
The two climbed the steps to the back porch, where Jeff, Tracy, Paula, and Mom were sitting with a platter of chicken sandwiches. Ness grabbed a sandwich, and leaned against a wooden support.
It had been three days since they had come here, and the whole group--mother and all--were having a great time. It was unusually warm today, and the balmy breeze stirred the grass in the yard. Paula glanced over at him as he held the Carrot Key in his hand, the wind blowing his hair over his left eye.
"This key is important," he mused quietly. "But what kind of door does it unlock?"
"I believe that I can answer that question," A new voice said.
Ness looked up, gasping at the small, multi-jointed body that hovered across the yard.
"Buzz Buzz!"
The entire throng on the porch gathered around Ness as the bee's ghost flew over. "How are you doing, Buzz Buzz?" he asked.
"Okay," he buzzed a laugh. "The Spirit World is a very nice place."
He swept out his hand. "Guys," he smiled. "This is Buzz Buzz, my guide."
"Nice to meet you!" the bee greeted them. "Before I give you my advice, let me just say that I am immensely proud of all four of you. If your strength continues to grow, Giygas doesn't stand a chance!"
Paula, Poo, and Jeff were a bit taken aback.
"Now, what about the Carrot Key?" Ness asked the ghost. "You said you knew what to do with it."
Buzz Buzz nodded. "In Dalaam, the mountain kingdom, there is a cave long blocked by statues of rabbits. Slip the Carrot Key into their mouths, and they will disintegrate. Oh, by the way, once you have completed your task there, you must go to Scaraba. Remember my words! Ness! Keep fighting..."
"Goodbye, Mom," Ness said, hugging her. "I'll be back soon, okay?"
"Later, bro," Tracy grinned. "I'll make you a special pizza for dinner when you get home!"
"It was so nice meeting all of you," Mom said. "When we have a reunion in a few years, it'll be just like old times!"
She gave Paula a hug. "And take care of my son," she whispered with a knowing smile.
Paula blushed at that.
The sun was cresting the plateau behind Ness' house as they linked hands.
"PSI Teleport!" Poo yelled.
And in a flash, they were gone.