CHAPTER XIV: Milky Well Hole

"Wake up, stumblebutts!"

Jeff knuckled his eyes, reaching for his glasses. "Wha...?"

"I've got some good news, and some bad news," Ness said, shaking a very sleepy Paula. "The good news is this." He produced the Sound Stone, which was glowing and ringing. "The bad news is that we're in for another fight if we go after the Melody."

Paula stretched languidly, and sat up. "I say we go for it," She said with a smile. "It'll help work up an appetite before breakfast."

Jeff laughed, finally finding his glasses. "I'm sharing your optimism," He announced. "Let's grab the Guardian by the ankles, and toss him around 'till he blows chunks!"

Ness held his stomach. "Please," He begged. "Don't say the word 'chunks'. After yesterday's fight with Belch, I've had all the 'chunks' I'm gonna stand."

Paula was rummaging through her travel case. "Let's take a bit to check our inventory," She said busily.

The had in their packs the Sound Stone, a map of Eagleland, Ness' ATM Card, the old Backstage Pass for the Chaos Theater, the Receiver Phone, the Pencil Eraser, the Franklin Badge, two Bottle Rockets, a Cup of Lifenoodles, and a Peanut-Cheese Bar that had been given to them by a kind Mr. Saturn. Ness hiked up to the Saturn Valley store, withdrew some cash from the ATM, and loaded up on Double Burgers and Peanut-Cheese Bars, with extra for his friends' packs.

They set out, following the ring of the Sound Stone. It lead up the sides of the small cliffs at one end of Saturn Valley, on which the Mr. Saturn had built ladders. They climbed up the ladders all the way to the top, and found a sign that read: "Milky Well Hole--Dangerous--Keep Out!"

Ness rolled his eyes, and strolled triumphantly by. Paula followed, then Jeff. There was a cave just beyond the sign, and Ness, without even thinking about it, formed a light ball that circled above his head.

They had only been a short distance into the cave when a Ranboob, a small plant-guard with an armored body, blocked the path. Ness dashed forward, and smacked it soundly. It laughed a high-pitched laugh, and slugged him in the gut, and when he bent over, in the back of the head.

Paula jumped as high as she could in the small cave. "PSI Fire Beta!" She yelled. Flames streaked from her fingers, and wrapped the Ranboob in it's flaming wrath. It gurgled, and vanished into the flames.

The girl grinned smugly, and motioned her friends to go on. They kept trekking through the cave, until they came to the end. But there was no guardian, and no Milky Well. Only a valley that kept on snaking through the countryside. They followed the valley into another cave. This one was stark empty of any enemies. Ness gripped his bat nervously. The Sound Stone began to whine wildly.

"We must be close," Jeff said, pushing his glasses up, and readying his gun. "The Sound Stone sounds like it's going to explode."

"AH," A huge voice boomed out. "THE SOUND STONE, AND THE LITTLE PEST THAT BEAT UP MY OTHER TWO FRIENDS!"

"Crap," Ness rolled his eyes. "The Guardian."

It was a root. No, actually, it was a sprout. A very large, very baggy sprout. It looked like a huge burlap sack with eyes and a mouth, with a sprout sticking out of the top.

"I AM THE TRILLONAGE SPROUT!" It bellowed. "GO BACK, BEFORE YOUR JOURNEY ENDS!"

Ness sighed, and pointed his hand. "PSI Rockin' Beta," he whispered. The enormous red-and-blue energy streaked towards the Trillonage Sprout. With a flash, it was gone. Paula blinked.

"Is it just me," She asked. "Or was that a bit too easy?"

"HAHAHA!"

The Sprout landed on Ness with a thump. Paula dashed forth, and slammed her Thick Fry Pan on it's top. It slapped her aside with it's plant-hair. She tumbled across the ground, and hit the wall. The Sprout oozed after her, leaving Ness. The young boy stood, dusting himself off, and looked over at an unconscious Paula about to be destroyed by the Trillonage Sprout. Jeff drew it's attention by firing his gun, opening numerous small and painful wounds. It started squirming towards Jeff while Ness spooned the Lifenoodles into Paula's mouth. She woke with a start, and Ness put a finger to her forehead.

"PSI Lifeup Beta..."

The two stood up just in time to have Jeff thrown in their faces. They rolled merrily across the cave's floor. Jeff adjusted his glasses.

"Ah, nuggets," He swore. "How are we gonna beat it?!"

Ness grinned. "I have an idea. Jeff, keep firing your gun. Paula, you grab his attention, and I'll run up and use PSI Flash Beta right in his face!"

Paula nodded. "Okay!"

They each clasped their hands into one three-hand mass. "RIGHT!" They said as one. Jeff fired as fast as he could. Paula ran towards the Sprout, twirled her pan, and leapt at it. The Trillonage Sprout gripped her with it's plant-hair. Ness used his PSI to levitate above the Sprout, upside down, and put his fingers to his temples.

"PSI FLASH BE--"

A vine whipped from the Sprout's mouth, and knocked him away. Ness hit the wall with a sickening thump, and slid slowly down.

"Oh, balls," He mumbled, struggling to rise. "My head..."

"FOOLS," The evil weed boomed. "GO BACK, BEFORE YOU ARE SLAIN BY MY AWESOME POWER!"

Jeff helped Ness to his feet.

"I've got an idea," Ness said, holding out his hand. "Get ready to fire!"

A ball of condensed air formed around Ness' hand. It struck Jeff square in the back. The young boy flew through the air as he pointed his gun. As soon as his feet struck the Sprout, he fired right between the eyes. Green blood sprayed from it's head as it let out an inhuman wail. Paula pointed two fingers.

"PSI FIRE BETA!"

The Trillonage Sprout vanished into the flame, screaming like a banshee. Paula shielded herself from the heat, backing away. Ness ran to her side as a breeze in the tunnel carried the last vestiges of the Trillonage Sprout away.

Milky Well Hole was made up of a small rock bubbling frothy, milky liquid. Ness held the Sound Stone forth, and the ringing melody coursed through the very fiber of his being. He briefly caught a vision of his dog, King, as a puppy. He felt weak in the knees, and Paula supported him. He tucked the Sound Stone away, gaining his feet. The Melody restored the strength to Ness and his friends.

Jeff looked awed. "Wow," He mumbled to himself, not wanting to break the calm mood. "Spiffy."

It took the three friends the entire day to get back to Threed. They passed through Saturn Valley (after promising the Mr. Saturn to visit soon), down the Grapefruit Falls, and through the underground passageway, where the stench of their encounter with the Slimy Little Pile still lingered.

The sun shone brightly on the streets of Threed. The clouds were gone, and the people walked freely. Ness noticed that the seasons were changing. What was once lazy summer had changed slowly to nippy autumn. He kicked at a pile of leaves.

"We'll rest at the hotel today," He said, wishing he had a jacket. In fact, his clothes were starting to get really tight on him. "We'll leave for the Dusty Dunes Desert tomorrow."

Paula also started noticing the clothing incident. "We should go shopping first," She said. "My clothes are starting to get a little tight."

They wandered over to the Threed Department Store, and bought new clothes. Ness, now garbed in blue jeans, a bigger yellow-and-blue shirt, and a denim jacket, looked roguishly handsome with his baseball cap perched atop his head. Jeff decided that he would hire a tailor to enlarge his boarding school uniform, and Paula looked splendid in her new, longer, looser dress.

Ness spent a sleepless night at the Threed Sunset Hotel. What challenges awaited him and his friends in the desert?


Part 15