CHAPTER VIII: The Lilliput Steps
Ness stood over his fallen assailant. Carpainter sat up, his head a mass of burned flesh, and charred hair. He coughed a puff of smoke. Ness held his hand out.
"Key," He said simply. "Now."
Carpainter sighed, handing him the Key to Paula's cell. As Ness turned to leave, he stopped him.
"Ness," he said. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?"
"The visions of the Mani Mani Statue invaded my thoughts...I didn't know what I was doing...it felt like a dream..."
Ness smiled. "It's all right, Mr. Carpainter. But I have pressing business...I have to defeat some creep named Giygas or..."
"Just get Paula and go. I know of your mission."
Ness nodded, and left.
When he left the town hall, Pokey was sitting on the steps. He stood as Ness exited.
"Hi, Ness," Pokey said appealingly. "I'm sorry about what I said before..."
"It's all right, Pokey,"
"Really? Great! Let's be friends again. I'll just go back to Onett..."
The porkish young man made his way from Ness. He turned around again.
"Ha ha...I was...LYING! This isn't the last you've seen of me, Pig's Butt!"
He huffed around the corner. Ness shrugged, pulled the key out of his pocket, and dashed for Paula's cell.
When Paula was free, she shot out of her cell, throwing her arms around Ness' neck. She hugged him until he thought he'd pop.
"Thank you, Ness!" She wailed. "I thought I'd never get out!"
Ness smiled. "All right, Paula, we have to make it through Peaceful Rest Valley and get you home!"
"No problem. I can use some Psychic Power that's actually pretty deadly..."
"Right on," Ness said happily. "Then let's get out of here!"
They were walking towards the cave leading out of the village, when Ness heard a familiar humming.
"What's that?" Paula asked warily.
Ness pulled the Sound Stone from his backpack. It was glowing a soft blue.
"There must be a Sanctuary around here..." He mumbled.
"Sanctuary?"
"Yeah...Buzz Buzz, someone that was trying to help me, said that to get enough strength to beat Giygas, I had to gather the melodies from each of the eight 'Sanctuaries', and record their melodies into the Sound Stone," He bounced the glowing rock in his palm. "So I can get their power."
She seemed mesmerized by the Stone. Ness couldn't blame her. He followed the glowing of the Sound Stone until they reached a cave behind the Drug Store. Ness pondered before entering.
"Paula," He asked his companion before entering. "Do you have a weapon?"
"Well...no."
"Okay. I'll get some money out of the ATM, and we'll get you some gear."
She nodded, and minutes later she was outfitted with a Cheap Bracelet, a Travel Charm, a hair ribbon, and a Fry Pan. She twirled the pan in one hand.
"Cool," She said with a smile. "Thanks, Ness."
He smiled, gathered his PSI into a light ball, and the two entered the cave with wary expressions.
The darkness was suffocating. Ness could hear the drip of water in the distance, but other than that, there was no sound. The two walked for what seemed like hours. No enemies attacked them.
"It's so dreary," Paula said. Though her voice was a whisper, it echoed alarmingly in the blackness. A huge Mr. Batty flew from the shadows, and attacked.
Ness swung his bat, but missed. Paula swung with her Fry Pan, but the Mr. Batty was too quick. The next time it dived, Ness threw one hand at the enemy.
"PSI Flash!" He called.
A resounding light filled the cave so brightly that Ness and his compatriot had to cover their eyes. The Mr. batty squealed, and Paula, recovering, dashed forward and smacked the thing a crushing blow with her Fry Pan. With a loud, echoing >CONG< the enemy dropped like a fly.
Ness grinned, holding the light ball a few inches above his hand. "Nice hit," He said.
Paula grinned back. "Let's keep going,"
The two made their way through the cave again. The blackness was all consuming, and the two friends were starting to get a case of claustrophobia.
The Sound Stone began humming again, and Ness diminished the light ball. The stone's glow was enough to keep the trail lit.
Suddenly, from up ahead, a brilliant glittering glow pulsed. Ness held his bat defensively.
"That's probably the Guardian of the Sanctuary," He said to Paula.
"Guardian?!"
"Yeah. The Titanic Ant was the Guardian of Giant Step, and I had to fight him. Now, there's probably a Guardian here, too."
There was a vast silence.
"Ness," She said jokingly. "I believe that you have gone quite mad."
He laughed. "I hope your psychic powers are enough to help me take this thing down."
The Guardian was a huge mole, of all things. It had a rusty voice that grated on Ness' very nerves.
"Welcome, little man," The mole said. "I am the Mondo Mole, and this is Lilliput Steps. You are the holder of the Sound Stone, are you not?"
Ness nodded, holding his SandLot Bat in front of him. "You bet, Mole-Boy. Let me through, or I'll turn 'ya to kibble!"
Paula stepped in beside him. Ness felt a light brush at the back of his mind. She was gathering her energy.
The boy leapt forward, and swung his bat. The Mole dodged past with impossible speed, and Ness pulled a short backflip before his foe could attempt the now-familiar double-fisted-spinal-slam.
Paula's voice echoed from behind him. "PSI Fire!"
A flame erupted from her fingers, tearing the air as it sped towards the Mondo Mole. The musty cave air was suddenly filled with the smell of charred fur. Ness held his hand forth.
"Paula, cover your eyes! PSI Flash!"
Once again, the room was full of that bright flash. The Mondo Mole screamed. "My eyes, my eyes, what did you do to my eyes?!"
Paula dashed forward to strike, but the panicked Mole was flailing its nail-sharp claws, and caught her across the hip. A short drizzle of blood ensued.
A light of indignance and pain shot across Paula's eyes. She extended her hands. "PSI FREEZE!" She screamed. A chill wind tore towards the Mole, and froze it into a complete ice block. Ness dashed forth, and clubbed the block. The cube--along with the Mole--shattered into a million pieces.
Paula cheered wildly. "Ness, we did it!" She then winced, holding her hip.
"Don't worry about that hip," He said, helping her along. "If this Sanctuary is like the last one, then you'll feel better in a jiffy.
Paula and Ness limped into the sunlight, staring at the tiny footprints called Lilliput Steps. Ness held the glowing Sound Stone forth, and the melody of the spot flowed through him. It was a continuation of the Giant Step melody. Paula's wound healed shut. The rip in her dress even closed.
"Wow," Ness said, grinning. "User friendly."
They laughed, and left the Sanctuary, to continue their fight against Giygas.