Year 199X.
Planet Earth.

Some time ago, a meteor had fallen from space and landed at the top of a hill somewhere in Onett.
The locals took immediate notice, the police doing what they were famous for and blockading the spot.

However, one person had been determined to find out, and with the help of his rather.. unsavory neighbors, find out he did.
From that chunk of space rock, he had met a single, buzzing being, one first thought to be a bee.
The words from that weathered soul, the message it had been determined to relay from a decade in the future, when hope had flickered out and there was nothing left..

Those words had carved out the pathway.

Eight locations had been told of, like marks on a map, and that person who took them to heart, a boy of tender thirteen, had set out to find those locations.
Over time, he had found new friends and left his impression on all the hearts he touched.
Fighting off what came at his little group - be them punks, cultists or aliens, they all fell - the four went on, refusing to quit even in the hardest of times..

...
It.. it all seems so far away now.

Metallic fingers tightening with a gentle click on his weapon, the figure brought his attention back to the surroundings, becoming alert once again.

This was it.
That which decided everything..

Learning of where the force that backed all of this chaos had fled to, the four heroes had jumped through time and space to chase that shadow down, to finish things where they were based.

In this reckless farce, they had thrown away their humanity, agreeing to implant their souls into metal bodies. It was possible to exchange words thanks to the fact that three had psychic abilities, the power of telepathy; it was a thing to be thankful for.

However..
On this trip, though they had expected this final attack to be hard, harder than anything they had ever tried before.
But nobody had expected something like this.

Boldly, they had walked up and slipped in, turning their ambitions forward and doing their best not to think about what lay ahead, but only that they needed to win.
It was a surprise, at first - their long-time adversary and thorn-in-the-side, Porky Minch, had shown up before them, piloting a strange, arachnid-esqe mech, explaining things that were confusing before..

Minutes had passed, and the fight had gotten to a boil.
With the click of a switch, the almost organic surroundings gave way to a shadow that seeped out of the glassy machine in the center, like blood out of a wound.

Not merely a shadow, but an all-consuming darkness that engulfed the surroundings, leaving only the hard surface (whatever it was) beneath the four's feet intact.

What was left in that empty void?

Little, so very little..

Even the sanity, the heart, the determination, the only light, had began to wane.

...I just wish, that somehow.. ..

Thoughts still flip-flopping between recollection of recent events and the current, the figure readjusted his stance, red cap balanced carefully on his metal-hewn head. 

It was nearly impossible to do anything when it came down to physical blows, but merely grasping his tool of choice gave him confidence..
A little flare of confidence that still remained in his heart.
Most of it had been put out minutes ago, like splashing water on a fire that defied it up until now.

As soon as that wispy blackness had flared outwards, consuming all within meters ahead in its coils, a low whisper eminated from the depths.

"...it.. it hurts.
...why?
Why does.. it.. hurt?"

Those words made no sense to any of the group: why or what they were refering to was merely a thing to guess at, another meaningless question.
Puzzling over the words and preparing another wave of attacks, nobody was prepared for the sudden burst of power that came at them.

Hardy as ever, Ness had felt the tide of energy, but no pain, busy surveying the others for any signs of weakness. He was reknowned for that kind of thing, being the strongest and toughest (or so the others said), though he didn't think so highly of himself.
In the same fashion, Paula had felt little; like the sea and the rocks, the attempted breach had merely crashed into a mental wall. She was similar to Ness in that aspect, being highly tolerant of mind-based techniques and being able to strike back with the same kind of power..

But, unlike those two, the other half had stopped dead in movement for a second, netting worried glances as they did..
And with a loud clatter, the forms that housed the souls of Jeff and Poo had been tossed backwards a few feet, slamming violently against the hard floor.
They had made no sound upon this, nothing in their minds but a very saturated, thick feel of surprise, shock, and dismay.

Then there was nothing. 
Like a machine being turned off, those feelings and thoughts the two eminated had faded all at once, no longer being transmitted to those left. 
This always happened when one was knocked out, but there was still a slight, bubbly sense of what was left.

That wasn't present this time.

If Ness was to be breathing, it would have quickened up considerably, the feeling of adrenaline wiring him into a hyper-sensitive mode. 
Pale sparks beginning to form between his hand-reminiscent limbs, the power twirled about and then flickered, darting to the forms of his "defeated" comrades and probing at their metal bodies.
But as if it was confused, the PSI Healing Omega spell flicked out, unable to repair the damage.

Ness, I already tried. There aren't ANY signals coming from them..
I don't know if they're... ...dead.. or not..

The other being still standing looked away in slight shame, disappointed at herself for being unable to pinpoint what had happened.
Normally, she was so good at that kind of thing.

The remaining firefly-like lights of PSI fading from around him, the behatted robot nearby would have frowned, bat-shaped weapon resting in his free hand.

...hopefully not..
We just have to survive, Paula. That's all we gotta do.
I.. I really don't know how to win, but.. we'll come through with something, okay?
...hopefully..

A sense of desperation had began to undertone Ness' words, more apparent than they would be if spoken, as this was all being said through the mind, where emotions were more concentrated.

On my signal, let's both attack.. how about Freeze? That always does a lot to enemies, he offered, resting his bat at his feet for a moment to begin channelling that energy, to reach out for that unique power he had..

Sure, I can do that. You're using... your unique power, right?
With this, the other closed her eyes (or would have) and focused, willing for the cold, the bitter cold and frost to twirl in with all the might of the winter. The desire was answered; from around Paula's form, a subzero wind had started up and then twirled outwards, snowflakes so very visible on the breeze.
Nearby, lights of red, blue and gold had lit up, then bursting out into waves and streaks that would crackle through the air with raw intensity.

In moments, both attacks had vanished.
With a low hiss, the swirling red form almost seemed to flinch before reaching out and distorting, like some sort of demented mist.
For just a moment, a face was visible, resembling a skull before it twirled back into rolling waves.
Again and again, in the time before, Giygas (that is, if that's what the red shape was.. it seemed so) would take that guise for a second, as if to burn his shape into the minds of his challengers.

It was silent once again as the two figures waited patiently, trying to sense any difference, to see if their attacks had done anything.
But that quiet was shattered once again.

"...Ness..
...
Ness, Ness, Ness, Ness, Ness, Ness, Ness.."

The rustling, otherworldly voice that accompanied the crimson form repeated that one word, that one name, again and again. 
But why?
Why was..?

The one person whose name was being spoken just stared off into the darkness, going over that pointless corundeum again and again. 

...
...that voice..
It.. it's painful for me just to hear, as if he's trying to get me to give in..
...
Why can't he just shut up?!

A light flare of energy flickered around Ness, threatening to strengthen into a dangerous attack in the colors, the very way it wavered.

About to offer her kind words, Paula had looked over, blank robotic gaze holding nothing, but mind reinforcing the spirit behind those empty eyes.

Please, just try and ignore it.. it'll be best for you.. and--

She was cut off as another wave of intense pressure struck, another strike that came out of nowhere.
Unexplainable, undescribable: the words to try and explain the attack refused to come to mind..

Skidding backwards a few feet, leaning slightly forward in an attempt to stay erect, one of the two tottered there before falling the way they leaned, the impact just worsening things.
Taking a quick step forward, Ness had mustered up a sense of concern, something from that realm of confusion and pain his thoughts had become.

Paula?! Are you okay--?! he asked, voice jolting into expression as he began to conjure up healing energy, the green lights like floating flames around him.

...
I don't know..
That.. that really hurt..
...

Doing her best to stand up again, ignoring any physical harm (it was impossible to feel anything in this state, anyways), she began to focus once more, willing for fire.
Purifying, ever-burning fire..
Something to light up this darkness, to scare it away.

In this time, still panicky, Ness had iniated his Lifeup Beta, letting the light green lights fall all around his only other companion. 
Unwilling to give up, his nearby friend tossed a quick telepathic "thank you" his way before sending a heated gust towards the ebbing red shape before her, flames crackling from nowhere and flowing outwards and expanding as it went.

But once more, like the other attacks.. the plumes vanished.

Doing little but standing there now, looking vacant and unknowing as he watched the fires fade away, Ness looked to be doing nothing physically, just staying still.
Inside, he was struggling, struggling to keep himself calm.

That hushed voice, just barely audible, continued to repeat in his head, like a broken record.

"Ness, Ness, Ness, Ness.."

He didn't know how it would make a normal (those that didn't have PSI, those that were.. well, yeah, average) person feel, but it filled him with a sense of dread, hopelessness. 
Certainly, when his name was said, that was a good thing: his friends calling him over with a discovery to show, his mother calling him for a wonderful dinner, the voice over the intercom at school having something good to say.

But now, it bit at him, every second that voice whispered to him.
Like frostbite, it was infective and cold, doing nothing but pain, inner harm.

...
....what if we can't do anything?
Our attacks.. they don't look like they're doing a single thing..
I can't manage to heal either of the others.. what if you go down next?
What will I do then?

His questions had a strange ring to them.. he truly sounded scared for once, each syllable brimming with fear and desolation.
Falling to his robotic knees, bat clicking as it hit the ground, still weakly grasped in his hand, he didn't look up, attention lingering nowhere in particular.

Taking a step over, Paula put a hand on her friend's shoulder - though she knew he couldn't feel it - and watched him attentively, kneeling down.
To this, there was no responce. He would always react to this if he was hurt or unhappy.. so something had definitely become undone.

But.. but we will survive.. you know that we'll make it through.
We've always gotten to the ends of things before, even if it's been bleak.

Please don't give up now, Ness.
If.. if you give up, I don't know what I'll do. 
You've always been the one I followed, and if you stop now, where will that get us?

It felt like hours until she got a reply, though it was probably much less than that: but then again, time was messed up here, it felt so different.

Nowhere.
It'll get us.. nowhere.

But, tell me this..
What are we supposed to do?

I can't do a thing with my bat.
My Healing and Lifeup are failing me.
PSI Rockin' is merely absorbed..

I'm so sorry that I can't help you.

Not having anything to say back to that, the other still stayed there, putting a protective arm over Ness' shoulders, staring off into the surroundings.
As if to react to this, the spiraling, blood-like wisp twirled a bit, appearing to look back for a moment, dark holes of "eyes" without soul, without feeling..

Absolutely barren of anything except the purest hatred, anger, fury put into form.

Letting her vision flicker out in the manner of closing one's eyes, Paula did her best to shut that feeling of despair out, already feeling her heart begin to crack under the force.

I..
I have to do something..
We can't let everyone down.
We didn't.. get this far.. for nothing..

Mind still reaching out for her friend's, trying to get him to perk up and recoiling from the infected thoughts he had, she began to feel like giving in as well.
Was there really nothing she could do?

Please, please don't give up on hope now, Ness.
You're.. you're everything to me, and if you lose yourself, I'll fade away, too.

I don't want to let this all be in vain..

Beginning to tremble, still getting no reply besides the horrible, negative feelings that she felt coming from him, she would have started crying at this point.

It was beginning to feel so cold, so lonely..
Wasn't there always hope, even in the darkest situations?
Somewhere, somehow?

Turning her thoughts away from the situation, grasping at the memories of seeing those back home, Paula began to focus on those warm remnents, the only cinders left in the fire.

...

Please, give us strength, if it is possible..
Please..

Somebody..

...help us..

~~~

Thousands of miles away, reaching across the boundaries of normal physics and science, the place that was Saturn Valley felt a shadow settle across it.

Pausing in his mid-day snack, a Mr. Saturn stood up, whiskers twitching a few times and dark eyes blinking.
He felt his heartbeat speeding up, for no reason..
Uneasiness, one coming from an unknown source, began to surge into him.
Why did he have the feeling that someone was calling out?

Dropping his half-eaten Peanut Cheese Bar, the creature scuttled off to tell the others about this startling emotion.

~~~

Something had changed in the atmosphere.
Something, somewhere..

Had somebody replied to that prayer?

Paula, still frozen in that kneeling position, looked up as the floor suddenly began to shake from an unknown tremor, metal form clicking and clanking as everything shook.

All around, Giygas was shuddering, vapor-like form twirling and twisting quicker than before, form undistinguishable now from the dark red and black sea.

What had happened?
Why was he responding to these kinds of things?

Ness, having felt this odd alteration as well, finally came to attention, watching things begin to fall out of control..

But since when were things under control?

Trying to ignore all of this, Paula turned her sights away from the swirling mass all around, trying to pull herself from this.. it was the stuff that fueled nightmares, and so hard to leave behind.

Yet, once again, she focused, putting all of her energy into this.
Hopefully, more would hear..

Please, give us strength..

Anyone who can hear our plea, help us.. 

~~~

Even farther away, in the same time from where the first answer had come from, where the sun shined down intensely, things began to feel different.

In the large shoreside city of Summers, one of the Runaway Five stopped as he was about to head up to his room for a nap, thanks to the night he had spent up before, driving here.
His desire for a nice rest was disrupted by a very sudden sense of dismay, and, still holding his guitar (which he was going to put beside his bed), he ran outside.

The other four were gathered outside, creating quite a hubbub about things.

"What? What's going on?"

"I don't know.. something seems wrong, dum de doo boo bah.
What is it?
Is someone in trouble that we're not aware of?
Hopefully, it's not those kids, y'know, those four who kept helping us.

Let's just hope they aren't hurt.."

~~~

And as those feelings came back, touching home..

Giygas gave another inhuman roar, like a furious vortex of crimson water and writhing in pain.
The emotions.. they hurt so much.. 
They were so reminiscent of that kind touch that he recalled from so long ago.
Just like that one person's kind words..

At least, that was what he would have thought of at this sudden burst of emotion that lead the attack. 
It was all lost, and it had been gone for some time..

Seeing how this was another accomplishment, Paula would have smiled, still shutting out the empty, broken mutterings..

Again, and again, she kept praying.

And each time, there was a reply, from someone out there.
Someone who hoped for the safety of those kids who had fearlessly gone onwards..

~~~

Even further away than any time before, years ahead and almost impossible to reach, everything seemed normal.
The small neighborhood, marked by the fall season that had come in force, was completely fine..

All except one person.
Sitting calmly at her computer, the girl stopped her clicking and typing of letters, leaving the word "chocolate" at a mere "chocol", looking up at the wooden ceiling and brick wall before her.

Someone, somewhere, was calling for help, she just knew it.
Never before had she felt so strongly about something she wasn't sure of.
Pushing back loose brown bangs that had fallen astray into her vision, she closed her laptop up and sat there, putting her hands together in prayer, blue eyes closing.
She wasn't the kind to pray, she wasn't really the religious type..

But she had the sudden need, sudden desire to pray.

Nearby, her mother looked over in slight worry, an eyebrow raising at her daughter's odd behavior before going back to setting the table for lunch - nothing new, that girl was always acting strange.

In utmost silence as she sat there, headphones muted, the teenager began whispering to herself.

"You need help?
I don't know who's calling for me, but, uh..
I hope you're alright, I don't like people getting hurt.

Please be okay, if someone really is asking for my help."

Again and again, she went over hopes and feelings of goodwill in her mind, trying to think who would need her in such an average time - she was always in touch with her friends, no matter how far away they were, and she would hear of these things..

But whoever this was, they needed her.

"Please be alright.."

~~~

That last urge for goodness to succeed was the trigger.

Rolling form freezing, then beginning to shake with even more intensity than ever before, Giygas went completely silent, ceasing all words and whispers.

To this, Paula stopped in her prayer to watch as the enemy stopped his writhing. 
After so long, Ness snapped to full attention, mind processing decent thoughts again, keeping himself upright to watch this take place.

What.. how did you do this? What's happening? he asked, voice starting to lose that depressing undertone as he did his best to keep upright - the shaking was getting worse by the second.

I.. I don't really know. I just started praying that someone would hear us, hear all of us, and give us the hope to survive.
All of our friends, all of our families, and even those we don't know..
I asked everyone to help us out, and maybe they did.

In the sight of both of the two, things began to blur out, and everything became a static-filled mess of red, black, yellow and silver.

With a final roar of agony from their foe, who had finally given in to these positive feelings, all senses died out and everything went black.

It was finally over.