“What… happened?”

Ness’s shoulders quivered as the oil sky soaked through his skin. The crisp blue of morning had taken flight, leaving behind splotches of coal-headed clouds. He took a few steps forward, red sneakers scuffing the asphalt. The lightless buildings, exaggerated by the breath of darkness, loomed over the four children, taking up a dangerous sentience.

“You okay?” Paula said, placing a reassuring hand on her friend’s shoulder. “You’re pale.”

“Giygas must’ve taken over Onett,” Jeff stated matter-of-factly. The passive blonde straightened his bow tie and pushed up on nervous, thick frames. “I think it’s best if we’re prompt. This place is probably crawling with Giygas’ soldiers.”

Poo drew the Sword of Kings, resting the hilt at his waist. “We do not have time to lose.” His eastern accent slunk slow and solemn down the street. “Let us retrieve the meteorite piece at once, Ness.”

Black bangs clawed over Ness’ eyes.

“Ness?”

“I’m fine. Let’s get going.”

Minutes melted away. With every step, their shadows traced laced shoes, watching, lurching across sidewalks and slithering through grass. Empty, stagnant air began to eat at Ness’ skin as he crossed familiar avenues, now soaked in monochrome. Where were the lights? Where was everybody?

“Get down!” Paula hissed.

The Chosen huddled behind a pair of dank shrubs, peering through the leaves. By the Burger Shop, near the trashcan, an Evil Eye patrolled the dirt road. Its fleshy legs sifted through the soil, snappy and vicious, while its single bulging eye bobbed up and down.

“What a peculiar enemy,” Jeff sighed. He fingered his lenses and leaned over. “Ness, why don’t you use your PSI Flash? We’ll back you up.”

“… Sure.”

Ness pulled two bats from his bag, and left one with Paula.

“You’re not taking the Magicant Bat?”

“It’s not as strong. Flash should allow me a hit. I want to wrap up this fight as quickly as possible.”

“On three. One, two…”

Ness was the first to tear from the bushes – he figured he could finish this one alone. Mid-dash, he pulled his Casey Bat taut. It was heavy and hard to hit with, but once the enemy was blinded, there was no way he wouldn’t hit. He tapped his temple with his pointer finger, calling up his powers.

“PSI… Flash!” Sharp neon flares stabbed through the Evil Eye; the monster squealed and tripped over its gangly legs. Ness brought the bat high and swung down with a guttural roar, but the bat met hard metal. Ness bounded back, regaining his balance. An eight-tentacle android now stood over the fallen Evil Eye, its angry, pointed beak bent by the bat’s blow.

“Jeff!” Ness cried over the robot’s clanking gears. “How do I beat this one?”

The answer didn’t come, but the Octobot did. Something shimmered from beneath its faceless black visor and it lunged with tentacles wide. Ness buckled and thrust the tip of his bat into the bottom of the mechanical creature, heaving it upright into a mess of bolts and smoky, broken parts. Finally, he staggered toward the Evil Eye and cracked it over the head.

“You were such a great help out there, Jeff,” Ness grumbled. “Next time, why don’t you just use that Heavy Bazooka and shoot me in the back?”

No answer. “Jeff?” He looked over his shoulder. They’re probably scared. What weenies, he chuckled to himself. He took a few casual steps across the street and glanced over the brush.

They were gone.

It’s just a coincidence; it’s just a coincidence…

Collapsed pumpkins and morbid blow-ups slept still on manicured lawns. 

Halloween.

It was Halloween night, and he’d forgotten all about it, wrapped up in a quest, a battle for the fate of the world.

But it was just a coincidence! It was just a coincidence that Giygas would take over his hometown on that dark day, a coincidence that his friends had gone missing. That was all.

The hungry pavement groaned, and Ness pulled his Mr. Baseball Cap tightly over his eyes.

Ten minutes, twenty minutes, and Ness wandered lower Onett, searching for his friends. There were no more Evil Eyes, no more Mechanical Octobots. Just him, his hands knotted over his unreliable Casey Bat, and the stiff molasses of night.

A twisted shadow stretched across the street.

Then, a dead streetlamp flickered on.

Ness took up the bat, his hands quivering. From a distance he stared at the puddle of light. He bent over and looked back up.

“Homerun.”

The dark shape of a baseball bat closed in.

It was just in time, as Ness yelped, that he brought up his Casey Bat to deflect the blow. He stumbled back to his feet and ducked under another swing from the assailant. Ness took a swing of his own, but missed in stride.

“Chin up. Let me show you play baseball,” the attacker laughed, a cackle that sent electric alarm down Ness’ back. “PSI Flash!” White lights zigzagged over his arms, and he dashed in for another shot.

Ness brandished his Casey Bat, but only grazed his enemy’s head, his sight in blurs thanks to Flash-induced tears. His bat swept over a light object that floated to the ground. Colors flushed – crayon red and purple…

A Mr. Baseball Cap. Just like his.

“W… what?!”

White teeth locked in a smile as his double, an identical Ness, swung high.

“PSI… Teleport!”

Escape.

He’d escaped.

A doppelganger. That was his attacker? Ness coughed up windpipe-trapped saliva he’d swallowed in his breathlessness. His sight was returning; he reached into his pocket for some eye drops.

Was it just some ruffian? Maybe it was someone trying to steal his identity and taking advantage of the sudden darkness that had taken over the town? Pokey came to mind—

No. That didn’t make sense. His assailant knew PSI, and there were few, very few, who had psychic powers. So, who was it?

None of his friends knew PSI Flash. He was the only one. Perhaps Giygas had created and stationed this enemy here to defeat him. Fire against fire.

His heartbeat raced over recent events, and he could feel the thick, choking water of the Sea of Eden again. It was there that he’d clashed with his Nightmare, a similar opponent, and one who could use his PSI. Perhaps both of these enemies were connected to Giygas.

Enough, Ness thought. He wasn’t much for thinking, anyway. All he had was his Casey Bat, that unreliable piece of wood, and he’d left the Magicant Bat with Paula. He had to find his friends before his clone could find him.

He tiptoed across the sidewalk, keeping his eyes on the ghastly mannequin right outside the Drug Store. Halloween was supposed to be fun, but there were no treats tonight. Only tricks. Fear seized his chest and he heaved the cold air, finding no solace.

He passed the lightless library and clung close to the cliffs, fixing his attention on the quiet black trees. Taking tepid crawls up the path, he spotted his blue-roofed house. It only made him more anxious.

“PSI Freeze.”

Icicles crashed into the earth at Ness’ feet, and scarlet panic bore its fangs. He took another blind strike with the Casey, and another, eyes wide with fear.

“Where are you?!” Ness screamed into twilight. It clung wet to his neck.

High above, a darting shape ghosted over the trees.

It was heading towards the meteor.

Even from here, the meteor was in sight, sloughing off dim embers, like fingers halting the absence of light.

From the hilltop rose a noosing scream.

Ness felt his heart melt.

It was Paula’s scream.

He sprinted urgently up the tiers of grass and mud.

Guys!

Ness’ throat shut hard.

A streaking bolt of lightning branched down from the clouds, flashing the top of the mountain with its white breath, followed by a foreboding clap of thunder that shook the ground.

The double Ness stood over the meteor, holding Jeff and Paula by the neck.

“Ness…” Jeff croaked. “W-why are you…”

“It’s a cold night tonight,” duplicate Ness smirked. “I just think maybe the meteor will warm you up… or at least burn you alive.”

Paula tried to free herself, but she looked exhausted. “I thought… you were our friend…”

“Wait!” Ness cried.

The fake Ness turned, a grin on his face. “I thought you’d come. So, how would you like your friends? Medium rare?”

Ness grimaced and leapt for a vertical smash, but fake Ness nimbly dodged the blow, still holding Jeff and Paula up high.

“Say goodbye!”

“No! No!” Ness tapped his forehead. “I won’t… aauggh!!”

A glorious vertigo of blinking shapes spiraled around Ness, a beacon that shattered the night into pieces.

“I’ll… I won’t let you take my friends! I won’t… I…!”

“Ness! Wait!”

“PSI…”

“Ness!”

“Rockin’…”

“Stop!”

“Ome—“

Paula wrapped her arms around Ness, and suddenly his attack ceased.

“Ness! I’m sorry!” Paula buried herself in Ness’ chest. “I’m sorry, it was just a Halloween prank! Please, stop!”

Ness’ bedraggled hair curled around his ears. He stared down, dumbfounded, and looked back up at his replica.

In the replica’s place, was Poo.

“I am very sorry, Ness,” Poo sighed. “I didn’t mean to drive things this far.”

The Mirror technique. That was it.

“I’m sorry Ness,” Jeff said. “It was my fault. I planned this. I didn’t mean to scare you that badly.” He frowned and pushed up on his glasses before adding, “It’s Halloween, you know.”

“Jeff!”

“What? I’m sorry! It wasn’t supposed to be an excuse, I just –“

“You guys got me good.”

The three friends looked up, bewildered.

Ness let out a laugh and wrapped his arms around Paula. “You really got me good tonight. I was so scared of… of losing you guys.”

“We won’t do that again,” Paula promised. “I’m sorry, Ness.”

“Thanks, Paula.” Ness said.

“I’ve got the meteor piece,” Jeff said. “Let’s go, Ness. We can talk about this back in the Valley.”

Ness looked up and nodded. He placed his hand on his forehead, but before he could speak, he put in a short quip.

“You know, Jeff, I would’ve preferred tricks to treats.”

Jeff shrugged. “You would’ve gotten cavities.”

“Have it your way,” Ness grumbled. “PSI Teleport.”