//------------------------------// // The Future Is Coming On // Story: Mother X: Father // by Tatsurou //------------------------------// It didn't take long for the group to make their way out of the hall, especially as it had all but emptied of people, with the few remaining wandering around confused. It was with relief that the group stepped out into the open air. "Ness!" a familiar voice called out. Ness turned in surprise, seeing Pokey running up to him. He found himself unable to say anything as his neighbor and somewhat friend rushed up. While he was upset that Pokey had been working for Carpainter and had kidnapped Paula, he managed to convince himself that unless Pokey showed continued signs of being antagonistic, then it was probably the effects of the Mani Mani that had made him act that way. "What a horrible nightmare!" Pokey gasped out. "I...somehow woke up. It was..." He shivered all over, then shook his head. "Ness, let's be friends again?" he asked hopefully. Ness smiled softly. It looked like Pokey had snapped out of whatever was influencing him, and was actively trying to fight it now. He started to open his mouth to say yes... Ness couldn't find his voice. He felt his jaw lock. Why couldn't he speak? Why couldn't he even smile? It...it was like the world was squeezing down on his mouth and throat, and he'd think he would choke if his breathing weren't somehow completely normal. "Please answer me," Pokey pleaded. "I promise to be good..." Ness struggled to answer...but could say nothing. He could only watch as hope started to fade from Pokey's eyes as he turned and slowly walked away. "...okay..." Pokey said softly as he walked away. Some distance away, Pokey's posture shifted. When he turned back to Ness, his face was no longer that of a child. A wicked grin hung under enraged eyes. "Hah!" he called out. "I lied! See you, suckers!" Though his words were hurtful, they lacked true hatred behind them as he dashed away. As Pokey made it out of sight, Ness gasped for air. "W-what was that?" he demanded in fear. "It...it felt like..." "Like time itself weighed upon you?" Moondancer asked softly. "...yeah..." "The events that have happened are the result of a time loop," Buzz Buzz explained. "Something from the relative future altered the past to create the present chain of events. Until that relative future event occurs, attempts to break the time loop could cause drastic harm to the very fabric of time...and likely will be suppressed by time itself." "But if that's so, then how can we save everyone?" Ness demanded worriedly. "There will be a moment," Paula spoke up with conviction. "A moment where the loop ends but before it begins. In that moment time has been rewritten once before. If we can reach that moment, we can act. The machine is the key." "The machine?" Ness and Moondancer both demanded intensely. Paula seemed to slump in on herself. "I...it was a vision I just had," she explained. "I...I can't say any more than that..." Moondancer frowned irritably, but Ness smiled. "At least it's confirmation we can succeed!" he declared hopefully. "Come on, let's go check out the Sanctuary." Despite his words, he paused to gaze at the path Pokey had taken for a time before turning to move on. Entering the cavern east, they found it opened up into a huge cave with twisting paths. "This definitely looks like a path to a Sanctuary," Ness observed thoughtfully. "Even feels like the path to Giant Step." "In that case, we should be careful," Moondancer pointed out. "The animals here are likely to be strong from the Sanctuary's proximity, and very aggressive due to the guardian-" "AHH!" Paula screamed as she leapt back from an aggressive mole that was charging her. "Stop!" Ness screamed out, trying to halt the mole in its tracks with his PSI. A tingling wave shot from Ness's outstretched hand to strike the mole. Its entire body locked up. "Looks like you've learned PSI Paralysis," Buzz Buzz observed happily. "Quite a useful skill. It can prevent a target from moving at all when it works!" "That could be useful," Ness observed. "Especially if we're facing something I don't want to smash over the head." Paula promptly sent the small mole flying with her frying pan. "Let's go, then!" she declared happily. The group carefully wound their way through the cave, working their way towards the end. In addition to the small moles, they encountered green bats and brown bears. The bears proved to be the only foe that was of true concern, as they had immensely powerful bodies and could take a great deal of punishment before the madness was banished from them. Thankfully, there were a few magic butterflies in the cave the left the group feeling refreshed as they passed. At the end of the cavern, the starburst of light awaited them, hiding the form of the Guardian. "You finally got here," it spoke as they approached. "This is the second 'Your Sanctuary' location, but it's mine now. Take it from me...if you dare!" The light blazed and revealed a massive mole, its sharp claws and teeth dripping blood. It hissed angrily at them. "Prepare yourself!" it declared as it lunged forward, reaching out with its sharp claws. "Stop!" Ness called out, thrusting his hands forward and unleashing PSI Paralysis. The Mondo Mole froze, ending up braced on both fore paws and one hind paw. "Er..." it began as it tried to move. "Isn't there a way to settle this peacefully?" Ness asked hopefully. "Why are you even blocking me? What's the point?" "This place's power is not to be trifled with!" Mondo Mole snapped out. "Do you think such power comes cheaply? I will not let you take the power with that attitude!" He wiggled back and forth briefly, then fell over on his side. "Uh...little help?" he asked hopefully. Paula blinked in surprise. "You...can't move at all?" she asked in surprise. "Of course not!" Mondo Mole snarled. "I'm paralyzed! Completely numb!" "Then why aren't you attacking with PSI?" Moondancer asked curiously. "Because I don't know any offensive PSI!" Mondo Mole declared angrily. "I can make myself stronger and protect myself from offensive PSI! That's it!" "You mean...you're completely helpless right now?" Buzz Buzz asked in surprise. "You can't attack, and there's literally nothing stopping Ness and Paula from just whacking you with their weapons until you go down?" "Err...their sense of fair play?" Mondo Mole suggested hopefully. "Is there anything preventing me from just walking past you to the Sanctuary?" Ness asked curiously. "Uh...no," Mondo Mole admitted. "Now that the starburst field is down, I...can't really stop you." "Okay." Turning, Ness walked right past Mondo Mole. "You're...just going to leave me here?" Mondo Mole asked in surprise. "Don't worry!" Ness promised. "I'll come back just as soon as I learn how to fix your present condition!" "...well that's plum nice of you," Mondo Mole muttered as the group passed, unsure if he was being sincere or sarcastic. In a small clearing behind the cave, a trail of tiny footsteps inscribed a small loop between two trees. As the group approached, the area filled with light and music filled the air. As it did, Ness and Moondancer felt it infuse them. Ness had a brief vision of a baby in a red cap. Moondancer remembered her father's embrace as he told her, "It will be alright..." As the power of Lilliput Steps infused them, and the song was recorded on the Sound Stone and the Empty Stone, Moondancer could only pray that it would be.